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  #1  
Old 01-18-2015, 12:50 AM
fordrebel fordrebel is offline
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Default Shorty 1st generation explorer center console install in ranger???

Hello,

I have a 1994 Ford Ranger extended cab and I would like to take out the 60/40 seats and install 1st generation explorer seats and a 1st generation explorer shorty center console; however, I have been unable to find any how-to’s or threads explaining specifically how to mount the center console to the floor of my generation Ranger. One of my five main questions for completing this project is how exactly do I mount the center console to the floor and do I have to drill holes in my floor to do this properly? I am only asking this because, while doing research, I have read on multiple forums there are mounting guides and/or pre-fabbed holes underneath the carpet that Ford actually installed during the vehicle's assembly at the Ford plant just in case someone would like to install a shorty console. As additional helpful information my floorboard is lined with the optional removable thin black rubber or plastic molded material instead of carpet. My second question is, if I do have to drill holes in my floor, what are some tips that will prevent me from accidentally drilling into the trans and/or transfer case? I have not looked underneath the truck yet in regards to this project; therefore, I am unaware as to how much clearance I have between the trans, transfer case, and floor tunnel. The third question is if I do drill holes do I have enough clearance to use nuts and bolts to mount the console to the floor or do I have to use self-tapping screws? My fourth question is will I have to cut a hole in my plastic floor lining in order to properly mount the mounts to the floor or can I leave my floor lining as is? My final question is how do I know the distance between the front mounting bracket of the console and the rear bracket when I am securing the mounts to the floorboard? I am only asking this question because, if I do have to drill holes in the floor, I want to drill the holes in exactly the right spot the first time so I don't have multiple unnecessary holes in the floor of my cab. I am so sorry I have asked so many questions and any help or advice regarding this issue would be greatly appreciated; I am sick of my 60/40 setup and want to do this conversion properly so it looks like it was done at the assembly plant.
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  #2  
Old 01-18-2015, 01:24 PM
Mike69 Mike69 is offline
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Default Re: Shorty 1st generation explorer center console install in ranger???

Matt, my last 2000 Ranger had the 60/40 split bench & the seat back frame broke. I found a mid 90's Explorer Sport in the JY & pulled the l/s bucket seat & the shorty console. On the floor of the Ranger it already has dimples in the floor where the studs for the console would go since it is an option on the Rangers. I used those spots & drilled the holes for the console rear bracket & IIRC the slotted holes for the plastic retainers that the front of shorty console screws to are already in the floor, you just have to pop them in the floor. I do not have any pics since the Ranger I did that to is long gone. If you need I could pull the shorty console out of my Ranger & take some pics since my current 2000 Ranger has the shorty console in it from the factory.

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2000 Ranger Extd Cab XLT, 4X4 Off Road, 4.0L, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, 01 grille & lights swap.
69 Mustang, modified 5.0, & 5spd.(project)
99 Explorer Sport, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, PW, PL, PM, Cruise, Tilt. (Wife's DD)
05 F-150 2WD Regular Cab. ( My DD)
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  #3  
Old 01-18-2015, 03:37 PM
fordrebel fordrebel is offline
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Thanks Mike69 for your input. If it's not too much trouble I would appreciate it if you could send me a few pics of the underside of your console since it is a shorty. The main problem I keep running in to is that I can find multiple how tos and threads for mounting full and shortly explorer consoles in 98+ rangers but I cannot find anything on mounting a shorty in a 93-97 ranger. I did figure there would be some type of prefabricated holes or some kind of guides already in the floor because, according to my research, there actually were some rangers from 93-97 that came factory with shorty consoles and 40/40 bucket seats. I also know how Ford is typically known for aiding DIY'ers if they want to make modifications to a ranger as long as the modifications were an available option to come from the factory. For example, my truck did not come with factory fog lights but I do have the factory fog light bulb wiring connectors and a spot in the power distribution box to plug in the foglight relay so all I have to do is buy the bumper valance, the fog light assemblies, and mount the fog light switch to the dash and no one will ever know my fog lights did not come on my ranger from the factory.
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  #4  
Old 01-18-2015, 06:44 PM
Mike69 Mike69 is offline
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Default Re: Shorty 1st generation explorer center console install in ranger???

Matt,
I will get you a pic of the underside of a spare shorty console I have tomorrow. Here is a pic of the dimples in the floor of my 2000 Ranger Extd Cab where the rear support bracket bolts to the floor. You just have to drill holes in those spots & bolt the rear bracket to the floor.

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2000 Ranger Extd Cab XLT, 4X4 Off Road, 4.0L, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, 01 grille & lights swap.
69 Mustang, modified 5.0, & 5spd.(project)
99 Explorer Sport, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, PW, PL, PM, Cruise, Tilt. (Wife's DD)
05 F-150 2WD Regular Cab. ( My DD)
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Old 01-18-2015, 08:37 PM
fordrebel fordrebel is offline
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Ok thanks for that pic Mike69 that helps out a lot. After I drill the holes for the rear mount do you think I'll have enough clearance between the floor tunnel and the transmission and/or transfer case to secure the mount with nuts and bolts or do I have to use self tapping screws? I'm only asking this because I feel nuts and bolts will secure the mount to the floor better.
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  #6  
Old 01-19-2015, 03:39 PM
Mike69 Mike69 is offline
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Default Re: Shorty 1st generation explorer center console install in ranger???

I had to re-mount the shorty console in the above pic because the welded studs were puling out of the floor, so I removed all 4 & drilled holes & nut & bolted it down. Much sturdier now & yes there is enough room to get your hands up under there to bolt it down.
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2000 Ranger Extd Cab XLT, 4X4 Off Road, 4.0L, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, 01 grille & lights swap.
69 Mustang, modified 5.0, & 5spd.(project)
99 Explorer Sport, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, PW, PL, PM, Cruise, Tilt. (Wife's DD)
05 F-150 2WD Regular Cab. ( My DD)
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  #7  
Old 01-19-2015, 05:39 PM
fordrebel fordrebel is offline
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Sounds like this project is much easier than I had thought. Thank you so much Mike69 for all your input you don't know how much I appreciate it. I do, however, have one more question for you. You mentioned in a previous post that the front of the shortly console is bolted into plastic retainers that you just pop into a prefabricated hole already drilled into my floor so my question is whee do I get these plastic retainers if I do not want to use the ones in the junkyard. I always like to use new hardware whenever possible but I'm scared Ford has already made something as insignificant as those retainers obsolete by now.

----------

Where not whee sorry
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  #8  
Old 01-19-2015, 07:14 PM
Mike69 Mike69 is offline
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Default Re: Shorty 1st generation explorer center console install in ranger???

I would grab them from the JY, when I grabbed the shorty console from the JY for my last Ranger I took them & they worked fine. I just looked those pieces up on the Ford parts web site & it looks like they are called a nut - adjuster screw, $4.60 for the pack of 2. Check with your local dealer, by the web site it looks like they are still available.
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2000 Ranger Extd Cab XLT, 4X4 Off Road, 4.0L, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, 01 grille & lights swap.
69 Mustang, modified 5.0, & 5spd.(project)
99 Explorer Sport, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, PW, PL, PM, Cruise, Tilt. (Wife's DD)
05 F-150 2WD Regular Cab. ( My DD)

Last edited by Mike69; 01-19-2015 at 07:24 PM.
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  #9  
Old 01-20-2015, 08:35 AM
fordrebel fordrebel is offline
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Ok that sounds easy enough. You wouldn't happen to have the part number for those plastic retainers nuts would you? I 'll try the jy first but it would be awesome to still have the part number just in case all the retainers nuts I find at the jy are not usable or broken.
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  #10  
Old 01-20-2015, 04:42 PM
Mike69 Mike69 is offline
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Default Re: Shorty 1st generation explorer center console install in ranger???

The only number it shows on the Ford parts web site is N807362-S
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2000 Ranger Extd Cab XLT, 4X4 Off Road, 4.0L, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, 01 grille & lights swap.
69 Mustang, modified 5.0, & 5spd.(project)
99 Explorer Sport, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, PW, PL, PM, Cruise, Tilt. (Wife's DD)
05 F-150 2WD Regular Cab. ( My DD)
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  #11  
Old 01-30-2015, 10:32 PM
dennis kirban dennis kirban is offline
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Default Re: Shorty 1st generation explorer center console install in ranger???

Just caught this thread I installed the mini console in my 96 which would be basically the same as yours. I been selling mini consoles on ebay and I got those plastic spacers I think you are refering to. They go in the front under the console and it takes two long screw to secure the front of the mini console under the cup holder section. If its those spacers you need advise and I can ship them to you.

I got several consoles spacing works out great in the rangers for them. For seats I just found a mint passenger seat and used two passenger bucket seats.

Looking to have some parts done in black carbon fiber also.

denniskirban@yahoo.com
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  #12  
Old 02-01-2015, 04:38 PM
fordrebel fordrebel is offline
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Yes, I do need those clips how much do you want for them and how much would it be to ship me a grey shorty console to zip code 30113?
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