1st Gen Switch cluster location suggestions?

Ha.. No it's tan. U have a 98 center console with square cupholders though...pulled it out of the recalled truck.

 

Well, in knowing now what I didn't know before, I can give ya a few tips.

Toggle switches are a whole lot easier to install and take up quite a bit less space than rocker switches. If you use toggle switches, you'll be able to get away with a much smaller box, by about half. They just dont look as nice, but depending on the look you want, you might find something you like. Del City has some interesting illuminated toggle switches that only require drilling out a 1/2" hole to install. http://www.delcity.net/store/Illuminated-Toggles/a_all

Running wires for 5 switches through the A-pillar molding is going to suck, but if everything is running off relays (as it should), 10 wires + led power + grounds is still going to be pretty crowded up there, but should be doable. I'm not sure how the ground is up there, so you may want to run a dedicated ground as well.

As far as what to use, if I was going to do a roof mount, I'd be really tempted to do something like one of these: http://www.delcity.net/store/Switch-Panels/p_793798.a_1 They aren't cheap, but as far as looks go, I dont think you'll find something much better, specially if you have the gray interior. For mounting, you'd pretty much have to mark where you want it installed, pull down the headliner and use some washers on the inside. No clue on how much room is behind the panels, so you may have to actually cut the headliner a bit as well.

I'm sure you could find something sort of like the project boxes above, but with softer corners that might look good. If you get a pre-built box and use toggle switches instead of rockers, I think you could easily get away with plastic. For toggle switches, I think you could do with something about 1.5x4" on its face. I'd guess about 1-1.5" depth. For rockers, the minimum would be about 2"x6" with about the same depth, but with rounded edges, you'd probably need to take it up to 2.5".

Another option for rocker switches is http://www.delcity.net/store/Modular-Brackets/p_791041.a_1, which then you'd only have to worry about a single cutout for the box. That box would have to be about 2.5x6x1.5 or larger.

I know you may not think its a big deal, but not having some sort of illumination when the switches are off isn't great. For example, try running your ac/heater controls in the dark with your lights off. It can be done, but it sucks.

 

I was going to use something like this...
http://www.delcity.net/store/Illum-Rocker-Switches/p_791339.a_1
A local parts store carries them in 4 different colors so I have orange for lights, blue for compressor, green for something else, etc. The switches are about 1.25" long, so a 2" tall box for the panel was what I had in mind.

I found a 6x4x2 electrical box on that site you posted earlier with a bottom bracket that I could remove for wiring. Very helpful thanks! I will try to do that in the near future (aka after I pay off the truck next week.
Thanks for the help so far!

Good luck! Try a 4Runner or something..if you haven't already.

 

Geez, def not worth it! No offense, but I doubt anybody with round cupholders is gonna want to trade either....

 

Don't the 4runners have some extra switches in the center of the dash or in the console? Maybe you could swap some interior pieces and use OEM fog switches?

 

my light switch is behind the shifter, you can see it at the top of the pic

 

Here's how i did mine:

 

That's pretty sweet. There's already an aftermarket alarm system light taking up those though...damn.

 

Thanks! my alarm button is over where everyone else decides to put toggles beside the fuse box! its a lot of work to put them here though but well worth it

 

I have a 01 automatic and installed 2 toggle switches behind the shifter for two amps i had in my back seat but if i remember correctly i was thing about installing them behind the cup holders beside where i ended up installing. i say this cuz im sure you can fit 6 across that part of the plastic molding the only down side is they will be in the way of the cigarette lighter plugs but i installed 3 more cigarette lighter plug under my after market cd player.. I can post a pic in the morning of how mine turned out.. they where super easy to install and i really like them there cuz they're out of the way and i can get to them really easy..