2003 Tahoe Install

**tonkadawg** · 08-16-2007, 05:20 PM

made some great progress today although it doesn't look like we did. We figured out how to mount the new piece in with the rest of the dash.

At first we were going to try and use the factory mounting clips, we'd have to build a false back to put some posts that would hold the clips, then get them lined up exactly so they'd fit the factory holes. Decided that was too much of a pain in the ***. So instead, we built a bracket that gets mounted to the 'dash internals' - sorry, don't have a pic and it's the best I can describe. I can get a pic later. The new lower dash piece that we're building slides over the bracket and we screw in to the bracket, securing the top. Kinda confusing I know, sorry. I'll get pics installing it and it will all make sense.

heres the bracket:

Then to secure the bottom we installed some 'nutserts' and drilled holes into the cup holder piece.

**DMC12** · 08-18-2007, 09:38 AM

Really nice detailed pics. Cant wait to see the finished result.

**Uraijit** · 08-19-2007, 03:48 PM

Put a shirt on!

**tonkadawg** · 08-20-2007, 06:10 PM

I'll do my best to keep Dad out of the pictures going forward LOL

Got a lot more done, but nothing new in the way of pictures. We finalized the upper mounting bracket, got it drilled and screwed to the inner dash. Then we were able to install the new bezel, secure it to the mounting bracket at the top, and screw the lower portion in. Talk about a nice tight fit! Then we put the dash surround piece back in, just to make sure everything fit as expected.

Also, started doing some shaping FINALLY! Tomorrow we should have the whole thing sanded and shaped the way we want it, and quite possibly wrapped in felt.

**tonkadawg** · 08-21-2007, 06:25 PM

Got the shaping and finish sanding done

Test fitting to see how it all flows together

Tomorrow I'll be wrapping it in felt and will then get started on designing and building the case.

I'm really happy with the final fit and shape of the new piece. I am now confident that the finished piece will look great.

**Snortonnorton** · 08-21-2007, 06:29 PM

great work, nothing beats the quality of fine wood work. wish i had those skills.

question, how are you hooking up the power to the 10.4 lcd? and what brand is the lcd? are you removing all original bezels?

**tonkadawg** · 08-22-2007, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Snortonnorton

great work, nothing beats the quality of fine wood work. wish i had those skills.

question, how are you hooking up the power to the 10.4 lcd? and what brand is the lcd? are you removing all original bezels?

I know what you mean, this is my first time working with balsa - my father has been teaching me as we go.

The whole system is going to be powered by an Opus 150w power supply. The lcd brand is a 'Datalux' yeah, I know, pretty ghetto. If it doesn't work out, I plan on upgrading to a Xenarc. The original bezel for the screen was huge and there was nothing really that I could reuse, so yeah all the original screen bezel won't be used.

**Uraijit** · 08-22-2007, 07:56 AM

Looking good. Out of curiosity, did you angle the screen away from the driver? I know it wasn't fitting before, but did you have to sacrifice driver viewing at all? Is this intended primarily for passenger viewing?

**tonkadawg** · 08-22-2007, 08:47 AM

There really is no angle either towards the passenger or driver, it's pretty much squared and centered. But, you can sit in either seat and see the screen just fine.

**Uraijit** · 08-22-2007, 01:01 PM

Right on. It just looked like it was angled more toward the passenger. But you know how pictures can be.

Anyway, like others have said your dad does some awesome work with Balsa (even without a shirt on).

I tried working with it once when I was about 14. I just remember breaking a LOT of it before I gave up trying to do anything with it.