Money was tight this weekend, but I still wanted to do something for the truck so I figured this would be cheap, easy, and useful. Last weekend I removed my bench seat and installed Cherokee seats (pics/info in my build thread here) and I love them, but now I don't have as much storage since I lost the space behind the bench seat. My truck is 2wd so I'm mounting this on the trans tunnel with 1" self tapping screws. The interior will have lighting that I can switch on and off with a toggle switch. I'll also be removing the top handle and front handle (not the latch) so they don't rattle constantly while I'm driving. I'm going to finish it in flat black as well.

5.56 ammo can - $16 at local military surplus store
4x white LEDs - $10 at Advance Auto
1x toggle switch - $5 at Lowe's
6x 1" #8 self tapping screws - $1 at Lowe's
1x mailbox lock - $5 at Lowe's
total: $37

other supplies I had lying around:
Flat black spray paint
16ga wire

tools needed:
drill
drill bits
wire strippers
grinder (if you want to remove the handle on top and the front so that they don't rattle)
cutting blades

The lock, LEDs and toggle switch are all that will be going on it for now. Sometime in the future, possibly next weekend I'll be adding a second toggle switch and exterior LED's on either side as long as strips under the dash for footwell lighting when needed.

Will update as this goes along. Doing a bit tonight and finishing it tomorrow.

 

5.56 Ammo Can





hole layout for toggle switch on drivers side



LEDs, toggle switch, and lock



hole layout in rear for LEDs



test fit for LEDs



holes layed out and drilled for where I'm mounting it

 

That might be interesting. Lets see it mounted up.

 

It won't be until tomorrow. I'll post pics along the way and when it's finished tomorrow.

 

Cool Project, look forward to seeing it installed.

 

Finished 99% of it Sunday. Finished it by welding a small piece of steel onto the side on the inside for the latch on the lock to catch. Forgot to take a picture of that, but got everything else.

Removed the front handle. You could use a grinder, but I just hit it with bolt cutters.

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Did the same thing with the top handle. The top hole I cut out for the lock.

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Cut the hole for the switch next.

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Lock and switch test fits.

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Once everything was all fit in place I threw some semi-flat black paint on it.

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I didn't take pictures of the wiring process for a couple reasons. One, it frustrates me enough doing electrical work without stopping to take pictures, and two not everyone will wire it the same. I tied mine into the 12v constant for the cigar lighter. I just pulled the dash cover, radio, and stereo. Wired the positive into the 12v constant and the ground wire to the ground strip for the radio. Ran both lines down through the openings in the dash and down behind the ashtray molding where they dropped out the bottom.



I ended up not using the inline fuse since I tied into the 12v at the cigar lighter.

As for mounting it to the floor, I simply ran a pencil on the pre-drilled holes in the box, then drilled pilot holes in the trans tunnel, there's plenty of space without hitting anything. Then I put washers inside and ran 1" #8 self tapping screws down and it's plenty sturdy.

Anyway, here's final pictures.

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Unfortunately one of the 4 LEDs was broken out of the package. I'll end up replacing it later.

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The wiring is more exposed than I'd like, but I was being lazy and wired it in my lap instead of on the floor. I really don't care though as it's all coated, heatshrinked, and covered, plus I can't see it from the drivers seat. Out of sight, out of mind.

I'm loving it so far. I don't have automatic windows so unless it's cold out I tend to leave my windows down all the time. Nothing has happened yet, but I'd rather not tempt fate. Plus I might modify the door hinges so that the doors are removable so I can take them on and off this summer.

 

Are the little individual leds that you used pretty bright? Im redoing my interior lighting to all leds and i thought about taking those little leds and putting one on each side of truck on the top of the A&B pillar mounted in the plastic trim to give a little more lighting for the front 2 seats.

 

Yeah, the pics don't do them justice. I was worried when I first hooked them up during the day, but once it got dark they were great. If the top is open they light the whole cab up.