FJ Cruiser: Console Nose...

The platform will extend forward a bit more in between the front seats, to nest up nicely with the center console.  To do this, I built a “box” that extends forward from the forward bulkhead of the platform.  This box has to fit around some curved parts of the truck – not too hard if you have a profile gauge...

The sides of the console nose box, attached to the forward bulkhead...

Note the foaming glue (Gorilla Glue).  This foaming glue is a wonderful invention - it expands (even when tightly clamped!) into every nook and cranny between the two objects being glued, making a great bond even when there are dings in the surfaces.  It does make a bit of a mess with glue bubbling out from your work pieces, but a rag soaked in mineral spirits takes care of it quickly...

Attaching the front of the console nose box.  The cutout is for a utility box to hold four 120V outlets that our inverter will power...

The profile gauge I bought for this project.  It's made by Eastwood, and instead of using wires (like all the profile gauges I've ever used before), this one has flat pieces of plastic.  This is a vastly superior design to the wire type of profile gauge.  The plastic pieces are flexible and won't get bent like the wires did so easily.  Even better, the plastic pieces slide together very smoothly and easily.  Eastwood's design allows you to bolt together any number of 10" and 5" long segments (here one of each) to make a profile gauge of any length you need.  For the work on the car it would really be nice to have a gauge that can follow a pattern a foot or so deep, but this one (limited to about 2" of depth) did the job for me...