Greetings!!!

Well, I finally got around to installing the Expedition center console in my 2000 F-150 this weekend and ran into a a bit of a problem. Removal of the existing center console was easy. I noticed that there are four 9 or 10mm bolts sticking up from the floor of the truck, spaced about 5 inches away from each other, and about 10 inches between the front pair and the back pair. I removed the thick metal mounting plates from the Expy center console to see if they matched up. Well, no luck. The Expy mounting plates have no holes drilled in them to accept studs. The back plate has what appears to be to two metal "lips" that are pushed down from the top portion of the plate, and appear to be designed to clip or lock into a mounting mechanism of some sort. The front plate has a semi-rectangular section cut out of the middle of the plate, and again appears not designed to accept threaded studs in any way. The stock center console on the 2000 F-150's is simply bolted down with 4 nuts.

Can someone describe the way their OEM center console was attached to your '97-'99 trucks? I know that the 2000 center console on the F-150 has changed a bit cosmetically, but I was wondering if the studs are the same size/placement.

I wonder if the 2000 Expy Center console is designed the same way the '97-'99's are? If so, I should be able to get a set a '00 plates and attache them to the '99 center console. Otherwise, I'll have to drill holes in the plates, and attempt to mount the console over the studs on the F-150.

Has anyone ran into this before?

Thanks in advance for any helps/ideas..

Steve


------------------
2000 4X4 Lariat SuperCab
5.4 Triton
Two-tone black on silver
All options except LS differential

MODS so far:

-Westin step bars (powder coated matte black)
-Lund bug shield
-Gentex electrochromatic rear view mirror
-Cabin filtration kit
-Superchip
-Stull Billet Grill
-Flowmaster Force II catback (series 50 SUV with duals out the rear)
-Line-X bedliner

MODS to come:

-K&N or AirAid FIPK kit
-Mickey Thompson Challenger 16" wheels with 295/75 BFG AT KO's
-4.10 gears (still thinking about this one ...anyone have any input?)
-LS diff or locker of some sort once they are available..
-A.R.E. LSII or Ford HarleyDavidson tonneau cover

1995 Eddie Bauer Bronco
1988 Mustang GT



[This message has been edited by TSSCS (edited 03-20-2000).]

 

TSSCS,

It sounds like you did not get the two plates and four smaller bolts with the console. Did you get it from LWM? If so, call them and ask them where they are.

Mine was from a '98 and came with two plates (one for the back and one for the front) that had holes in them for the studs. These join together with the metal plates already on the bottom of the console. The plates that bolt to the floor are black and the ones attached to the console are just bare metal.

The back one has two receiving slots and two pieces of metal angled about 60 degrees up toward the front of the vehicle to line up with the screws that go through the sides of the console. The front one has two vertical pieces that match up with the rectangular holes in the metal plate on the bottom of the console. There are also two small holes that you have to run bolts to once the console is in place through the top of the console (under the piece that holds the change, etc.).

It sounds like you did not get the two bottom plates and the four smaller bolts that come with it to attach the console to the black bottom plates.

I hope this helps.

------------------
'98 F-150 XLT SuperCab Flareside, Auto, 4.6L, 4X2, 3.55 LS, 6-CD changer, Moonlight Blue with tan interior, Captains Chairs

Mods[*]Window tint[*]Extang Classic Platinum Tonno[*]Lund Interceptor bug deflector[*]Wizard Superwhite Bulbs[*]Pendaliner bedliner[*]Expedition center console
http://www.geocities.com/scmc75/f150/




[This message has been edited by BlueFlareside (edited 03-20-2000).]

 

Tsscs, Where did you get your Expy Center Console, and how much?!?!?!

------------------
1999 4.6 Extra Cab-Short Bed
Silver Clear Coat Metalic
K&N Airfilter
17 Inch 2000 Chrome 4X4 Wheels Wrapped in 275/60/17 ZR Yokahama AVS
White-Faced Luminescent Gauges

 

Thanks Blue Flareside.... I only received the metal plates that were attached to the center plastic piece of the console. I had no idea that there were additional pieces required. I ordered the console from LWM. I will probably just stop by the local dealership to order the rest of the pieces. This way I can check out the "exploded" view of the console on their computer to get a visual view of the proper installation. I really appreciate your help. So there are 4 plates and 4 nuts required, is that corect?

Anyone have pics of the install?

FORDTRK:

I got my center console from LWM Enterprises in OK. Do a search for Expedition Console and you should find several threads. Be forewarned, however, my unit did not arrive in very good condition, however, and I had to purchase several replacement parts from the local dealer. I still, however, made out better than the $500.00 or so it would cost to purchase the 15 or so parts new from the dealer.

------------------
2000 4X4 Lariat SuperCab
5.4 Triton
Two-tone black on silver
All options except LS differential

MODS so far:

-Westin step bars (powder coated matte black)
-Lund bug shield
-Gentex electrochromatic rear view mirror
-Cabin filtration kit
-Superchip
-Stull Billet Grill
-Flowmaster Force II catback (series 50 SUV with duals out the rear)
-Line-X bedliner

MODS to come:

-K&N or AirAid FIPK kit
-Mickey Thompson Challenger 16" wheels with 295/75 BFG AT KO's
-4.10 gears (still thinking about this one ...anyone have any input?)
-LS diff or locker of some sort once they are available..
-A.R.E. LSII or Ford HarleyDavidson tonneau cover

1995 Eddie Bauer Bronco
1988 Mustang GT

 

TSSCS,

Yes, there are two black metal plates and four bolts (small but not sure what size). You may want to check if they replacement studs for the rear studs because you will either have to cut them at the top of the nut or cut the plate attached to the console to get the console to fit right. You will see what I mean when you get the plates. Good luck and tell us how it all works out.

I did not take any pictures while I was installing it....sorry.

Steve

------------------
'98 F-150 XLT SuperCab Flareside, Auto, 4.6L, 4X2, 3.55 LS, 6-CD changer, Moonlight Blue with tan interior, Captains Chairs

Mods[*]Window tint[*]Extang Classic Platinum Tonno[*]Lund Interceptor bug deflector[*]Wizard Superwhite Bulbs[*]Pendaliner bedliner[*]Expedition center console
http://www.geocities.com/scmc75/f150/

 

I'd like to offer my .02 here. I also bought a console from LWM. A few things you should know. First, these consoles obviously are used, coming out of Expeditions that have been upgraded by a custom coachbuilder, so the condition is a crapshoot. Still, much better than the $500 or so you'd pay otherwise, and for what it's worth, LWM is very upfront about pointing out that they are used pieces, which made me very comfortable dealing with them.

Second, when I got my console, I was given the two brackets that are being discussed. To mount the rear bracket you either have to cut out holes in the metal plate attached to the console to accomodate the studs, OR you can remove the studs completely as some on this website have done and replace them with bolts that you can buy at a local hardware store. As far as the front brackets, where MY console is concerned, if I want to mount it to the holes I will have to have a front plate fabricted because the holes just do not line up. I may not do it because the console is in pretty snug as it is.

A word of caution: I have a 1999 F150 and a 2000 center console. The newer console has been cosmetically re-designed. The old console glovebox tapers up towards the top whereas the new one does not. The console will still squeeze in, but because of the wider glovebox, your armrests on the captains chairs are rendered useless. I will be trading in my unit for an older model this weekend. If you have a 99 F-150, you may want to keep this in mind.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the help everyone!!

I agree with Indigo that LWM was upfront concerning the condition of the center console, and I did not have a problem with them at all. I just wanted FORDTRK to be aware that he may receive a console that was not in perfect shape. :-)

I have some additional questions:

1. Is the problem with the existing studs such that the studs are too tall and when the bottom (black colored) plate is attached to the truck, the studs protude into the top plate which is attached to the clear plastic center console?

2. To fix this problem, are some folks removing the 4 threaded studs (bolts) from the body of the truck from underneath and replacing them with shorter ones with the same thread size?


Thanks again......

Steve


------------------
2000 4X4 Lariat SuperCab
5.4 Triton
Two-tone black on silver
All options except LS differential

MODS so far:

-Westin step bars (powder coated matte black)
-Lund bug shield
-Gentex electrochromatic rear view mirror
-Cabin filtration kit
-Superchip
-Stull Billet Grill
-Flowmaster Force II catback (series 50 SUV with duals out the rear)
-Line-X bedliner

MODS to come:

-K&N or AirAid FIPK kit
-Mickey Thompson Challenger 16" wheels with 295/75 BFG AT KO's
-4.10 gears (still thinking about this one ...anyone have any input?)
-LS diff or locker of some sort once they are available..
-A.R.E. LSII or Ford HarleyDavidson tonneau cover

1995 Eddie Bauer Bronco
1988 Mustang GT

 

Mine was a little beaten up but some 409 and thena good coat of Armor All made it look like new.



TSSCS,

1. Yes, the studs are too tall and interfere with the plate attached to the center console. You will not be able to get the two tongues of metal into the two slots without cutting the bolts or cutting away at the plate attached to the console.

2. I think some people are doing this. I just cut away at the plate attached some and then sawed off the studs at the top of the nut. If you look at some of the older posts I think someone said that they replaced the studs with shorter ones.

Indigo,
My front holes did not line up either so I just drilled two new holes into the plate about a half inch back of the original ones. I dropped some white paint down where the bolts go with the console in place so that I could tell where to drill and it worked perfectly. Then I removed the console, screwed the bolts into the new holes to thread them, took the bolts out, put the console back into place and screwed the bolts in from above. I had to put a piece of tape over the bolt to keep it in my socket.

Good luck to the both of you and take some pictures during the install to help others. I wish I would have done this to help you out.

------------------
'98 F-150 XLT SuperCab Flareside, Auto, 4.6L, 4X2, 3.55 LS, 6-CD changer, Moonlight Blue with tan interior, Captains Chairs

Mods[*]Window tint[*]Extang Classic Platinum Tonno[*]Lund Interceptor bug deflector[*]Wizard Superwhite Bulbs[*]Pendaliner bedliner[*]Expedition center console
http://www.geocities.com/scmc75/f150/