Anybody ever take out the cig lighter to make more storage?

[illyc]

LOVING this car but i wish it had more storage in front of me (aside from the armrest storage) that was easily accessible. i don't smoke and would love to have more storage where the cig lighter is. i searched several times and didn't find anything.

 

[Telco]

Sorry, not that I've seen, but Chevrolet has a pocket under the stereo on some of their vehicles that might be modifiable to suit your needs. Here is an example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-Chevy-Pi...d=100005&prg=1088&rk=2&rkt=5&sd=200835178630&

This particular one is designed to fit behind the dash bezel panel, so has no face of its own.

You might wander the salvage yards to find one, or find something similar in a different vehicle that would fit. I'd suggest removing your ash tray assembly and take it with you when you go to the yard so you'll have something to compare. It'll be a bit of a challenge to make it look good though. If you find something that looks suitable but needs appearance work, post pics and perhaps we can come up with some ideas that will let you have a good looking cubby.

It should be possible to find a part from something else that will fit, and look good. For example, I installed a Ford crewcab center console in my reg cab Chevy truck. It looks way better than any of the factory options, works a lot better, and looks like it belongs there.

I just use my ashtray as a shallow storage area as-is.

 

[illyc]

hmmm interesting ideas Telco. i already took out the ashtray insert in the bottom comparment ('04) so that it's a little deeper and wider. i was just thinking of taking out the lighter/power outlet piece, and cutting out the cig lighter to the left in the photo, closing it up with something and keeping the outlet to the right.


View attachment 828463314

 

[G-RELL]

I did this with my first gen... didn't add mire storage, but replaced the lighter...controls my amp power

 

[jolinc01]

If you install a single DIN they make a bezel that has the pocket like this

 

[scjmc]

Pop out the center AC vents and you can fit tons of crap behind the dash there.

 

[1LoudLS]

i was just thinking of taking out the lighter/power outlet piece, and cutting out the cig lighter to the left in the photo, closing it up with something and keeping the outlet to the right.


View attachment 828463314

how would that give you any more storage?




I removed my cig lighter and replaced it with a kicker bass knob.

 

[illyc]

how would that give you any more storage?




I removed my cig lighter and replaced it with a kicker bass knob.

i don't understand the confusion.

you remove the lighter on the left and you then have space for storage.

 

[LS4me]

i don't understand the confusion.

you remove the lighter on the left and you then have space for storage.

For what??? A cigar???? A "D" cell battery???

 

[G-RELL]

^ I never know where to store my D cells... I just let them roll around on the floor.

 

[illyc]

For what??? A cigar???? A "D" cell battery???

what difference does it make? it's another spot to put SOMETHING - whether it's a USB drive, can of altoids, gum, etc. instead of having it in the cup holder.

 

[Telco]

For what??? A cigar???? A "D" cell battery???

what difference does it make? it's another spot to put SOMETHING - whether it's a USB drive, can of altoids, gum, etc. instead of having it in the cup holder.

Funny. Weren't people just very recently complaining about how nobody ever comes to this board anymore for anything other than basic maintenance? Then when someone starts asking questions about how to perform a mod on their LS to make it more suitable for them, we get this sort of response. A bit of extra storage space really isn't a stupid mod anyway.

On the power point, I think I'd just do away with it altogether. You can install one into the side of the center console. Here is one that can be installed for side mount.

This one can be installed for facing the passengers.

Either of these can be painted with vinyl dye to match the interior, and going with one of these power points would allow you to put the power point wherever is convenient and would allow you to use the entire ashtray area for storage instead of having to share it with the lighter. Also keep in mind that depending on what is behind the ashtray, you might be able to make quite the deep hole for storage. You're only limited by what's between the dash face and the firewall/trans tunnel as well as your own skills. I can't tell from the pics on how clean the panel face is, but if it's clean enough without the lighter in place then building the storage area could be built so it backs up against the panel face instead of having to come up with a bezel to make it look good.

 

[1LoudLS]

never said wanting more storage was stupid, i was just trying to understand the long game here.

its one thing if you have something very specific that you are trying to store. but cutting some thing open for a couple of cubic inches of extra storage just doesn't seem like its worth the trade off. mostly because 9 times out of 10, when somebody cuts something up, it looks like it has been all cut up...

 

[LS4me]

never said wanting more storage was stupid, i was just trying to understand the long game here.

its one thing if you have something very specific that you are trying to store. but cutting some thing open for a couple of cubic inches of extra storage just doesn't seem like its worth the trade off. mostly because 9 times out of 10, when somebody cuts something up, it looks like it has been all cut up...

EXACTLY my point.

 

[illyc]

ok so let's talk about how to do an oil change yay!

 

[Telco]

No, but the implication was there. This board is fairly hostile to new ideas that don't involve plasti-dip and named wheels.

 

[joegr]

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see anything really hostile in the responses.

 

[Telco]

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see anything really hostile in the responses.

Not just this thread, I speak of the board in general. Heard from Wolverine since his initial post on this board? I doubt we will considering his welcome even if he did violate board etiquette by posting an unrelated question on someone else's thread.

 

[illyc]

if you're not interested in the thread topic, why post in it? ahaha that makes zero sense. if i took out the left section of that compartment, my 4"-screened phone would fit there easily. if i did the entire thing like telco suggested, you could fit a whole bunch of **** in there. i don't know that i'll do it, because i've never gone to cutting my interior up and whatnot. but i think it's a useful, if boring, mod.