Thinking of removing most of my center console

[Paddletrucker]

I've got a 1995 XJ with the AX 15. The square shift boot in the console is messed up. I really don't like the console that much. I'd like to have the space directly under the dash for ham radio stuff, rather than the little cubby hole. I noticed that under the square rubber shift boot there's carpet.

I think I'd like to remove the console all the way back to the box that covers the housing for the emergency brake and serves as an armrest and storage area. That, I'd like to leave. What I'd really like to do is rebuild another box out of metal that i can lock solid where I can keep my pistol when I go into places that I can't carry. But for now, I'd leave the original.

Have any of you done this? I know it can be done, but before I do it, I was wondering if anyone else had done it and if they had any advice on what might be better. By looking at it, I think I can take all of the console off and maybe cut out a new piece that would cover the front of the e-brake housing and screw it on.

Anyway, I'm probably going to try to do it, but was wondering if anyone else had done it and what they thought.

[bigjim350]

Perhaps something like this
http://www.tuffyproducts.com/images/product/large/120_1_.jpg
http://www.tuffyproducts.com/p-120-050-xj-security-console.aspx
I have found them cheaper at other places though

[prerunner1982]

Paddle, I have also heard of people swapping the ebrake to a Comanche foot operated ebrake. This way you would have all the area from the shifter back for a cup holder and/or radio equipment.

I have also thought about moving the ebrake to the left side of the drivers seat on the floor. Not as easy to reach so it makes it hard to drift around corners on the gravel roads. :D

[Paddletrucker]

Yeah, similar to that. I was thinking of even taking off what is shown around the gearshift, too. There's carpet under there and another shift boot, a round one.

I was thinking about getting a different shift boot, maybe one of those leather ones, and a matching one for the transfer case shifter. I'd just have the two shifters coming out of the floor and that's it. Sure, I'd lose the white lettering that has 2H, 4H, N, and 4L on it, but I think I can go on ahead and live without those. :D


I'd like to have just the two shifters in the floor and the box where the e-brake lever is.

[4.3LXJ]

X2 on the Comanche ebrake. It is a bolt in.