2000 PT Cruiser

**irhiggs** · 06-09-2008, 10:48 AM

There are a lot of problems installing in these cars because there is practically no place to put a screen. The stereo is too small and low to replace. Most projects I have seen require some cutting and moving because the stereo is so low in the dash board that it's difficult to see and drive.

The best solution I could come up with was to move the AC controls under the stereo.

This is the modified console on the left and the original on the right:

It was difficult to move the vacuum hoses that go to the AC controls, but there was enough slack to reattach them and the steel cables after moving them down and re mounting the back plate for the knobs. I had to shim it out a little because the bottom of the console is deeper than the top and the knobs couldn't reach their hosts:

I eventually ended up removing the stereo all together and using a 5 channel amp for power. Also trunk-mounted the PC in a poorly crafted acryllic case.

**monkeyracer** · 06-09-2008, 04:09 PM

Nice to see another PT around here. Pics of trunk? (Even shoddy work helps us get ideas...)
What are you going to do about paint? Exterior color match? interior match? new color? texture?

I've got a 1.5 Gen (06+) and my dash bezel is a little easier. The A/C controls are already at the bottom, with buttons above (Defrost/Hazard/Passenger Airbag light) and then the radio, and the window switches, then the analog clock. All I have to move are the buttons and window switches and remove the clock. I won't have to mess with vacuum hoses or cabling etc.

I was still trying to decide if I want to mount in the trunk in the cubby hole or under the seat with a kick plate to protect it. That's why I wanted to see what you've done.

**irhiggs** · 06-09-2008, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by monkeyracer

Nice to see another PT around here. Pics of trunk? (Even shoddy work helps us get ideas...)
What are you going to do about paint? Exterior color match? interior match? new color? texture?

I made this one out of a cat hair fibre body filler compound. It's very strong. Too strong in fact, and cracked because it wouldn't allow any flexing. That's why the paint hasn't been applied. I have a factory color match, and a craft store by my house sells spray on texturizer. It comes in many different grits, so I got the one that matches the factory texture. I'm going to make another one w/ a more flexible material then I'll worry about painting it.

In the trunk, there's a cargo shelf, and I just put an old gateway PC board in there under the shelf. This allows us to stack cargo on top of the shelf. I'm considering raising the floor 2" and putting the PC and amp in the sub floor, but the MB is so old I actually have a PCI sound card, so it needs 6" height clearance right now. Rather than but a 90deg pci extender, I'm going to hold out for a more suitable PC solution. Currently everything works great though.

Now that my wife actually likes the idea, she'll probably be more willing to shell some $$ into the project. As of right now, the only thing I bought was the screen, cables, control panel, DCDC PSU, and amp.

I don't have any pics of the trunk, but I'll take some eventually.

**irhiggs** · 06-09-2008, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by monkeyracer

I've got a 1.5 Gen (06+) and my dash bezel is a little easier. The A/C controls are already at the bottom

I'm soooo jealous of that new dash... I saw it a while ago and instantly became angry with Chrysler for not doing that in the first place.

Originally Posted by monkeyracer

I was still trying to decide if I want to mount in the trunk in the cubby hole or under the seat with a kick plate to protect it. That's why I wanted to see what you've done.

I would suggest under the seat (if you have space) or in a sub-floor in the trunk.

**Nermin** · 06-09-2008, 05:37 PM

another Chrysler installer - nice work on bazel!

**monkeyracer** · 06-09-2008, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by irhiggs

I'm soooo jealous of that new dash... I saw it a while ago and instantly became angry with Chrysler for not doing that in the first place.

My mom has an '03 GT, and I definitely like the style of the new dash over the old. The center console is a lot better too.

Originally Posted by irhiggs

I would suggest under the seat (if you have space) or in a sub-floor in the trunk.

I made a sub-box for my two 12" subs that fits under the lower level for the rear shelf.

Shelf in top position:

In lower position:

The amp is temp installed there until I get the time to mount it under the passenger seat. When in the bottom position the subs still have about 1/4" to a 1/2" above the sub ring to move. As long as I don't have it on full blast, the subs don't hit the shelf. The other benefit is the sub box actually supports the shelf, so I can go way beyond the 200 lb. limit, and fold down the seats and still have cargo space.

What will help me decide on where the computer goes is what computer I get. I might buy my bro's old PC, or a refurb, or a new one... Still waiting on that stimulus to show up. If it's a new one, it will be a small mobo in a small case and will fit under the driver seat. If it's my bro's old computer, it will be too big to fit (even with a new case) and will go in a custom case where the cubby is.

I started a dash install on my old car and I found that using similar materials retained the flexibility of the whole piece. I think the dash is PC + ABS and your screen bezel is probably ABS. So something with ABS in it would probably be ideal rather than glass or bondo glass.