I'm dangerous when I'm bored...Another center shift mod

rlith · Post by **rlith** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:52 pm

So today I was given a 2000 Envoy Center console and shifter to play with (and keep of course)...Install was easy as I had the necessary mounts in place from my Column shift to center shift mod. This console is similar to the Jimmy Diamond Edition center console.

The center console is pewter/gray which is the same color as my dash, and the carpet on the side of it was nasty...So after thinking about it, I decided to install it. I taped off the plastic and dyed the carpet black to match my truck carpeting. The wood grain trim will be sanded down this weekend and sprayed gloss black and several layers of clear-coat. The front portion that goes under my dash will be wrapped in black leather to flow the design into my leather seats (so don't worry about that cut out portion in the 1st two pictures)

The shifter knob is very different from the regular center shifter. The release is in front, the button shown on the side is for shift points in the envoy (essentially the tow/haul switch). I wired that to kick on my amp (it's a momentary pulse switch). The rear controls I already have the diagrams for, so i will be wiring it to allow dvd and volume control of the AVIC-Z1 I have in the dash. The power socket is active an the headphone jacks are as well...(though I don't know why I did them as i have wireless headphones all over the car)

I removed the 6 disc gm changer (made by clarion) that was in the front as I have a 12 disc dvd/cd changer in the cargo area and I really didn't want the hassle of adding that unit. I did keep the face plate as you can see in the pictures, and I will probably mount some sort of switches behind the door (it's a push to open/close door)

Some of you may like it, some of you may not... You can see all the interior pics at http://www.pghconsulting.net/teal and see how the coloring flows in the truck...

Let me know what you think!

On to the pics!

Here is a basic shot, with nothing open...But as you can see the bottom right portion of my pewter dash, it matches, as does the black carpet...

Here is a shot with the cup holders open...(Much more space then my normal center console cup holders, and the hide!)

And a shot of the rear... As I said above, I will be wiring the controls into my AVIC-Z1

Steventruck · Post by **Steventruck** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:23 pm

Good luck wiring the RSA to a dvd player. I have RSA isntalled in both of my B-bodies (Impala SS/9C1 and Caprice Wagon). The buttons don't have individual wires. There is a RSA in and a RSA out, like data cables. You might be able to get it to work if you still have your factory radio, I had to use the head unit out of a 2000 Venture van because Caprice, S-10/Blazer, etc. radios didn't interface with the RSA.

It is a very cool feature when it works. I have the factory SCV radio with 12 changer, Rear Seat Audio, and Monte Carlo steering wheel with radio controls all working together seamlessly... into a Kenwood amp and speakers/sub.

That's a very cool console. I found on in a junkyard down here and was able to get it for $50. It came with the 6-disc changer, Bose amp, and the other goodies you have. I think I'll harvest the vertically-oriented RSA control and a few other small parts and junk the rest (mine's not in as good condition as yours, and I never got the shifter for it. I was thinking about getting the HID headlight and ballast, but only the right one was there... When I went back a few weeks later, the whole thing was gone!

Steve

rlith · Post by **rlith** » Wed May 17, 2006 2:21 pm

PAC makes a wireless interface that can work with those controls of the steering controls and transmit via IR to the head unit...Runs about 50 bux from crutchfield...Not difficult to do..

GeorgesBlazah · Post by **GeorgesBlazah** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:11 pm

looks great! i wish mine had a center shifter. btw did ya ever do the 98+ dash swap? or am i thinking of someone else?

rlith · Post by **rlith** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:21 pm

GeorgesBlazah wrote:looks great! i wish mine had a center shifter. btw did ya ever do the 98+ dash swap? or am i thinking of someone else?

Gave up on the dash swap... The gauges in the 98+ run through the BCM and the 95-97 don't use that...

As to the center shifter, I originally had a column shifter like everyone else, I simply did the conversion... It's not difficult at all.