First Ford Escape XLS with CarPC -

**Fraychild** · 10-03-2006, 07:01 PM

Answers -

1 - At speeds of 120 MPH? You'll never catch me going past 80 MPH in my truck -

2 - I didn't drop the ball - the slim drive is only a temporary solution until I have everything setup - It's not permanently mounted - I don't wanna have the a CD-ROM at all in the car -
As for the USB Hub - I plan on reloacting it too - somewhere more "hidden" -

3 - Metal ring? Dunno about that - I basically dremeled enough behind the dash to make room for the Xenarc and I molded the front side of the housing to the back of the Center Console Trim/Bezel- I could still install the stock radio if I ever get another Center Console Trim/Bezel - I took extreme precautionary measures for anti-theft when I was working on this one - for obvious reasons - which I will not elaborate on -

4 - GPS is steady and solid - no motion - and this is my opinion on the unit - it's MUCH better that a BU-303 - No water issues and I've it it for a while -

5 - Thanks Turbocad!!!!

**CSharper** · 10-04-2006, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Fraychild

Answers -

1 - At speeds of 120 MPH? You'll never catch me going past 80 MPH in my truck -

I suspect that's mostly b/c the Escape has a governer to top it at 100 MPH. I tried.

**Zoltan** · 10-04-2006, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by scott_fx

looking good, since you asked for comments and feedback: I really think you dropped the ball on the cd rom drive and usb hub. you have a perfect spot for it right under the screen. if you put it there (and make it look as good as your screen does) then you'll have an A+ install in my book.

I did that in my 03 Escape and I regret it. Behind the center dash piece is a structural piece (~3" tubular construction). There is barely enough room to get the CD-Rom drive there, but it causes real problems with how the wires come out of the back.

USB hub on the other hand, could go there with no problem, but if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't put the CD-Rom there.

If you ever plan to mold the screen in place, I reccomend cutting the center dash piece in half as in the picture below. It was a long time before I did this and due to the short HVAC control wires and constantly fidgitting with the pc behind it, I scratched up the part of the dash just below the centerpiece.

**blk02si** · 10-04-2006, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by wannaz28

at speeds over 120 mph you might have some problems with the antenna

At speeds over 80 you may have problems with the velcro giving way and PC components bouncing around, lol.

Nice install man, I like how you used an OEM plastic part as the chassis. Very creative. Nice mounting of the CD drive and USB ports. Eveything looks clean, nice job.

**ChrisTCC** · 10-04-2006, 11:23 PM

I like how clean and practically OEM it looks.

**Fraychild** · 10-05-2006, 10:32 PM

Thanks guys -
The OEM-Look was definitely what I was shooting for - I was trying to keep it as clean as possible... That's why the non-oem looking items won't last too long -

Ha ha ha - The velcro is for added support and even cushion - but my "components" are rather secure from bouncing around -

-

I don't do over 80 mph because of my 7 months old princess

I am currently

**esachs** · 10-06-2006, 04:32 PM

very nice install! i like that skin too, which 1 is it?

**BoyNextDoor** · 10-06-2006, 05:26 PM

nice install... good job done... I hopoe this time you get a good alarm

OT but how do you like the ford escape? I was considering one, and was wondering what your experiences are... (maintenance, repairs, problems etc.)

**Fraychild** · 10-08-2006, 11:05 PM

Hey Boy - Yea, I'm armed with a Clifford Alarm this time around - I still need to get around with some darker tints - Thanks - That skin - I think it's called Mazda Lite 6 or something -