About to start... Need idea, suggestions

**TheJack** · 09-03-2004, 04:47 AM

OK... I am about to start my carputer project. Car is 02 Celica GT-S. I've seen plenty, and I have a decent handle on my screen placement. I'm actually going to "attempt" increasing the vertical size of the accessory compartment to accomadate a Lilliput. Hopefully, if it works, I will have screen placement and still have the psuedo-stock compartment door to hide screen.

Really looking for Ideas, Gotchas, Suggestions, and All-Around-Things-I-Haven't-Thought-About.

I want to try and place PC and custom box into the arm-rest compartment.

Dimensions of the compartment are roughly 10 1/4 inches long X 3 1/2 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches deep. I know mini-itx is about 7 inches squared. I believe there is likely about 1 to 2 inches hollow space under the compartment that I can take by cutting bottom of compartment out. Also the Lid is atleast 1 inch recessed.

But honest opinions, Am I going to be able to fit Epia board, Opus 150, and laptop HD in plexi box inside this compartment?

What would I need to give for air flow?

I was planning on mounting Slim DVD drive into dash console. Problems with running cables that far?

Input device.. I can't stand touchscreens and want a input device closer to the gear stick. I was thinking of breaking up a logitech or kensington Trackball and customing it into where the ashtray is. Backup plan is Cirque Touchpad where ashtray is.

Basically, I am in the planning/purchasing stage. Any input would be greatly appreciated

**Magma** · 09-03-2004, 05:06 AM

Hi mate,

I'm currently putting a system into a Celica myself (a '99 UK GT, so same shape as yours). I've got an EPIA M10000, Opus PSU, 120Gb HDD crammed into the glovebox, it all runs very well.

Just been finishing off the screen install, a friend of mine has blended a lilliput into the centre console for me... we've removed the hatch, shifted my single DIN stereo down into the bottom of the double din opening and then moulded the touchscreen into the space that's left. It's gonna look good, I think, when the screen bloody well starts working again

If you've got any q's just give me a pm.

Interesting that you don't like touchscreens... I did experiment with a couple of solutions before I went with a touchscreen (remote control, touchpad, numpad), but they were all just too difficult when you're driving. I've found that after a bit of practise the touchscreen becomes second nature and you barely have to take your eyes off the road to use it.

**RS3RS** · 09-03-2004, 05:57 AM

Love the idea of breaking up a trackball to use. If you do it right, that could turn out really nice. Personally, I don't have any problems with touchscreens (When they work...), but it seems like a great idea. It'd be a lot nicer to use when not driving than a touchscreen.

Also, how do you feel about having your amps visible in the "trunk"? Is that a look you were going for, or just the best place to mount the amps? If it were me, I think I'd save my center console (I actually use mine a lot of the time

), and build a false floor on the bottom of your "trunk". You could put your amps under it, plus a full sized computer layed flat (you could save some money over the EPIA, and get a little more computing power if you'd like).

Basically just a peice of wood cut to the exact shape of the bottom of your trunk, carpeted, with amps and carputer under it. Might help to keep thieves from noticing your audio system as much, plus you wouldn't have to hack up your center console (face it, you won't keep the car forever, it'll make it that much easier to peice back together when the time comes to sell it).

Just throwing ideas out there

Also, if you're not going touchscreen, what screen are you planning on? A non touch screen version of a lilliput/xenarc? Or something else?

Nice car man, looks like it'll be a great install

**TheJack** · 09-03-2004, 12:34 PM

Normally, the amps aren't exposed. There is a inner hatch cover, that covers storage when hatch is closed, but it was removed for picture. Basic concept of box design is to still have a accessible spare tire.

**Magma** · 09-03-2004, 12:36 PM

Oh and incidentally, I tried fitting something workable into the armrest compartment... it just wasn't gonna happen for me

**Jeremyvnc** · 09-03-2004, 01:26 PM

TheJack, you are very lucky to have people actually replying to your posts, I have had a total of two. I think people just don't like me.

**jeepguy** · 09-03-2004, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremyvnc

TheJack, you are very lucky to have people actually replying to your posts, I have had a total of two. I think people just don't like me.

Maybe that is because you have posted 42 times in a matter of days and I didn't find any substance to them. Quite a few posts whining that you didn't get replies though.

**blurp** · 09-03-2004, 01:46 PM

TheJack, I put my entire computer under my armrest.

look here for more info on how I did it.

**Jeremyvnc** · 09-03-2004, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by jeepguy

Maybe that is because you have posted 42 times in a matter of days and I didn't find any substance to them. Quite a few posts whining that you didn't get replies though.

Just because you post once a year doesn't mean you should get on me. I am trying to get some opinions on my project and give mine on others.

[edit] Anyway, I am not here to flame anyone or get flamed, I'm here to get help and give help. It just seems to me that I'm giving more than getting.[/edit]

**blurp** · 09-03-2004, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremyvnc

TheJack, you are very lucky to have people actually replying to your posts, I have had a total of two. I think people just don't like me.

Threadcrapping is not the way to make peole like you. Either add to the discussion, or read and move along. Sorry TheJack, but he needed to be set straight, and this was the easiest place to do it.