I've been wanting to add something like the pony corral, but can't see spending the dough to get it. And I love the Roush trunk mounted tool box, but it's up there in $$ too. So I decided to do something similar to the two of them. I made my own version which I will attempt to document TacoBill style (**** you for setting the bar so high!)

Started out by tracing the interior surface of the trunk with some butcher paper and transferred the shape that I liked onto some poster board and cut it out. Layed the poster board on hardboard ($5 Home Depot) and cut my shape out (had to cut a notch for the brakelight wires that come off the lower right edge of the trunk. (You can see where I traced the trunk bracing on the right side of the posterboard cutout. Fold in half and you will have the opposite side as well. This is how I determined where to drill my matching hole.)



Temporarily mounted to trunk by removing clips for brake wiring and drilled a matching 1/4" hole on the left brace of the trunk. Used plastic push pins from local auto supply to secure. Trimmed a few spots after this that were rubbing and smoothed the shape a bit.




Now to the indoor work...

Picked up a small tool box from Sears(about $6) and drilled two 1/2" holes in the lid where it will eventually mount to the trunk lid panel.



Top view:



Opened:



Now, from the picture above, I closed the bottom of the box, so that it is now upside down, and attached a GT logo to the bottom of the toolbox, so that it will be right-side up when I attach this to the trunk panel.



Heres the hardware I'll use to attach the box to the panel. 6 Large 1/4" washers, 2 1/4" x 1" bolts, 2 1/4" lock washers, 2 1/4" nuts, and 2 1/4" wingnuts.



Went to the local car audio shop and bought some speaker box carpet (almost identical to charcoal trunk carpeting) for $5. Used spray adhesive to stick the carpet to the hardboard, and wrapped the board, using hot glue to secure the edges. This is the back side, and the four holes you are 1/4". The outer holes will attach the panel to the trunk, and the inner holes will mount the tool box.



Front view:



From the back side, stick the bolt through a washer and mount through the panel for both inner holes.



Closer view:



On the front side, place a washer, lock washer, and nut on each bolt and tighten.



Closer view:



Toollbox holes match up to the bolts coming through.



Place a washer, and secure each bolt with a wingnut.



Close up the box and you're ready to attach to the trunk!



From here, you match up the holes in the panel to the holes in the trunk bracing and push in the plastic retainer clips to secure.





I think it finishes off the trunk really well, and I can remove the tool box by loosening the wingnuts if I need to use it.

So, how did I do Bill?

 

Man, that is awesome!! I love "home made" mods that look so good. I cannot wait to see the installed pics....It was a bit disappointing to get to the end, and not see the install....

Perhaps the only addition might need to be a strap or cable, to allow the "lid" of the tool box to only open 90 degrees with the trunk lid open, and not flop 180 degrees and possibly dump stuff....

Again, I think this is killer!! Nice, nice job.

Mike

 

That's what I'm working on as I type...

Thanks, more photos will come as I move from 99% complete to 100%

 

Nice job!!! looks great!

 

Very BMW! Well done!

 

Very nice!!!
My kinda mod, low bucks with a high quality look.

 

Looks good. Heck you should start selling these. I'd get one one without the toolbox.

 

Well done Nick

 

Not sure I would want tools rattling around, but the technique for the panel has endless possibilities! Thanks for the ideas!

 

+1. Looks real good.

 

Wow...that looks almost too easy!

Nice job!

 

Nice innovation

 

Excellent job Nick!

This is a great alternative to those wanting the Roush toolkit, but think it's ridiculously overpriced.. wait, that's just about everyone.

Like Leo mentioned, don't be surprised if you get a few PM's from guys wanting one.

 

Nice work.

 

What are you gonna put in the tool box? Don't say TOOLS!
I mean what tools exactly. It's certainly not a good place to smuggle crack. LOL

 

I was planning on something similar to what is in the Roush toolbox... Flashlight, pressure guage, couple pliers, screwdriver, 8mm, 10mm, 13mm, 3/8 wrenches and sockets. I just need to find some good foam to cut "slots" in so stuff doesn't slide around in the box. Either that or you could stick a duster in there I guess.

 

Pretty cool but won't stuff fall out when you open it?

 

Nice job - looks great!

 

very cool!

 

looks real good! if nothing else, i think i will make just a plain cover. thanks for the ideas. so the only thing holding the tool box to the trunk are the 2 push pins? do you think that is enough to hold the tool chest in place?