Thread: 8.4" LCD in WRX dash.

With the dimensions in the spec sheet PDF, I've accurately laid out the locations of the LCD mounting points on my posterboard blank, and test-fitted it for size in the dash.

Image Linky..

The picture shows the four mount points in red, and a blue and a green line.

The Blue line represents the thin plastic stabilizer support bar that's part of the lower center console - this part may need to be cut away for the LCD to fit, but as it's not a critical part, it might be fine.

A replacement lower center console is $30, so it isn't a big loss if it needs to be replaced.


The Green line represents the sturdy upper support bar that is part of the upper dash, and you do not want to have to cut this out, as you would have to replace the entire top dashboard.

Thankfully, this upper support bar will also provide an easy way to secure the upper part of the LCD, by making a piece to fit the support bar exactly.


The result should be a mounting system that sits in place securely without having to screw it to the dash's plastic.

This post in my Fabrication thread shows the rubber blank I made for the right-side mounting block, which will be extended down to support the lower right mounting point:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...3&postcount=17

Okay, I just about went into hysterical fits of glee when I saw this...

Optrex America makes an 8.4" LVDS 18-bit LCD panel that has a native resolution of 1024x768!

Check it out:
http://www.optrex.com/Products/PartD...%2DFW%2DA%2DAA


I can buy one of these RIGHT NOW from Mouser Electronics for $491:
http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?hand..._pcodeid=80500

The $491 price is for the LCD panel itself, and I do not believe it comes with a touch screen panel for that price... but those are easy enough to find for this size, as 8.4" is fairly common.

Edit: Fujitsu 8.4" touch panel is $42.50, and is 1.4mm thick:
http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?hand...oductid=587403

And the best part?

The size and layout is almost exactly the same as the 800x600 LCD I was looking at, but maybe a few mm thicker.. I should still be able to fit it.

Total thickness w/ LCD (~11mm), touch panel (~2mm), and 1mm foam tape.. 14mm.. 15mm for good rounding up.

I think I've found my new favorite LCD..

Here's pics of the rubber blank I made for the upper-left mounting post, which fits snugly in the dash plastic without the need for screws to hold it in place.

Well, I took the dimensions of that new Optrex 8.4" LCD, and turns out that it's the right width, but it's too tall - it won't fit.

I made a few cuts inside the dash, as shown in the first pic - I removed the horizontal connector that joined the left and right sides of the lower center console.



I cut a posterboard blank for the Optrex 8.4" LCD, and as you can see from the second picture, there's no way it will fit.. not unless I get rid of the A/C controls.. and replace them with servo controls... but that's a project for later.



The last picture shows the original LCD blank in place, and it fits perfectly.



Maybe I can upgrade to the Optrex LCD down the road, after I've built that servo-controlled A/C system to replace the manual controls I would have ditched to fit the larger LCD...

I was looking at the previous pictures I had taken, and I realized that the mounting block that I made for the right side of the radio mounting points wouldn't really be used, because the lower mounting points are too low for the block, and the upper mounting points are too high.

You can see in the previous picture with the LCD blank in place.

In any case, I have seperate upper mounting points for the LCD, and I figured out a way to combine the lower mounting blocks with a support shelf.

The red lines show the shape of what the lower mounting blocks would be.

The blue lines show where a slot would be cut in the bracket to support a shelf, which could be used to mount the LCD inverter, touch panel controller, etc..

The shelf could be just a simple 1/4" thick piece of plastic, and could either be removable, or epoxied to the side supports to strengthen the lower bracket assembly.


The green lines show where pegs would go (brass rod) to support the mounting blocks from the rear.

And the gray lines show where the upper mounting blocks were going to be, but I may not actually use that space. If I were, there would also be brass rod pegs to support the frame.






Also, I've started to host these pictures from my little web server across my cable modem because I've got so many of them to post, so if they load a little slow, that's why.

If they load fine, or too slow, I would appreciate a PM or an IM to let me know.. thanks.

Originally Posted by fantomas

i've been trying to follow along your threads...and i think i've read everything (you've posted information on like 4 different threads).

Yeah, I know, it's been spread out across several threads in several seperate groups, in fits and starts over the past ~9 months.

Originally Posted by fantomas

its great to see your progress. main reason i'm reading this is because this summer i plan on buying a 02-03 wrx and doing something similar. i have an 8" lilliput and its very promising that you would be able to fit an 8.4" screen in there. i though i would have problems at first but the demensions of my screen are somewhat smaller than the one you plan on using.

Yeah, not all 8.4" LCD panels will fit - like the new Optronics one I found, which is sweet at 1024x768.. but way too big.

Oh, I could fit it, no doubt.. if I got rid of the A/C control system, and replaced it with servos and relays.. and I might do that, in the future.. but that's a whole 'nother project.

Originally Posted by fantomas

just one question...do you think there's enough room back there in the dash to put the whole pc back there? that would include the m10000 mobo, a 3.5" hard drive, a 150w opus, and most likely a laptop dvd drive.

Is it possible?

Yes, certainly - others have done this, most notably here:
http://www.tmz.com/wrx/

However, I had concerns about cooling the motherboard inside that area, so I'm going to do the alternative and put the computer up in a Subaru factory gauge housing box that replaces the clock on top of the center console.


It should be much easier to access and vent the air from that area, and leaves room for the power supply and such down inside the original radio space.

Originally Posted by fantomas

any chance of getting a picture of this with the clock off to see how much room there is?

Sure thing - I have to take the clock housing off to test-fit the gauge housing anyway.


The gauge pod housing I ordered should be here by the end of the week, give or take a few days, so I'll take a whole slew of pictures then.

The gauge housing assembly has a metal frame that screws into the top of the dash, and angles down into the dash. Once I get the housing, I'll be able to get the dimensions of the frame, and build from that.


I was thinking of putting the motherboard in the housing with a clear front window, and a snap-on cover.

Imagine two snap-on covers, one for the motherboard/computer housing, and one for the LCD window, both with sweet WRX logos embossed..

The covers would provide for a practical purpose too - hiding the expensive parts from prying eyes.