the project ok, this is the beginning of a carputer project - that isn't nearly finished. I thought it might be interesting to some.

things i know 1. i know this **** isn't for everybody, some people like to save weight not add it, let's leave it at "to each their own", 2. I know there is a "cooler" place to put a screen up behind the gauges bezel, however this is a touchscreen - so that is out of the question for this install. 3. I know this **** isn't rocket science, and most morons with a dremel can figure out what to do in 30 minutes, but some need an extra nudge, or too see how easy it really is, and i guess that's who this post is intended for (; that and general interest sake man!

what you should know this is specific to my screen, your install may be different based on the size of your casing etc, this should give you a good idea of what to expect with a 7" i would imagine.

lets begin

1. remove the shift ****, remove the shift boot w/ attached plastic flashing that houses the lower console, you'll see four screws holding on the cd deck and spare tray, remove the deck, and those screws, and the plastic tray insert and finally you'll have loose what i show below. next step is to cut the TOP piece of plastic off of that mount rail. I did two vertical cuts with a dremel, trying to keep as close to the manufactured vertical line from below.



2. next you will notice little plastic tabs all around the inside perifery of where the lcd will sit.. these interfere with a flush fit. it's pretty obvious what to do man. you cut em off, sand em down, file them down - whatever gets your goat... DO YOUR BEST, not to damage any of the exterior (parts you can see when sitting in the car) bits with your dremel of whateva tool you use. the inside can look kinda hacked because you won't see it, but i'm sure you'll try to get it all looking "nice" right? like my hackjob (see below).



3. now there is a plastic housing where the light for the ash tray sits... you have to hack that too unfortunatley.. i cut just a square out of it, figured it should keep some structural rigitiy. once again you can see where i had to cut the tabs off the bottom run, to get flushness for the screen.



4. test fit er on the bench... sheit... that looks like it came stock (except for that dremel mark i put above the ashtray... remember BE CAREFUL, because you WILL hate yourself).



and



5. to the car batman! the next shot will be a tricky one to figure out what you are looking at, but basically you are looking up the dash from where the stereo usually sits. now the top of the monitor has to slide/fit between that framework that says ss0 LH, and the one behind it.. however there are TWO plastic standoffs that will interfere with how the top of the monitor slides back in there... you have to cut them off with a dremel, it's an awkward angle, but you'll hack it - it will look ugly but it will work. and don't worry the top of your monitor will the new "standoff" so it's not like you're loosing any dash rigity - it's a toight! fit.



6. next my monitor had a holder for it's stylo (for the touchscreen), in order to slide it up between those two frame rails, i had to hack it up. yes it's ugly, yes you just lost resale, but we're not installing the screen in the car to sell it are we? tape off any vents you have on your screen, so plastic **** doesn't get everywhere. you will be "careful" right?



7. f thieves. so yea you look at the pic and go "damn that's jagged.. use a file man!" well i could care less if a thieve cuts himself trying to wrestle with it. i had to cut up an old computer case for that band... but i'm sure home hardware style strapping would work dandy.



8. mount it all in - tucking the monitor between those frame rails.. and enjoy your accomplishment. i lose about the top TWO rows of pixels with the tuck.. if this bothers you - do something about it.









ok that's enough.

 

Damn, that **** looks good

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by prelude1897 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Damn, that **** looks good </TD></TR></TABLE>

danka... if only it was wired to the carputer ); already.. i'll be hiding my car stereo in places till i get "everything" figured.

 

damn dude, good install. that might effect me more having the top tucked up because i'm tall and the viewing angle woudl be off, ut i'm sure i'd get used to it. how much did that monitor cost you?

 

i got it second hand for 220 CAD... i think they were going pretty cheap on ebay (with expensive shipping of course)...but not sure (this specific model) if it is still available there.

check mp3car.com for similar lilliputs or zenarcs. I believe this was a rebranded zenarc. it's pretty nifty, has s-video and computer vga input, as well as audio (bah obviously) and a usb input for the touchscreen features.

 

That pretty nice looking... I've had the same idea, putting a touch screen in the lude, for some time now.. Just haven't got around to it yet.. More important things... (ENGINE)
But you did i nice job..

You can get these off E-Bay.. I'll get link..
http://stores.ebay.com/Dynamix...itors
I've been watching this seller for almost a year. Looks like they're pretty good too. A cool touch to add if you can figure out how to do it!

I've been wanting to just get a screen to play with it and see what idea's I could come up with.. When I get some money to waste on a screen instead of my engine, then I'm going to do something with one..

Good job though!


Also, what are you going to do about the radio and stuff?
Or still thinking??

 

hey thanks for the comments.

eventually the radio will be removed completely, audio will be from computer mp3's. for now, i'll prob tuck it under a seat -i'll have to extend the wires.. which sucks, but i want it hidden rather than just "sitting ont he passenger side floor" (while i complete the carputer project).

my carputer gear gathering is almost complete, I have a USB slot-load (ie: no tray) dvd-writer external drive (uber slim), a usb gps (rikaline), a 4 port usb hub (that i'll mount in some ashtray or something) so i can use those funky flash drives... i have a wireless internet receiver (altho i'm not too hot on car internet).., i have a jensen 400 watt power inverter - with hackable power switch so i can wire a Relay to my acc for auto power up. for sound i want to keep it all digital using a turtlebeach 7.1 (montego) (with optical out) to avoid the inverter noise probs some people have. to a 5.1 amp like the old phoenix gold rt5.1, or any other amp brand that accepts optical in (there are few choices), maybe and only maybe, if the amp can accept other aux in's, i'll work my old cd deck in there.. but really there is no point, the car will be able to play every format, and have a slot load drive for regular cds. i'll have to add a center channel to my car for 5.1 movies(; haha.

that's prob more info then you wanted... i have a tendency to ramble.

 

nice job

 

I think it looks really good.

Can I hook a nintendo machine up to it?

 

haha...you can hook up anything to it, it has rca video, s-video, and vga... and you can switch between all 3... i don't know if it has "auto-sensing" to auto-switch to whateva device is powered up.. that would be a nice feature tho.
so yea even an old nintendo, with rca style video would connect.

 

Light Gun Compatability?

 

haha and the lameo glove thing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Altilude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">3. I know this **** isn't rocket science, and most morons with a dremel can figure out what to do in 30 minutes, but some need an extra nudge</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol

I like it, Good job

 

I just noticed you can plug headphones into it

 

Wow, good job on the install.....very clean.

 

good stuff, you think theres any way to get that thing to run ems software and hook it straight to the ecu....that would be sweet.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good stuff, you think theres any way to get that thing to run ems software and hook it straight to the ecu....that would be sweet.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea... that's actually a plan, run a AEM ems into it (the carputer) for data logging/tweaking. i'd need a few more engine mods to warrant a ems for myself at this point however (:

 

pretty sweet--similar to what I have installed in my 5g. I put the Rockford DVD player/tuner/cd player in the glovebox; my avatar shows when I had it originally installed w/eclipse deck and ps2.

 

hey jdubslopro can you post some pics of ur 5th gen setup of the lcd??? thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hamadiscool &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey jdubslopro can you post some pics of ur 5th gen setup of the lcd??? thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea i'd like to see a 5th gen install too.. bigger than the avatar (;

 

Very clean install

 

i agree though it looks really sweet, it just got me thinking of so much cool stuff u can do with it and still make it look cool hehehe but seriously though if u have a 5th gen with a dvd player or an lcd similar to this installed then you should post some pics

 

very nice install but do you think it would have fit if you drop it down and phase out the ashtray and keep the deck or no? Curious because I have a similar install to do and don't want to lose my stereo

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good stuff, you think theres any way to get that thing to run ems software and hook it straight to the ecu....that would be sweet.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

You couldn't just hook up a Hondata (Just as an example) to it. You would have to hook the Hondata to a Laptop and then the Laptop into the LCD Screen.
This would work GREAT with a very thin laptop that could be hooked up and slid between the seats and console or something like that so it's outta the way. Or just build a small as anything computer like he's doing.

^^ I plan on doing this also possibly..


(Sorry to hi-jack)A small laptop that would work for that is a Sharp MM10, which I have one for sell.. ;P

 

i think hondata has a usb connector... and if you had a carputer you could subsitute the laptop and have a live ems hah!