tssguy123

So, like pretty much everybody who has had a pre-97 XJ… I got tired of having cup holders that can’t hold anything more than a can of soda. This is a mod that anybody should be able to do, as long as you have a few simple tools…

Supplies:

• One (or two!) of these cupholders http://www.nautiqueparts.com/blackplasticcupholder.aspx
• Phillips Screwdriver
• Box Cutter/Razor
• Sharpie
• Paper & Scissors
• Dremel with cutoff wheel

As you can see here, the cupholders that were in my Jeep before are tiny compared to this.




The first thing you’ll want to do is remove all of the screws and the hinge from the lid. Don’t separate the back yet.






Trace the cup-holder and cut it out (when you cut it out, cut a little smaller than the circle)




If done right, it should fit right into the cup holder.




When deciding where to put the hole, you must account for the latch. Don’t be a dumb-*** like I was and trace it too far forward. Also, it’s best to NOT use a Sharpie to transfer the circle on to the console… You can tell where I used goo-gone to remove the Sharpie and sorta ruined the console. Nothing I can’t fix, though.




I aligned mine using the hole for the latch and a strip of paper as a right-edge.






Next, you’ll want to take your razor/box-cutter and cut out the hole. The foam is pretty brittle, and once you get through the vinyl you can separate whatever remains from the plastic underneath.


This is when you should remove the plastic layer that is on the under-side of the lid.






I used the Dremel to cut off this hole, and then filled it with Quiksteel. When I was done, I sanded down the excess and sprayed it with a bit of black spraypaint. You don't have to do this, but I have a headphone jack in my center console, and I don't want any liquid spilling and possibly ending up down there.




FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN’T GOTTEN YOUR DEGREE FROM DREMEL UNIVERSITY—THIS IS A CUTOFF WHEEL.




The best way I have found to do this is to use a drill bit on the Dremel and put some holes through the plastic along the edges of the circle. This is because you HAVE to cut from the bottom, or the wheel will bind on the plastic supports.




After a bit of cutting. Don’t worry, you’ll be taking off a lot more.




Very rough-cut through the plastic.




Getting closer, but the outer edge of the cup holder still won’t fit.




Still closer, just need to take off a bit more from the right edge and pretty it up a bit.




Aaaand almost done. Still have to cut the bottom layer of plastic.




The best way I’ve found to do this is to cut a small square, then keep expanding it until it barely fits. Don’t force it, because the plastic is easy to break.




There’s still a bit of cleaning left to be done, but at this point I was tired and went to sleep. I still need to look into some way of making the edges around the bottom look nicer… but, ultimately, it’s inside of my center console and nobody should see it but me. Function over form, right?