Another long overdue update, this time on the inside of the car. I sat in the drivers seat and looked around for something to do, noticing the double DIN mech-less head unit I bought years ago, so long ago that model is now obsolete

It was sitting loosely in the center console, "why don't I mount that up properly" I thought then quickly realized why I'd put it off for so long. There is no semblance of anything existing in the console to bolt the unit to and there were no brackets or anything in the box with the head unit. Also I think I'm missing some original tin work from the dash/center console, as I didn't pull these from the donor cars myself originally. So followed 2 full days of cardboard templates, marking out, cutting, drilling, grinding, folding, welding to get the head unit to slide in and bolt up cleanly. The end goal being to be able to remove the unit without taking the whole center console apart back to the hand brake. In all, 6 unique metal brackets needed to be made. Hopefully if I ever want/need to replace the head unit, the last 2 brackets might be able to bolt straight onto the new head unit.
First bracket to attach the top drivers side mounting point of the center console to the dash.
Second bracket top passengers side mounting point, center console to dash. This bracket now shares 2 screws with the ignition computer so you can't see all of it. The next set of brackets need to use the holes circled in red.
Next bracket, passenger side center console to head unit, 3mm steel because I could tap threads into it and it is rigid...and all I had lying around
That bracket folded and installed
Repeat for the drivers side, this one was more difficult. 4 of 6 brackets complete!
Brackets 5 and 6 are the same but mirror image. I had enough thinner material to make these.
Like this
And the head unit slides into place! In hindsight it was a bit optimistic for me to think I would get the last mounting holes to line up. On paper it should had but the center console isn't exactly square and parallel. I'll tap some M3 or M4 threads in the 3mm steel bracket, mounting screws from the front. Then I need to make a plastic fascia to clip over the top and hide all the metal work. This is going to be rigid as, no rattling or wobbling.
And of course all the brackets will be removed again for clean up and paint.