Thread: flip down cover like 350z

Originally Posted by senseless228

in the next week or 2 i wanna start making a custom dash for my '00 xterra, to put a 7" monitor, volume knob, CD slot, and maybe a couple accy's here and there. I've researched on this bondo'ing and whatnot, and i'm ready to do that, BUT, i wanna go a little further, and was wondering if i could make a flip down cover (either motorized or springloaded, the former would be better of course) to cover the screen when not in use, similar to the 350z.

If its plausible, which i'm sure it is, what are some different ways i could go about it, and any ideas/hints/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

(if motorized is possible, i'd go with that, and wonder if i could somehow make a relay for it to automatically open when car is on, and close when car is off.)

I'm asking for too much aren't i?

Check Bugbyte's install, he's made a flip up motorized monitor, and he also has many details on that.
If you get one of thos covers, I guess you could use a cd rom system, as the cover is light enough. I'm not sure you'll have the space though...

no, i'm not talking about like that.

i'm talking about an in-dash monitor...thats stationary. BUT, it has a cover that can come out, and over it, so no one can see it, like a 350z

Originally Posted by senseless228

no, i'm not talking about like that.

i'm talking about an in-dash monitor...thats stationary. BUT, it has a cover that can come out, and over it, so no one can see it, like a 350z

As I said, the little servo thing in the cd rom case could make than slipe in/out, as it's light, but I don't see a way to put it in there though...

My Dash:


and thanks for your input cris

I used the 350Z part to make mine.

i'm searching for your install altimat, but the search result brought 20 pages, haha, so i a pic would be nice. and how hard was it to make it fit your dash.

Originally Posted by senseless228

i'm searching for your install altimat, but the search result brought 20 pages, haha, so i a pic would be nice. and how hard was it to make it fit your dash.

Search for Threads Started by Altimat, and you'll see some amazing work.

This is the only pic I have:



It was a lot of work. It has some curvature as it is, and I needed to flatten the cover quite a bit. It looks like you may need it completely flat. Even if you only use the mechanism I think it beats starting from scratch for $75, especially since a Xenarc fits within perfectly. My Lilli fit too, just not as easily. Look at a car on a lot first to see if you think it could be made to work.

Mine ended up too angled. I need to pull it back apart and set the screen more vertical. The natural angle may be better for you if a new cover can be made to work.

The lower filler piece where my buttons are is separate and another $17. The cubby part is the NON-nav part.

[Altimat] you paid $75 for cubby? Oh and Altimat are you still doing custom fab work for people?

[senseless2280] At first I was thinking about using something like that but I think it's to big. There are some other cars that have something similar. I think the Honda Accord and the Scion TC. Though the chubby might be better because like Altimat said it fits pretty easily.