MKIV gti help! (7" screen + head unit)

**bronfufu** · 06-05-2006, 11:33 AM

hey guys, been lurking around your forum but finally need some help -- its not a carputer but you guys seem to work with head units and flush dashes enough to help..
heres the deal:

i need a 7" monitor + a single din head unit to be flush installed into my mkIV dash. the problem is that i dont think it'll all fit properly with my AC controls and my cupholder there.. its not a climatronic so i can't move it around, but i am willing to sacrafice the cupholders as i dont use them anyways.

i really really really want to keep the cutting and fabrication to a minimum but here is what my dash looks like (i stole this picture from someone here, sorry)

so you can basically see how much room i'll be working with. (head unit double din then AC controls and a weird slot that doesn't do aynthing at the bottom)

ultimately i'd like it like this, but dont see how i'd fit a headunit anywhere in this:

the screen in question:

head unit

i was considering mounting the head unit somehwere else but i think it might be too inconveneient so i probably won't be doing that... i dunno maybe i'll skip the dvd screen =(
any bright ideas? thanks..

**RedGTiVR6** · 06-05-2006, 12:07 PM

it's possible

and yes, you can move your controlls, but not by much...like an inch or so at MOST.

check out my web page with install pictures to get some ideas for your dash.

http://www.mj-garage.com/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=15

Short of actually taking measurements, no way to be certain.

**Puffanug** · 06-05-2006, 12:16 PM

Why not get a single DIN HU and a fold-out single DIN LCD? Are you going to be hooking the LCD up to a computer at all? I have seen some people do HU mounts above the windshield, but I'm not sure how possible this is in a VW. What about the glovebox? Any room in there for the HU? Unless you keep the HU in the dash, or on the side of the center consol, it will be out of reach most likely. Good luck, I'm sure you'll find a way to do this...

**bronfufu** · 06-05-2006, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Puffanug

Why not get a single DIN HU and a fold-out single DIN LCD? Are you going to be hooking the LCD up to a computer at all? I have seen some people do HU mounts above the windshield, but I'm not sure how possible this is in a VW. What about the glovebox? Any room in there for the HU? Unless you keep the HU in the dash, or on the side of the center consol, it will be out of reach most likely. Good luck, I'm sure you'll find a way to do this...

thanks redgti, i haven't taken apart my dash yet at the moment becuase i haven't received my products.

but im wondering how did you make that cage for the screen? is it hard/expesnive??
im thinking move down the controls for the AC down as far as it can go (half inch??) move the head unit down and squash the tv in the double din and cut out the cup holder.. with the cupholder + the ac moved down i think ti'll give me enough room .. the only thing is i think i dont have the skill necessary to fab up a cage and make it look clean.

as far as why im not getting a flip out, its because these units are given to me under a sponsor program =)

**Puffanug** · 06-05-2006, 01:10 PM

Is it a detachable face HU? I have seen some people hack the HU up so that just the faceplate was near them, and the HU was hidden somewhere. Check out this thread for an idea what I am talking about...

Remote faceplate almost done

**bronfufu** · 06-05-2006, 01:14 PM

yes and it does come with a remote control................... hmm, but i dont see where i can mount the face plate?

(read some more on it, seems a little risky and may not work too?)

**Puffanug** · 06-05-2006, 01:20 PM

Mount the faceplate on the sun visor! That would be cool, but probably not convient for use.

What about a custom mount above the air vents? On the top center of the dash? Like this... 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse with 8" LCD, Relocated Stereo & AC Controls

**WebDog** · 06-05-2006, 01:25 PM

do you have a sunroof? if so the panel that covers the motor just behind the map lights you could fab the faceplate there.

**RedGTiVR6** · 06-05-2006, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Puffanug

Why not get a single DIN HU and a fold-out single DIN LCD?

because none of them look professional. IMO, they all look like cheap pieces of plastic. Fabricating a dash piece looks MUCH better when done right.

I have seen some people do HU mounts above the windshield, but I'm not sure how possible this is in a VW.

The issue here is if he has a sun roof, if so, the motor for the sunroof is located where you would normally do this, and ot mount a full size din radio here is next to impossible.

What about the glovebox? Any room in there for the HU?

none, it's not deep enough with the factory AC work behind the glovebox.

**RedGTiVR6** · 06-05-2006, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by bronfufu

thanks redgti

NP!

but im wondering how did you make that cage for the screen? is it hard/expesnive??

it's called fabricating.

You will have to get creative and learn how to fabricate to get the results you're looking for. Start reading up on fiberglass and bondo.

im thinking move down the controls for the AC down as far as it can go (half inch??) move the head unit down and squash the tv in the double din and cut out the cup holder.. with the cupholder + the ac moved down i think ti'll give me enough room .. the only thing is i think i dont have the skill necessary to fab up a cage and make it look clean.

You don't fabricate a cage, you use the stock one. You fabricate the bezel. Work with what you already have. Number one rule in fabricating IMO.

If you're scared of it not looking clean you need to get over that hump.

Buy some resin and fiber glass mat and some bondo and practice with it on a plastic cup and some spare wood bits before you start to work on your dash.