Close out panel for hole forward of console (M/T)

The 1990s called for me to install a CD player into my 2021 Off Road with Premium package. Yes, I have read several threads here where people say to store the songs on my phone. I already do this. I ran into a problem on road trip this summer and couldn't run itunes to load more music. I bought a CD player that plugs into my USB jack on the dash. It works fine but it doesn't fit so well in the hole FORWARD of the manual transmission shifter. The cubbie hole is too shallow I'm finding. I can shift gears fine but the unit sticks about half way out.

What I'm considering doing is buying a closeout plate that fits (if there is such a thing for 3rd gen Tacomas), cut or remove the front most internal wall of the console's front cubbie and pushing CD player in farther and closing it out with the said plate.

Is there such a thing? I have a picture and have drawn in plate with red lines to make it clear. I would cut a rectangle to size for CD player to poke through toward shifter. I know I'll likely need to have stick in 2nd, 4th, or 6th gear to remove and insert CDs (maybe neutral will be enough room). I'm pretty good with mods I've done on my 2011 BMW (mounted a spare tire under trunk floor like a truck has)
Added a picture of an auto guy's same player in this hole. Sorry for the double pic of first image. I'm getting used to this forum's interface.
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I'm betting that the "3D printing" form on here could help you.

 

I have never seen anything that walls that area off. I don’t know what it would attach to if it did exist, there’s not much to anchor to in that area. May need to make something custom and epoxy or glue it to the dash and gut the stock stuff that’s in place.

I love CDs and still collect them, but this doesn’t seem all that feasible of a project. Where are you going to store the CDs in the truck?

Also, I’m curious what iTunes issues you had that led to this to begin with? I still sync songs to my phone over a cable (got sick and tired of streaming services) and I haven’t had any issues. So I use the phone.

 

I don't want to start a side narrative on this. I tried to run iTunes while in vacation in Colorado and itunes would not run. I searched around and found that best oprion was to install latest version of itunes. I didn't have admin rights to my machine so that was a nogo. I was stuck traveling back home 1000 miles with my existing load of music. The CD player just gives me flexibility if I hadn't loaded something.

I'd ask that replies stay on the track of this piece of panel I seek and not keep poking at blue tooth method of getting tunes playing. To the other guy that asks where will I keep my CDs, i have a decent size case I've keep using for over 10+ years and it will go between the Tacoma and 2011 BMW 335d (my torque monster). We only wish we could run a M57 diesel in the Tacomas. I bet it would be 5/6/7 grand to transplant it but definitely doable. I'd get another donor engine and not gut my 335d though. I'd want 4WD otherwise why do it. I've made same 1000 mile trip in that car 3 times but it can't handle the trails like the 4WD w/manual Tacoma can. This Taco climbs like a goat in the high clearance trails (west of Buena Vista, CO) going to trail heads. I hiked (5) 14rs over 10 days in July this year.

One more thing: My Forum name comes from me being a Mopar guy. I have a 1967 big block Barracuda so BB_cuda is what I go by in many forums if you see me elsewhere.

 

Found on Google, no experience or endorsement:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4329481432/storage-bin-for-toyota-tacoma-20162023

Could modify that as-is, or see if he'd print you a solid/un-hinged version to cut a hole in

 

Several guys have put a disc player in the glove box and hidden the usb cable behind the dash. I’m guessing you want it accessible while driving since you mention the stick being in the way of changing discs. To that end, I feel like it’d be easier and look nicer to just install a new stereo, especially since you don’t have the JBL system (which complicates stereo swaps).
I’m sure you can pick up a Chineseium head unit that plays discs for less than an arm and a leg. Check out crutchfield? You can retain the steering wheel controls and vehicle settings from the OEM stereo with a product called maestro

 

I’m also open to a glovebox mount too. It just wasn’t my first option. I ran several searches but somehow never found one of those guy’s threads. Would you mind pointing me to one of them?
I guess I would use a USB extender so I don’t have the cable from my unit coming out into that same pocket and up and around to the dash jack. I’ll have get some brackets to mount in the dash’s glovebox.

I didn’t want to clutter up the console and not a fan of the CD slot pointing up. Just seems wonky. Thanks

 

If there isn’t a ready made one, I could buy a piece of black plastic plate ~0.25” thick and cut to size with proper rectangular hole. I’d still have to cut a hole in the front most wall in the cubbie though. I wouldn’t hack it unless I can locate a salvage part from junk yard to put it back stock if I ever wanted to back out of this mod. I need to see how that part of dash pieces together to understand what’s needed from bone yard. I do wonder if that cubbie volume is different for a manual console versus an auto console. Whole lot less manual shift trucks in the junk yards I would think. Slimmer chance to find my prey.

 

I definitely get having your heart set on a DIY mod and making it happen no matter what!
Apparently these are the posts I was thinking of. Surprised myself by finding my own content with a google search.
I chose to link my comment from another thread to acknowledge how crappy I can be at times

 

Two schools of thought here:
1) buy his and remove the pull. Cut a hole where the holes for pull are removed too.
2) buy his and remove the lid. Cut piece of plastic same size as his lid and swap it in if possible.
*) either way, I would still have to cut forward wall (OE console and this assy Esty seller's enclosure) as cubbie isn't deep enough

It would be a $40 experiment either way. The glove box method starting to be the KISS principle. Before I posted this thread, I did see this Etsy add in my google searching. The idea of using the lid as a template didn't occur to me though. I'm thinking trial and error cutting of cardboard to make a template cheaper and don't have to wait for shipment. thanks for stirring my creative thoughts

 

I don't remember there being a lot of room forward of the cubby.

edit: Maybe find an earlier model head unit with the CD player?

 

On a different tangent, I hunted online junk yards for console parts. The plate that is the INSIDE wall of the cubbie pocket looks to be same whether manual or automatic transmission. The consoles themselves are different. I drew in another polygon at front of a manual trans console (picture 1). Also drew in a shape into a different angle picture where dash is taken apart (picture 2).

Anyone have a picture of what appears to be this small plate please?

I found a video where a company takes the panel that goes above this area to insert their product. There was an attachment point at bottom of this higher up panel. I found a junk yard that has a 2021 Tacoma. They say the dash is gone but console is still there. I may drive there to get a look and learn even if it turns out the little panel is gone. As I said above, I won't do the cubbie install unless I can get this panel too. If my mod turns out to be crap, I want to be able to bail out back to normal OE.

The glove box way looks to be a done deal if this gets too far gone.

 

Two thinks you might not be aware of: One of those very important ECUs is immediately in front of the cubby - there may not be enough depth for your CD player.
The second is there is a replacement for the bottom of the cubby that were used on the SRs; they did not have the wireless charger. Or so I have heard. See post #11 Best spot for hardwired 12v outlet place in cab? | Tacoma World

 

This piece:has at least 4 variants. Mt vs at and qi or not. Personally I did a qi charger delete, used that button spot for the trac button. But now I have bigger cubby, with a sweet organizer in it.

 

Sorry nothing to add on the plate… but 10000% agree on a cd player. Happy my 2016 came with one and hate these new “use a phone” head units. Good luck on your search!

 

Okay, the tipping point has now been reached on the CD player in the cubbie area. I'll start working the glove box details. Thanks.

I had learned that the panel for that area is the very bottom of the larger panel that has all of the switches in it. Aside from the ECU location info you gave to me, I was already seeing the chances of me finding another panel like mine in the junk yard as next to nill. It has all but one spot populated. My truck in manual otherwise that last spot would have ECT button.