use gutted stereo case for via motherboard

**skellum** · 03-30-2005, 06:26 PM

i swear i saw somebody do this, but i havn't been able to find the thread. i found it by accident the first time.

-[UPDATE: link found by Saab9-5]-
http://www.bradleyjacobs.com/carputer1/index.html
-[UPDATE: link found by Saab9-5]-

gist:
- gut a factory head unit leaving a square metal case (single dni)
- mount the motherboard in the case
- put the top on the case
- make a new face out of plexi
- mount the case in your car

the guys at circuit city gave me a throwaway head unit. i've since ripped everything out of it so i'm left with nothing but the metal frame.

before i start trying to figure out how to attach the motherboard to the case in a secure manner w/o shorting it out, i came back to find the thread for the guy that did it before.

do any of you know what thread/site i'm referring to? if somebody could point in me the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated. i realy hate having the pc in the trunk. :-)

**SFiorito** · 03-30-2005, 06:30 PM

i thought about that until I gutted my old head unit. it's way too small for a Mini-ITX board. Maybe the Nano-ITX boards (if they ever come out) will fit.

**skellum** · 03-30-2005, 06:33 PM

i havn't pulled the motherboard out to start trying to fit it in yet, but i remember seeing pics of somebody doing it with the M10000 (same board i have). i don't see how you could fit the MB, slimDVD & M1-ATX in there, but i guess i'm going to find out if it's possible.

heh, if it worls i guess i'll have to post pictures or something.

**kmcniece** · 03-30-2005, 06:36 PM

Stealth OEM install in MR2 Spyder - Magazine coverage!

Silencery did it with a stock Toyota Head unit....
He even kept the original faceplate and programmed the buttons to control the PC.....it is amazing.

**skellum** · 03-30-2005, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by kmcniece

Stealth OEM install in MR2 Spyder - Magazine coverage!

Silencery did it with a stock Toyota Head unit....
He even kept the original faceplate and programmed the buttons to control the PC.....it is amazing.

yeah, that's a clean install. thanks for the link. i swear somebody did it with single din though. if i remember correctly, they used the stock faceplate and hotglued the pc leds where the factory leds would normaly go.

no real control of the pc from the faceplate though, just leds.

if somebody knows the link i'm talking about, i'd appreciate it.

thanks again

**silencery** · 03-31-2005, 04:28 AM

I'm the one that did the double-din factory toyota. Thanks for the kind words

kelly, did you ever get your setup going? I'd like to see what you end up w/!

Anways, As for single-din idea... sorry I don't know which thread you're talking about.. can't say I've seen it.

But, you can check out the Casetronic C134 for layout ideas. I think if you take the PS out of the case, it'd be doable. One thing though, the M10000 isn't quite as short as most headunits, so you'll probably have to cut out the rear metal. Remeber that the VGA and other plugs going into the motherboard's backplane will add an additional 1-2 inches in depth. As an alternative, you could modify the VGA (biggest plug) to a slimmed down version. Anyways, just remember to keep overall depth in mind when planning your setup.

Additionally, when you use the headunit as a case, it's not too hard to make your own standoffs. Just tap the existing case to where typical motherboard standoffs might go, and you've got it grounded. Don't forget to fold any tabs or other miscellaneous metal out of the way! I almost lost a motherboard that way.

**Saab9-5** · 03-31-2005, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by skellum

i swear somebody did it with single din though. if i remember correctly, they used the stock faceplate and hotglued the pc leds where the factory leds would normaly go.

no real control of the pc from the faceplate though, just leds.

if somebody knows the link i'm talking about, i'd appreciate it.

I think this is the install you're asking about: http://www.bradleyjacobs.com/carputer1/index.html. I knew your description sounded familiar.

**skellum** · 03-31-2005, 11:29 AM

That's the link! your rock.

I started working in it last night, made sure the MB fit in the single DIN case, then started with the dremel removing the random mounting tabs and posts from inside the case.

looks like a doable project.

oh, i got bored last night. for some reason, i remembered that i had a playstation (psone) in my closet. hooked it up in the trunk and found that it already had grand tourismo inside. heh, the old days.

**Saab9-5** · 04-01-2005, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by skellum

That's the link! your rock.

Cool and thanks.

Keep us updated. In Bradley's project, it looked like the motherboard stuck out too far in the back. Let's see some pictures while you do yours. I know the Nano-ITX will fit completely within a DIN housing but we're stuck waiting till June for those motherboards to be released.

**skellum** · 04-01-2005, 10:26 PM

yeah, the bradly project utilized the cd slot from the gutted cd player for a slim dvd drive. i have no intention of adding a cd to that part of the unit. from what i saw in the pictures, the addition of that drive caused the MB to be moved back from the front of the case.

in the early pictures, you'll notice that the case is pretty square before he folds the back down and pushes the motherboard away from the front.

i have dark plexi that i'm using for the front, and will only have the MB and powersupply in the case so i shouldn't have to move it back as far as he did.

we'll see, i'll take some pics. i need to get the motherboard out of the car and figure out how to attach it securely to the case.