AMC Eagle Den Forum
The Shop => Inside Your Eagle => Topic started by: vangremlin on September 18, 2011, 11:12:19 PM
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Has anyone ever thought of putting an overhead console in their Eagle? I went to the junkyard today, and since they didn't have any Eagles, I started thinking about what else I might be able to use. I pulled an overhead console out of a Grand Cherokee and surprisingly it would fit pretty well. There is a screw in the front, and there is a hole in the Eagle ceiling (where the middle of the trim pieces go) that will work perfectly. I would just need to trim the post where the screw fits through on the console so it fits snug to the ceiling. I would have to fab a new bracket in the middle to hold it up, along with cutting a hole in the headliner for the tab in the back to fit through. I will need to replace the headliner soon anyway. The console currently has tan fabric, which I could have recovered to match the headliner
The console has the trip computer, sunglasses holder, garage door opener, and airplane type lights for the front and back seats. I really like those kind of lights. The sunglasses holder and garage door opener would be used for something else, and I'm trying to figure out what I could install in place of the trip computer, which came out very easily. I found a digital tach, or what else might go in there??? Anybody have any ideas?
Here are some pictures as I held it in place.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/IMG-20110918-00019.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/IMG-20110918-00020.jpg)
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Has anyone ever thought of putting an overhead console in their Eagle?
Every day that I drive it. The Eagle is an old car that I use mainly for rock solid transportation. ::)
It's time to make it a bit modern.
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Hey vangremlin looks like the console all so has the keyless entry.
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Hey vangremlin looks like the console all so has the keyless entry.
Is that what the little dome is for? I didn't know, I was thinking of just putting a little red LED light in there that would be on when you turned on the headlights to provide some ambiance ;D
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Yup that's what that dome is. If you get a light that blinks it could look like a Disco Ball.
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Nice auto dimming mirror also. Maybe you could put in a small LCD screen in the overhead.
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A few years ago I pulled two of these consoles out of Cherokees, with plans to one day install them in Eagles. That just hasn't happened yet, and probably never will at the rate I'm going.
Did you get the wiring for them as well, or at least a good length of it?
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Nice auto dimming mirror also. Maybe you could put in a small LCD screen in the overhead.
Thanks! I double checked the receipt - the mirror was only $7.50. So I ended up with a pretty neat option for a small investment, a little bit of wire, and some of my time.
I was thinking of an LCD screen, that would be pretty sweet.
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Did you get the wiring for them as well, or at least a good length of it?
I did get a good length of the wire, but not sure where it needs to go, other than being able to figure out the lights. The trip computer relies on a computer, which is suprisingly absent from my Eagle!
Yup that's what that dome is. If you get a light that blinks it could look like a Disco Ball.
I might just go for that Disco Ball effect :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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some Explorers and other small suv's and mini vans had some prett cool over head consoles...im thinking I would like one too now...that really looks sharp...is that mirror off the jeep as well?
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I thought about an overhead console like that before. I actually looked at one from a Wrangler that would go toward the rear of the Car. It had lights and 2 speakers. I figured the wiring was beyond me though. After installing the DVD player that my Father-in-Law bought for the Caravan, which broke a few months later I am always going to be hesitant to install something that requires cutting into a headliner board.
I am still looking for a done light that will work in the spot where the upholstery guy for some odd reason cut a slit in my headliner over the rear cargo area. Have not found anything that doesn't look out of place yet. Not seen anything in the local 'yards with a nutmeg interior in a long time.
I would love to have a rearview mirror with the map lights like my Saturn has. I find that to be a very useful option.
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I'm still working on my overhead console concept. I took the first one I bought to my upholstery guy, and picked up another one today so I can figure out how to mount it. It is actually going be pretty easy. i got it temporarily mounted today, with the original screw up front, and two screws into the original Eagle overhead light area. I'll have to modify things a little for a more permanent way of mounting but it shouldn't be hard, and I won't have to cut the headliner and can remove the console without a trace of it ever being there. Here are some pictures. I'm going to trim the front a bit so it fits better, right now it bumps up against the windshield trim and so there is about a 1/4" gap near the front. I'm going to have the tan fabric replaced to match the headliner color.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111112-00126.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111112-00127.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111112-00130.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111112-00131.jpg)
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how about a digi clock? jc witney and others sell nice small digi clocks that would fit nice
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I was poking around on the net for some more info on these overhead consoles and by the looks of it the computer that controls it is just a little thing that attaches to the back side of the unit....so there may be hope for getting the compass and temp guage going. I found a few of the computers on an auction sight for pretty cheap.
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I was poking around on the net for some more info on these overhead consoles and by the looks of it the computer that controls it is just a little thing that attaches to the back side of the unit....so there may be hope for getting the compass and temp guage going. I found a few of the computers on an auction sight for pretty cheap.
Thanks Shane. Let me know if you find a wiring diagram on these things. I'm not sure where things like the temperature sensor would be on the Jeep, and the wires that would need to run to it. The computer unit itself sticks up above the top of the console, so unless I were able to do some selective trimming I won't be able to leave that in unless I cut into the headliner, which I don't want to do. WHat I would like to do is put an LED bar tachometer in that spot. Here is a picture of the display, I'm hoping I can get somebody to build the circuit for me. I've also included some pictures of the console installed with the lights on.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/ledbargraph.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111113-00133.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111113-00134.jpg)
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I see what your sayin about the wiring with that little computer thats out of my realm of knowledge. I love the idea of a led bar tach up there though......im a firm believer that more lights and gadgets = more cool 8)
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Nice work. Wish you guys with these cool ideas and ability to pull them off lived closer to me. I like that a lot.
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im a firm believer that more lights and gadgets = more cool 8)
I agree, although you don't want to cross the line with too many gadgets, then it borders on tacky lol
Here are my current thoughts for the console, moving from front to back (and I may have the order messed up a little since the console is at the upholstery shop)
Bar LED tachometer (where the former trip computer display was)
Pair of lights (stock) but I will install LED bulbs so they don't overheat as there won't be much space between the lights and the headliner
On the small slanted panel where the reset buttons are, I want to install these Red/Green/Blue 3 led squares, maybe 3 or 4 of them across...the red lights would come on when you apply the brakes, the green lights would come on when with the left turn signal, and the blue lights would come on with the right turn signal...and if I get real ambitious, I would set up the turn signals to be sequential, like on the old TBirds. I will probably have to put the LEDs behind a smoke lense so they aren't too bright but I think it will be really cool. Picture at the bottom of this post
Garage door opener folddown compartment - install a 3.5" LCD screen as pictured below (available on the bay for $20). Not sure what I will use to feed it - ipod? Backup camera? - although a Kammback is so short I really don't need a backup camera
Sunglass foldown compartment - undecided
Blue bulb that sticks down that held the remote entry sensor - a blue light bulb that is on whenever the car is on - just to give a surreal effect lol.
The other set of stock lights - more LED bulbs
I welcome any other suggestions on this project!
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/rbgled.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/lcdmonitor.jpg)
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Cool ideas. Personally, I like the idea of a flip down screen, but I think a flip down GPS could be a lot more useful. You'd probably need to get one that has the capability of a remotely mounted antenna though since it wouldn't have a clear view of the sky with the built in receiver.
And it's just my redneck side of me screaming CB! CB! I think one of the small Cobra units would fit nicely in there, and the mic would look cool hanging down from the console! I might as well add that to my want list...
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A gps or back up camera would be totally cool!! Im a big fan of tv screens in cars...it kinda give it that fighter jet feel.
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I don't think anything short of a jet engine is going to give an Eagle a fighter jet feel lol
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I don't think anything short of a jet engine is going to give an Eagle a fighter jet feel lol
Just leave the hatch open on a wagon, and strap one in :D
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You've got me thinking about those bar tachs now. I'd love to find a good kit.
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I transplanted an XJ one into one of my old XJ's
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_4635.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_4640.jpg)
Looking to ad one to my Eagle. Don't forget the brackets
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_4639.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_4639.jpg
The wiring was easy enough to tackle with the help of the 1990 TSM
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You've got me thinking about those bar tachs now. I'd love to find a good kit.
Here is a link to a circuit using individual LED's. I've been in contact with the guy who designed this circuit and he's going to try to mate it up with the LED bargraph I showed earlier. I'll keep everybody posted on the progress. The LED bargraph is available on the auction site.
http://www.t-r-j.com/Auto/Tach/tachometer.htm
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I took Pepe into the upholstery shop Friday to get the visors recovered, new headliner installed, and the console covered and installed. Here are some shots of the finished product. I still have a lot of customizing to do to the console but I will do that as time and $$ allow and as I figure out exactly what I want to install in it. I think it turned out really nice!
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111205-00160.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111205-00161.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/SouthAurora-20111205-00162.jpg)
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Looks great! If I hadn't been following this I could have been convinced it was a factory installed special order. Now I want one. Thanks for creating more work for me.
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Thanks for creating more work for me.
You're welcome :rotfl:
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That's a really impressive job, way to go, Vangremlin.
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Very nice indeed. 2 thumbs up.....
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Wow, that really looks great. Well done. I'm egging you right in the face for that one! :)
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Nicely done. Thanks for your help on the idea I had for my Eagle. I'm on the look out for parts currently.
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I few years ago I pulled two of these consoles out of Cherokees, "just in case" I wanted to do this someday.
I now have the inspiration, I just don't know if I'll ever have the time. Meanwhile, the consoles are still in my garage waiting to be used...
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Thanks for your kind words everybody. As you can tell I love my Eagle and I owe a big thanks to everyone on the Nest for helping me get it where it is today. :occasion14:
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Very nice indeed. 2 thumbs up.....
Two more thumbs up!
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That console looks great, I will most certainly be adding one of those to mine!
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Well done, Van. I like it :hello2:
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how big of a deal was it to put in?? would one fit into an sx4 you think? i LOVE it. looks like it fits like it was made for it. good egg sent. (catch it so it dont splatter on that new console)
It was pretty easy to put in, at least on the Kammback, and I have no reason to suspect it wouldn't work on an SX4 or a wagon. On the Kammback, there is a middle section of trim at the top of the windshield that is held in by two screws. When you remove it, you'll find there is a third screw hole right in the middle. That is what the front of the attaches to, using the screw hole and post that's on the console. You will have to cut back the post somewhat, and also trim the sides of the front of the console so it molds better to the ceiling. There are couple of supports that you'll have to cut to enhance the fit. But it's all plastic so its easy to do with a dremel.
The back of the console originally had a tab that slid up under the headliner, but I cut that off to. You can fabricate a brace to hold up the back of the console and attach it in the spot where the original dome light is.
I had this installed at the same time I had the headliner replaced, so the upholstery guy said he added some padding behind the headliner to provide a better fit, as there was a small gap near the front, which you can kind of see from the earlier pictures. He also said that he cut a small hole in the headliner backing to allow space for one of the compartments (probably the sunglass holder) but I don't think its necessary, and I'm probably going to remove part of that anyway to put some gadget up there. The door will still be there, but I'll remove part of the back.
I'll try to post some pictures of what I'm talking about. Let me know if anybody wants more specifics on how this was done.
Thanks again for all your kind words.
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So today I did some fixes to the wiring so the lights worked properly. I also installed an LED light into the little blue dome that was in the console for the factory remote entry. Here is a picture, which doesn't show much but a blue light lol. The blue light comes on whenever the car is on. I did this instead of the disco ball that was suggested earlier lol
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/overhead%20console/IMG-20111210-00174.jpg)
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So when will you start fabbing thses up and selling them?
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So when will you start fabbing thses up and selling them?
Maybe I should, along with my updated Eagle splashguards!
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OOH! OOH!, OOH! OOH! What splash guards Mr. Kotter?
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OOH! OOH!, OOH! OOH! What splash guards Mr. Kotter?
Settle down, you sweathogs! Just go to this thread and check it out!
http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=35662.0
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Next time I see ya Dave Id love to look at that console...I think Im gonna put one of them on the SX4...I think its a real cool touch for the interior.
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Next time I see ya Dave Id love to look at that console...I think Im gonna put one of them on the SX4...I think its a real cool touch for the interior.
Hopefully you'll see it this week Shane!
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I think im going to shoot for wednesday or thursday to pick it up.
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Both look good for me. I'm supposed to go up to Evergreen on Tues to check out that well-worn SX/4
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I think this was an excellent idea and thought of doing it to the MoneyPit II , till I remembered it had a sunroof : (.
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Was thinking about this project today and came back to the thread....then I was looking at the pics of the final project and I just keep thinking that all that plastic on there makes it look a little too modern or something.
Was curious what it would look like if you could find some like semi matching woodgrain vinyl and put some accents on certain places on the overhead...maybe that would just be too tacky, but something I thought I'd through out there.
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Was thinking about this project today and came back to the thread....then I was looking at the pics of the final project and I just keep thinking that all that plastic on there makes it look a little too modern or something.
Was curious what it would look like if you could find some like semi matching woodgrain vinyl and put some accents on certain places on the overhead...maybe that would just be too tacky, but something I thought I'd through out there.
Hmmmm, i hadn't even thought about it looking too modern, so I hadn't even thought of adding some sort of accents. I'll think about it, but I'm probably going to swap out my radio bezel for a 1985 model, which doesn't have any woodgrain, so woodgrain may not be the way to go.....but there might be something else that would be a nice touch.
Thanks for your suggestions.
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I'm loving your overhead console!!!! while it might be slightly more modern than the usual Eagle... i still think it almost looks like a factory option. Maybe a LATE 80's option. But regardless... IT LOOKS GREAT! May do it to mine in the future, with full credit given to you of course! ;)
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I'm loving your overhead console!!!! while it might be slightly more modern than the usual Eagle... i still think it almost looks like a factory option. Maybe a LATE 80's option. But regardless... IT LOOKS GREAT! May do it to mine in the future, with full credit given to you of course! ;)
Thanks! And that's what happens when I have too much time on my hands - I start inventing projects lol.
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...but there might be something else that would be a nice touch.
Yeah, after I made the post I was thinking maybe the vinyl woodgrain would be a bit overboard. Painting/Staining the plastic to a closer shade of the tan/brown headliner would look nice too.
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Camo!! :rotfl:
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Yesterday I pulled one of these overhead console units from a pink 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and I looked at the wiring and determined that this is overcomplicated. I don't have the TSM for this vehicle and I forgot the mounting bracket but I at least managed to figure out that from the red plug, red(1) is hot and black(5) is ground. My console doesn't have the cute little round dome near the back but it is one of the longer units that has four overhead lamps. What is the computer in front and how do I get that working?
Is the rest of the wiring from the red plug necessary? I have one of the legacy passenger side sun visor mirrors I just wired up but it's not part of the wiring configuration that you see on the late model Jeeps. What do I need other than the mounting bracket?
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What is the computer in front and how do I get that working?
Is the rest of the wiring from the red plug necessary? I have one of the legacy passenger side sun visor mirrors I just wired up but it's not part of the wiring configuration that you see on the late model Jeeps. What do I need other than the mounting bracket?
I did not wire in the computer. I believe the part that is in the console is just the display, fed by a computer someplace else in the car. I believe you can see things such as fuel economy, distance to empty, etc, on the display which are probably based off digital feeds from the fuel guage, speedometer, etc, all of which are absent in Eagles. I took the display out and have been considering what I want to put in its place, but haven't decided on anything yet.
I did not use the mounting bracket from the Grand Cherokee. There is a hole for a screw in the front, which lines up nicely with a hole that was already in the Eagle, underneath the middle piece of the windshield trim. If you want a really good fit, you should trim the tube for the screw. You can also trim the console itself so it fits better, but that will require you to re-cover the console. On the back end, I originally fabricated a bracket that went over the cross piece of the console which happened to line up well with the Eagle dome light so there was a spot to screw it in. The upholstery guy who actually did the installation riveted a cross piece in the right spot and screwed that in the dome light screw holes. The rear insert part of the console was originally screwed into the main console piece from the top. In order to install it in the Eagle, you have to pop the insert in after you screw the main console in at the dome light location. However the insert pops into place very securely, and can be removed if you need to take out the console, work on the wiring, etc.
In terms of the wiring, you can get a positive feed and a switched ground feed from the current overhead light in the Eagle. Then you just need to run an un-switched ground so you'll be able to turn the lights on whenever you want to. I didn't write down the exact wiring but its not too hard to figure out. On my console there were four wires associated with the lights (if I recall correctly) - black, yellow, grey and pink. You don't need any of the other wires. If I get a chance I'll look at the spare console I have and try to figure out what goes where. Good luck!
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vangremlin, just an idea, but maybe one of them cool little backup cameras that mounts on the license plate bracket? mount the little screen where the display was? not that you need one in a kammy. lol. would be neat tho!!
I've thought about that, not for where the original display was, but perhaps mounting it in the flip down spots that were for sunglasses or the garage door opener. ONe of those new wireless ones would be really sweet. And some of those are set up to be a video monitor for DVD's, ipods, etc, then switch over to the backup camera when you put it in reverse.
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I like the idea of a back up camera. I want to get one on the motor home for the sher fact that people follow too close and I can't see them. One would be extremely handy in the Eagle now too. With the full size spare on the back it limits the view somewhat behind my wagon, so a back up camera might be useful. WIsh I could find one of those consoles cheap around here.
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hey im doing your overhead console idea and im stuck on the wiring. black is ground ik that.. i thought pink and yellow would be constant power and the pea green being switched power.. not working whatever way i do it. if you can pass a tip that would be great
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nvm. i figured it out finially. lol. thanks though
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I'm definitely going to do this, thanks a lot for giving me the confidence that it would turn out well.
That is beautiful.
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I got the temp and compass working in my eagle if anyone is interested in the details...
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I would be very interested in hearing how. I think I may do this in the future.
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So AWESOME!!!! What yr jeep Cherokee did you get that out of?
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I think they came in mid to late 90s Grand Cherokees. I've only seen one Cherokee have one, but most of the Grand Cherokees from that time period have them.
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I think they came in mid to late 90s Grand Cherokees. I've only seen one Cherokee have one, but most of the Grand Cherokees from that time period have them.
If it helps at all, the particular Grand Cherokee generation that these overhead consoles are from were in the Grand Cherokee's made from 1993-1998. The one I got mine from (and yet to install) was a 1995 model.
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I have a overhead console from a '90 Chrysler Le Baron and it looks surprisingly the same as the the XJ one. I'll likely put that into use soon.. ;)
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I have a overhead console from a '90 Chrysler Le Baron and it looks surprisingly the same as the the XJ one. I'll likely put that into use soon.. ;)
Can't wait to see the pictures! Good luck!
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On a similar note to the overhead console, I bought the rear speaker bar from an XJ. Going to try to modify the light to look a bit better in it (and for a delightful rear hatch light!).
Man, just need to find an overhead console now!