2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited

**shakes** · 04-06-2004, 05:15 PM

the brand of bondo i used was ... well ... bondo

seriously tho I for the motherboard mount and the console cover I just used Bondo Home Solutions All-Purpose Putty. Most people just use the normal bondo putty that is used for automotive applications. It's the same stuff I think. I figured the home solutions stuff might be a little softer and easier to sand.

For the LCD, I used 'Bondo-Glass' ... which is bondo with long stranded fiberglass mixed in. It's a lot stronger so I layed a few coats of it down first to get the strength ... then used the all purpose putty to smooth it out.

there's a picture of the cans in the fabrication album of my gallery ... here's a link

i'll talk more about this in the write up too.

**shakes** · 04-06-2004, 05:18 PM

oh ... ML430 ... you could also use the front of the lilliput screen and just use bondo to cover up all the button holes ... i've seen a few folks do that. but then you're ruining your lilliput casing so you can't ever take it out or move it to another car ...

the wood frame turned out nice i thought ... but be careful if you go this route ... make sure you get the thing square before expoxying it in.

**Twiek** · 04-14-2004, 10:55 AM

That is one of the best installs I've seen...

Great job man.

**riddle14** · 04-14-2004, 11:07 AM

great install!!! i wish i could put my setup in my armrest. i just don't have enough room.

one question though. i have the same keyboard, where do you plan on hiding the ir reciever for it?

**Kupop** · 04-14-2004, 12:06 PM

Very nice job shakes. One question I would like to ask about the wood LCD frame, does it make it seem too recessed in the dash? What I mean is you now have the LCD further back in the dash, only the thickness of that outter lip on your frame. But is that noticable? If you were to do it again, would you do it the same or try to get it more flush with the dash?

**shakes** · 04-14-2004, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Twiek

That is one of the best installs I've seen...

Great job man.

Thanks ... just looked at your site. I like your jeep. I had been planning on lifting my jeep when I needed new tires, but I got married and away went my money.

Of course I could have bought a lift for what I've spent on this system ... but I'll use the PC more as I don't know anyone who 4 wheels around here ... so i'd just be a poser with a lift.

**shakes** · 04-14-2004, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by riddle14

one question though. i have the same keyboard, where do you plan on hiding the ir reciever for it?

I'm not really sure. I think what I might do is try to put it underneath the steering wheel where the trim stops to let the steering column through. There's some room there and it would hide the IRs pretty well. I need to put both my keyboard and my lcd receiver somewhere, so that might be a good spot. We'll see.

Originally Posted by Kupop

Very nice job shakes. One question I would like to ask about the wood LCD frame, does it make it seem too recessed in the dash? What I mean is you now have the LCD further back in the dash, only the thickness of that outter lip on your frame. But is that noticable? If you were to do it again, would you do it the same or try to get it more flush with the dash?

Well, the recess is more than i would like it to be. The first test frame I made had a real small recess (1/8" i think), and it would have been real nice. But I had a guy from work cut the wood for this frame (my dremel died) and asked him to cut it to the same specs as the last ... but he made it a little thicked than I asked cause he thought it would be too frail. Eh, he did it for free so I can't complain.

But it doesn't look bad, and it's not very akward except when you're trying to hit a button in the corner.

You definately could make it less recessed if you wanted to.

**Kupop** · 04-14-2004, 03:10 PM

I may attempt to install my screen like this when I am at that stages (FAR from it). I have access to all kind of tools including a router (your "real tool", plus I have a dremel and a craftsmen all in one cutter which is just a beefy dremel IMO). I want mine to be as flush as possible, but I really like how you didn't destroy the Lilliput case as others do. Look for me posting a finished project some time this summer/fall

**arkadiyp** · 04-14-2004, 03:19 PM

Where did you get that CD2Firewire PCB? Does it use slimline connector or standard IDE?

**shakes** · 04-14-2004, 03:25 PM

Sounds good kupop ... you might not be able to see in the pics, but i did add a routed edge to the bezel ... so although it is recessed, it doesn't seem so bad cause of the smooth edge. If you made yours a little less recessed and had the routed edge i think it'd be perfect.

Originally Posted by arkadiyp

Where did you get that CD2Firewire PCB? Does it use slimline connector or standard IDE?

i bought it from some guy on this board. you can also get them if you buy an external IDE Firewire box (the things made to convert an internal HD to a portable external HD) and then just take out the converter board.

They usually connect to IDE ... it was a little bit of a problem on mine, cause i havemy slimline to ide converter ... but when i put on the ide to fw adapter board it blocked the power connector on the slimline adapter. i fixed this by just using a short IDE cable to connect the slimline adapter to the fw board.