Thread: Placing a 10.4" tablet PC screen in 1992 Mazda 626 (with pictures)

Hi guys!

I would really appreciate some feedback, please check this out!

The problem is where and how do I fit a 10.4" plus tablet PC in my 1992 Mazda 626. Cockpit has a very 'classic' (means 'old') design with double DIN slot placed low close to the floor.



No, I don't want to put a 7" or 8" tft in the DIN slot, I want it BIG! And I don't want to have the screen somewhere down there, not nice (and not convenient, and not safe).

Let's have a closer look at the dash panel since it has the further inconvenience that the lower part is recessed by about 20mm (0.8in).




So here is a sketch of the dimensions of the panel (it's in metric system, sorry!). The white outline marks the border of the dark-grey panel that sits inside the brighter dash framing - the photo in the background does not fit exactly since I had to correct the perspective of the picture and it did not work out exactly. Just remember the white outline has the exact size.



Let's say the viewing area of the display is about 210 x 160 mm (got this figures from another thread here). I should have rather used the size of the whole (bare) LCD, but too late now. Add another 5-10mm at the borders of the red rectangle which marks the screen position.



The first setup with the screen in landscape mode. It would be nice to have the screen mounted at the topmost position, but I see two problems:
1. the screen would have to be recessed by about 2cm (at least) because of the shape of the dash that recesses at about 85mm measured from the top.
2. It would also imply to remove the aircon controls. I've seen people on the forum do this, but I worry about the qualitiy of the result - these are all mechanical switches and I'm afraid it will be difficult to relocate them, at least for me



The second setup mounts the screen in portrait mode, re-using the double DIN slot but extending it up to the area of the ashtray, which has to be removed.
The screen would have to be recessed, too, but only for a smaller part at the top part of the screen. Of course the screen will be mounted very low, but will reach up due to its size.


As a third option I thought about bridging the gap to the air vents, replacing those and the aircon control. But since I have no experience with fabrication I am really worried that it will look horrible. So I didn't even sketch this.

Here is a schematics of the panel parts, seems I will have to cut out not only the covering front panel but also of the structure element behind it (No 4), e.g. the ashtray box




So I guess the point where I lack most experience is fabrication (well, I have none), what is possible and what makes sense, what will look decent, especially related to how to tackle the problem of the recessed shape of the dash.

Any advise/feedback is welcome - hey, that's a newbie forum!!

welo