Written by Mike Napurano, Member 1 Applies to the following vehicles: 94-95 Grand Prix and 94-97 Cutlass Supreme Created 5/1/2003
Write-Up Rating Rated by 11 members
Submitted by: SlowCamaro88SC
Things needed:
97+ Grand Prix Console
A hate for your crappy stock console
First things first...
I removed the shift knob via the C clip that holds it down.
I removed the ashtray, and everything that was in the console. I took off the upper console piece by pulling it up and off in strategic positions. I also took off the panel for the radio/HVAC controls, so it's not in my way later.
I unhooked the ashtray light, Secondary cigar lighter outlet, and shifter display light.
I found the bolts that hold the console on (two in front, two in back) and took them off.
I slid it back and pulled the stock lower console out, and threw it in the trash. As well as the upper.
I then slid in the new 97+ console there the stock one was. things just didn't look right, so I put the upper console on, slid the shifter thru the NEAT leather boot that the shifter goes thru just so it looked right, and I could setup the console for it's final position. The new console is quite a bit wider, and is longer than the stock. You'll notice that a good chunk of the console will slide under the HVAC/radio console area, giving you a newfound cubby.
Once I found a spot for it to end up, with full travel of the shifter (thank god it's in the same spot as the 97+) I went on the journey to figure out how to anchor the console down.
The car has some wires running under the carpet, around the console, so drilling new holes via the new console's hold down points wouldn't work. After what seemed like an eternity of messing around I was able to drill some holes at a real odd (but hey it works) angle to be able to but self tappers thru the stock hold down holes (a few inches forward of the holes for the 97+). Well that was the hard part, getting it down and in place for good.
I then hooked the the secondary/aux cigar lighter, then moved on to a wiring problem. I found that the stock console uses a tiny light (maybe a #24) to light up the shift indicator, and the new one, uses a 194. I am able to use the light for the stock ashtray, since it's not in the console on the 97+ So I cut off the wiring and pigtail for the stock shift indicator, and just wired her all together.
The result was amazing. It looks like it belongs there. I reused my stock shift knob though, since the 97+ was out of a SE possibly and wasn't leather wrapped, and it didn't "feel" right after years of my leather wrapped one. they are physically the same, except the 97+ has a bare spot for the shift boot to attach to the shifter to look seamless. Mine has a seam, and it doesn't bother me one bit.
