Kenwood CD changer in Console?

[AaronT]

Does anyone have experience putting a CD-Changer in the console? I am helping my brother put his system in his 94 xlt 4-door and can't seem to find the best place for the placement of the changer. I was hoping to mount it in the console for ease of use but I am not sure how well it will look. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!!!

 

[mattadams]

Aaron - you live in Denver and we've never met? How strange... anyways, I have an older model (so its bigger) Kenwood 10-disk changer and I couldn't fit it in the console - it was too long. The metal bracket that keeps the armrest up made it so it wouldn't fit. Hope that helps.

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Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html

 

[The Godfather]

I did that last year. You need to completely remove the console. There is a metal brace that supports the arm rest. Take that out and cut the diagonal brace out. Then take the black basket and rough out the area where the cd changer will be. Then cut it out. After that drill holes for the mounting brackets in the console. Then just put everything back together.

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93 XLT 4 door
Big, green, and slow

 

[AaronT]

Godfather, Do you have any pictures of the finished install?

 

[FMExplorer]

Aaron,
I agree with Godfather. The only thing I did different is I only cut about half of the diagonal brace off. I measured the size of the changer and cut that much metal off, only on the side the changer was on. This way I still had some support. To do this, I used a hacksaw to make the short cuts on the top and bottom (I cut all the way to the seam running up the middle). Then I took a cutting disc on my dremel moto tool and scored the same seam. Next, I took my PERSUADER (very large pliers) and bent the metal in the opposite way of the cut and SNAP - Off it came - very clean. About 5 minutes worth of work.

Jon M

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Jon McLeod
'93 XLT
K&N Drop-In
Modified Airbox
Kenwood Audio
(Am/Fm cassette head + 6-disc changer in the center console)
Rancho RS5000's

Next project: Headers, 1.5" lift (add-a-leaf and spacers), 31x10.50's

 

[The Godfather]

Sorry, no pics. It's really not that hard. Just take your time, it took me abour 2.5 hours to finish everything.

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93 XLT 4 door
Big, green, and slow

 

[wabbit]

I mounted my Sony CD Changer in the console. I cut out the diagonal section of the arm rest support bracket and strengthened the assembly with side mounting plates. These were made from sheet metal and attach at the top through the armrest mounting bolts. Stand off spacers were utilized to allow enough spacing between the two brackets. I removed the factory console insert to save in case I ever sell the Explorer. I can take my CD changer out and replace the insert.
I am getting a door jamb switch to use for installing a courtesy light in the console that will come on when the lid is opened.
Here are some pics of this mod.
www.bewellnet.com/wbacus



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'91 Explorer XLT 4WD