30mm Ammo Can Center Console with 8" Sub Enclosure

Here is my version of the ammo can center console.

I built mine out of a 30mm ammo can. These measure 9.5 x 17.25 x 14H" and fit comfortably snug between the front seats.




The goal was to both increase interior storage space and maintain the factory design of a hidden subwoofer. There was an added benefit of being a far more comfortable armrest than the factory console.

Because I have a late-TJ, the console has two front cupholders with one being split in half. This makes cleanly separating the console halves aesthetically difficult. My solution is to put in an early-TJ front half with a single cupholder. I gave up the rarely used and barely useful rear cupholders. Another thing I like about the earlier console is the general purpose tray at the far front rather than the coin tray that was added to the later years.

Here is the late-TJ full console next to my cobbled together version. The lengths and spacing are the same, though the wide angle lense on my phone distorts the appearance. Still, you can get a good idea of have much added space will be gained.






This is the cutout for the parking brake. The mounting bracket for the parking brakes hooks over the front lip of the cut out in the can. Two holes are drilled in the rear to use the factory mounting bolts found under the rear cup holders. These three points make for a very secure attachment. This positioning is nearly identical to the placement of the factory console.


The hinge is created by shortening the lip that the lid rests in and using a pair of carriage bolts to hold the latch in place. The lid is held up with a pair of really short, low pressure lift struts. The lid raises by itself, but is easy to push back down. The light is an LED pod with a magnetic reed switch that shuts off when closed. The wiring is routed through the stiffening braces in the lid and the outside of the can before running into the front console for power. The rubber gasket was removed except for the front edge. This allows the front latch to have a firm action without being too stiff.


Now for the controversial part. I know (and care) very little about car audio outside of the recent upgrade to my TJ's sound system including the headunit, speakers and amps. I researched a good amount and went from there. For my sub enclosure I did not follow many of the rules. To my ears, I think it sounds very clear and clean.

The subwoofer is a Polk Audio db840DVC 8-Inch Dual Voice Coil. For a sealed enclosure, the speaker requires a minimum .34 cubic feet of interior space. I achieved ~.4 cuft by using 1/4" Baltic birch plywood and masonite. The box is strengthened with internal gussets and is sealed inside and out with several layers of polyurethane. The funny notch is to accommodate the parking brake. There is a chunk of poly fiber fill inside as well.




The enclosure measures roughly 8 x 10 x 10" and fits very well inside the can. I made a cover for the parking brake mechanism that also holds the enclosure in place.

Because I wanted to retain the ammo can-ness of the ammo can, I secured the handles in place with silicone rather than remove them. No rattles. Also, to retain the appearance, I narrowed the front handle to clear the parking brake.

The speaker grill is a bunch of holes drilled into the side of the can.



To fill the empty space in front of the ammo can and make up for the missing cup holder, I made this container insert out of masonite. The middle section with the wedges doubles as a surprisingly secure cup holder that holds a cup of coffee just fine. I don't care for the color. I will fix that later.



I've been daily driving the new console for about two months and find it to be a significant improvement over the factory console. Both in functionality and comfort. It isn't obvious that I have a sub and it is an uncomfortable ordeal to get it out of the can should someone know to take it. When it warms up, I plan to paint the early-TJ front console a very dark grey/black along with the cupholder insert to match the center dash.