Center console fitment

[Bbrayden85]

I have a ‘97 tj with this two oiece center console. And its ugly because the previous owner raptor lined it. I want to get a one piece one with two cup holders, and i see other ‘97 tj’s with the one piece one. Will the one pie e one fit in my jeep? I ask because theres a little step and the back half sits lower than the front

 

[freedom_in_4low]

that looks like the OEM console out of my 2006. I actually much prefer the 2 piece because the 1 piece is more of a bitch to remove and install. But, if you have a 97, an early console should fit just fine.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

I actually much prefer the 2 piece because the 1 piece is more of a bitch to remove and install.

Thats exactly what I was thinking when I saw the picture of the one piece. I did not know they even made one like that.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Thats exactly what I was thinking when I saw the picture of the one piece. I did not know they even made one like that.

my 99 has the one piece. I figured the 2 piece probably started in 2003 with the interior update maybe?

I HATE pulling the 1 piece console. The bottom is wider than the gap between the seats so you really have to find the right position and sequence to get it all in around the seats, the seatbelts, parking brake lever, and both shifters. I've broken off the little brush around the transfer case lever from manhandling it too hard...twice. Got some quicker setting epoxy to reattach it this time so I don't have to wait a day to reinstall again.

I also don't like that the one-piece doesn't have a removable cupholder insert, so the cupholders are harder to clean when they get nasty.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

my 99 has the one piece. I figured the 2 piece probably started in 2003 with the interior update maybe?

I HATE pulling the 1 piece console. The bottom is wider than the gap between the seats so you really have to find the right position and sequence to get it all in around the seats, the seatbelts, parking brake lever, and both shifters. I've broken off the little brush around the transfer case lever from manhandling it too hard...twice. Got some quicker setting epoxy to reattach it this time so I don't have to wait a day to reinstall again.

I also don't like that the one-piece doesn't have a removable cupholder insert, so the cupholders are harder to clean when they get nasty.

Two piece is a piece of cake! Mine is out for installing noise insulation. Two piece comes out with 2 10 mm bolts and two torx screws easily. Only have to remember to put transfer case in 4 lo.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Two piece is a piece of cake! Mine is out for installing noise insulation. Two piece comes out with 2 10 mm bolts and two torx screws easily. Only have to remember to put transfer case in 4 lo.

View attachment 212390

yes!

When I went to pull the console out of my 06 to swap shifters with my 99 I was quite pleased at how easy it was.

 

[Bbrayden85]

I think they made two versions, i see some ‘97 with that one piece one. But mine and my brother who has the same ‘97 as me have the teo piece one.

 

[Bbrayden85]

I just want to know if they’re interchangeable.

 

[CharlesHS]

IF the vehicles are of the same year then the only difference I could imagine would be whether the vehicle has an automatic or manual transmission.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

these are the only consoles shown in the 1997 parts manual - a full one-piece and a partial one-piece that only includes one cupholder and no armrest/storage. 97 was a crapshoot year with a lot of mix and match parts, but it would surprise me to find out they had a 2 piece console and then went to a 1 piece before going back to a 2 piece again. As has been discussed in this thread, the 2 piece console is much more friendly to being removed and reinstalled so it wouldn't surprise me if you and your brother both ended up with Jeeps that got retrofitted to the 2 piece by previous owners. I'd have done the same if I knew the 2 piece existed before last week and my 99 wasn't a Sahara with a tan interior...the later "tan" is a different color and wouldn't have matched.

As for interchangeability: Both one piece and 2 piece have mounting screws under the shift boot and in the front cupholder. I'd guess these are the same, though the one under the shift boot threads into a metal bracket that is attached to the tub in my 99, and it threads into a plastic standoff that is part of the inner shift boot assembly on my 06.

The rear half is where things get different. The one piece has 2 screws going through the bottom of the storage section down into the tub, and 2 down low on the passenger side (not shown in the screenshot above for some reason). The 2 piece just has 2 in the rear cupholders.

If you pull yours out I suspect the holes may be there for the one piece console and it'll go right in.