2002 Ford Ranger - mounting a 7" Liliput in dash (lots of pics)

**ytwater** · 06-13-2006, 07:38 PM

After about six months of my Ghetto Install, I decied to take the time and mount my Lilliput inside the dashboard.

Even more pics + hires: http://www.shtanka.com/gallery/CarPCAlbums/Version05/

I tried a dry fit the screen in the dash and it extended about a half inch below the double DIN. To make the screen take a little less height, I decided to angle the screen slightly up.

I also had to cut out one of the plastic cross bars supporting my A/C and heating controls so that the screen would fit.

After cutting the dash so that the screen could extend down.

I added some ABS plastic to the outside of my Lilliput screen so that I could inset the screen in the dashboard.

Screen glued into the dash. The extra white plastic has been trimmed.

After adding the bumper repair compound and slight sanding of everything.

Test fitting in the car. Note: I didn't connect one of the ribbon cables very well, and the image on the screen is mssing some colors. To solve this problem, I made sure that I pushed the bottom ribbon cable all the way to the left where it attaches to that main board.

Ready to prime the entire piece.

I did not remove all of the paint from the main dash so the primer cracked where it didn't get a good grip! Back to the sand paper!

After much sanding and priming, sanding and priming, sanding and painting, here's the finished product!

**blacklancer** · 06-14-2006, 12:08 PM

looks good. how did this stuff work? where did you get it?

Originally Posted by ytwater

**ytwater** · 06-14-2006, 12:25 PM

I did ALOT of research in this Fabrication forum. I started here:
Solvent adhesives... why don't more people use them?

Which got me away from the classic fiberglass/bondo method to ABS plastic welding. Check out the last pages to see some of the projects using this method as well as bumper repair filler.

As to where I got it, I wanted a local place so I could ask questions, and get everything I needed at once. I'm in San Diego, and I found a shop "Body Shop Supply Inc" in Lemon Grove that had everything I needed, including primer and automotive paint. I think any soft bumper repair compound should work.

This was my first attempt at anything like this, and it took lots of trial and error to get it right, but it's worth the effort when people see my work!