This how-to shows you how to install an overhead console from a mid-90's Blazer into your 2nd gen J-body. There are other consoles that will probably work, but the Blazer console seems to be an exceptionally good fit.

The first step is to fit the contour of the console to the contour of the cavalier roof. There was a bit of trimming that needed to be done to make it fit properly. I used a dremel tool and a cutting wheel to remove about 1.5” of material from the mating surface of the console. To do this first carefully peel back the fabric that is on this part and cut away the plastic. Take your time with this part. Make smooth cuts and stop often to test the fit on your car. Time spent fitting the console to the roof will ensure a good final product. This step took me about 2 hours.

When you are all finished cutting the console, use some spray adhesive to reapply the fabric to the console. Let this dry for a few hours.

Next is the fun part. We will have to remove the headliner to mount the overhead console to the roof. To do this first remove the existing dome light. (mine broke, but we are replacing it anyways, so it doesn’t matter too much…) Then remove all of the trim that surrounds the headliner. There will be 2 pieces on the A-pillars, 2 pieces on the B-Pillars, 2-pieces on the C-Pillars, 2 pieces over the doors, and 2 hooks that screw into the c-pillars that all need to be removed. Then remove the sun visors. Now the headliner should be ready to come out. CAREFULLY, unclip the front and back of the headliner. There are 4 little Velcro clips, 2 in the front and 2 in the back, that need to be removed. Then you should be able to completely remove the headliner from the car.

With the headliner out, it is time to make the bracket for the direct mount for the overhead console. This part I will only briefly describe because it will be different for different applications. The way that I mounted the console is as follows: I had one hard mount to the existing holes where the stock domelight was mounted. I had to make a bracket that mounted to the overhead console with holes that matched the ones in the roof. I also had to tap the holes in the roof and fine some machine bolts that fit the holes. The bracket was made from a piece of steel that I had laying around and it bolted to the overhead console and had 2 holes that aligned with the mounting holes in the roof.

After the bracket was mounted to the console, I used 4 other small, clamp-type mounts to further secure the console to the headliner. I had a bolt, which went through the console and headliner, and on the backside of the headliner had a speed nut and a washer so that when tightened, these clamp mounts hold the console up close to the headliner. (see my nice paint picture of this setup.)

The wiring for the overhead console is pretty simple. There are 3 wires from the console: Orange, white, and black. The white and orange wires need to be hooked up to the existing wires from the old dome light. The ground can me made directly to the roof. I used spade-type connectors so I can easily remove the console in the future. I would test the lighting before all of the final mounting of the headliner. It would be bad if you have everything all mounted only to find out that the wiring is messed up!

With the overhead console mounted to the headliner by the 4 clamp mounts, reinstall the headliner. It is much easier to have a friend help you with reinstalling the headliner. While your friend is holding the headliner in place, bolt the console to the roof through the bracket that you made. Reinstall all of your trim pieces and you should be good to go! Enjoy!