Thread: Designing a double-din case for 2003 WRX

Originally Posted by phc

Looks good, but I'd recommend making one and doing a full install in your car before offering parts to people. The kicker for me was all the wiring that had to be done from the box to the other comonents - allowing clearance for the wires to be routed in the openings inside the dash and being able to easily install and remove the system once I was done.

Even after having the system running for 3 months, I'm still finding ways to make improvements, its an iterative process.

Good luck.

-Patrick

Thanks - I'm primarily designing the case for myself, so additional production runs will be optional.

I'm also designing it around a specific board, the Commell LV-671, so the case will have a few specially placed openings, for example, on the bottom so the bottom-mounted PCMCIA and CF slots are accessable.


Right now I'm trying to see if I'll be able to use the PCI slot, using a right-angle riser card.

The board supports up to 2 PCI slots via riser, and it'd be nice to be able to use both, but I don't think both will fit (appears to fit, but it's tight).


I'm also having a little difficulty finding a PCI riser (1 or 2 slot) that's bent the right way - most are bent to the left, away from the board.

I'm trying to find a 1-slot or 2-slot PCI riser that faces the slots to the right, over the motherboard.


I'm thinking I may have to settle for a 1-slot riser, possibly one that uses a flex cable to make the connection. A flex cable riser would allow me to place the opening for the PCI slot wherever, without having to worry too much about exact positioning.

I also have a few thoughts about cooling the case, airflow, exhaust, and so on - I'd like to see if I can place a tall heatsink (vs the low-profile kind) on the CPU, and cool it and the case with a slim 60-80mm fan on the side, on either the inside or the outside.

Kind of the L-shaped path to cooling - in the side, out the back.

Originally Posted by Giuliano

I'm also having a little difficulty finding a PCI riser (1 or 2 slot) that's bent the right way - most are bent to the left, away from the board.

I'm trying to find a 1-slot or 2-slot PCI riser that faces the slots to the right, over the motherboard.

Something like this would probably work, though I'd have to measure:

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/PCITX4-2-5B.htm

I chose this right-angle 1.75" PCI riser, and designed the slot to match:

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/A-PCI-175R.htm



Current price estimate is about $125 for 1, $45 for 5 each.

More refinements to continue...

Originally Posted by LESLIEx317537

This is interesting, I'd like to see the finished product.

Thanks!

I still have to place openings for the underside PC-Card and CF, a 2.5" hard drive mounting on the underside of the top, case mounting tabs on the front, venting holes, port holes (extra USB), and the front-mounted LCD frame.

Some variables are still unknown, but I'll figure them out.

I've been thinking of where I'm going to put the DVD/CD drive, which will be a laptop style slim drive, preferably slot loading.

I figured the most logical place for it would be in where the dash clock pod is, also where the optional gauge pod housing could go.


I figured I would remove the clock housing entirely, and replace that entire piece with a 2-part housing consisisting of a aluminum base sized and rounded to fit, and a low-profile bent cover that goes on top to cover the DVD drive and miscellaneous extras.

The top cover would probably get some thin foam padding to smooth out the edges, and would be covered in a textured vinyl to match the gray of the dash.


Also, I'm considering the cooling aspects - thinking of having venting slots in the rear of the cover (closest to the windshield), with a radial blower underneath, exhausting warm air from the center dash area.

Also possibly with some small ducted blowers underneath the central dash to force air up through the central dash column to complete the cycle.


The images attached are an extremely rough mockup, but it's the general idea of the shape I'm planning.

i'm thinking about rotating the srs module (inside, underneath 12v socket / ash tray) and locate a slimeline cd/dvd drive in the back of the center front pocket. The room is there and a careful cut in the center console for access.

still playing with the idea though right now

Originally Posted by LimeySTI

i'm thinking about rotating the srs module (inside, underneath 12v socket / ash tray) and locate a slimeline cd/dvd drive in the back of the center front pocket. The room is there and a careful cut in the center console for access.

still playing with the idea though right now

Hmm, I hadn't thought about that...

Are you planning on using a standard slim drive, or a slot-loading one?

I routinely carry stuff in the center front pocket area, so I'd wonder about blocked access to the drive.