Imon Ultrabay installed in 2004 350Z

danielkh · 04-09-2008, 03:37 PM

Ok, putting the final coats of paint on the modified Imon and then I'll be ready to install. Some things that did change from my original idea was:

1. Losing the eject button on the DVD. Once the face was fabricated, I realized there was a way to keep the eject button without making everything look "out of whack". As easy as a finishing nail, drimel, and a tiny bit of silicone

2. 4 Port hub on the front. Decided (with Mikey-Z's help) to change this. Went with a single USB port on the left side. Currently trying to fabricate a cover to hide the port, but will go ahead and start posting the log without it.

3. Labeling. Since buttons are programmed different than defined on the face (and may change later), the labels are gone. Did keep the play,ff,rr,etc. labels. Was going to keep the Imon Ultrabay logo, but then what would be the use of trying to make it look OEM? It's gone.

It turned out great. Just hope it actually works when I'm done.

More info for those that haven't been following the Imon thing.....
Using the old "stock" radio, gutted out, to mount the Imon permanently. Here is a "before" picture.

danielkh · 04-09-2008, 04:14 PM

The pictures themselves will have descriptions in them. Easier than trying to describe what you're looking at. We start after the radio has been gutted. It's pretty easy, all screws and a final twist tab holding the guts to the bottom. The controls also have to be removed from the face. The metal braket that the face mounts to isn't used.

danielkh · 04-09-2008, 04:26 PM

The next picture is extremely embarrassing to me, but is important in showing:
1. What I started with
2. If I can have a finished product that looks like it does and it came from this? ANYONE can do this!

danielkh · 04-09-2008, 05:24 PM

Ok, maybe this will work....
DVD Mount, USB port, and then all together for alignment.

danielkh · 04-09-2008, 05:43 PM

Ok, last post of the day. This is the 7 port hub mounted and then filling gaps. After that, I got more into the fiberglass work than taking pictures, and it was mainly used to create the DVD slot forms and the bottom base form. So after I get the last sand/polish, I'll post the final product and then show how to do the DVD eject button.

danielkh · 04-09-2008, 05:58 PM

Here is a quick teaser of how it looked after the forms were molded. Not bad, but still a lot of work left to do! I was using flat black to show imperfections as it would dry faster and allowed me to sand sooner. Final will be a bit more glossy like the OEM stereo.

danielkh · 04-10-2008, 10:53 AM

Remember I said I haven't ever done anything like this? Well, keep that in mind!

After paint, was finding too many imperfections, so took a step back, then started slowly sanding, then wipe with alcohol. This would get the surface wet and show the same imperfections as painting did without the wait. Then one of my seams split so had to repair that. And now, arms are sore, hands hurt, and my fingertips are killing me even to type, but I think I got it! Just painted and it looks flat where it is supposed to be flat, smooth where it curves and no seams visible, so now to let it dry.......

To be continued.

Caelric · 04-10-2008, 11:22 AM

Good job so far, love to see the finished product. Like I said in another thread, I would love to put that IMon in my G35, but with ysung a head unit (nice Alpine), I don't have any room for it. Oh well.

danielkh · 04-10-2008, 11:24 AM

DO you have your pc going through the HU? I was wondering if there was a head unit out there that can have limitted control of a computer.

Caelric · 04-10-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by danielkh

DO you have your pc going through the HU? I was wondering if there was a head unit out there that can have limitted control of a computer.

The sound from the PC is routed through my head unit, because the Alpine head unit I use has good sound quality, and good time alignment (for making the music sound like it is coming from the center of the dash), but no, no control of the PC via the head unit, sorry.

danielkh · 04-10-2008, 06:20 PM

Well, I had it where I liked it, but during the final sanding, I went just through the paint in 2 places, decided to sand some more on the left side and paint once again. Here is a picture of how the Imon looks in place, and then a drawing that shows how to create an eject button with a curved face. In the first picture, you can see the location of the eject button.

danielkh · 04-11-2008, 12:21 PM

Ok, here it is installed. I'll post some other views, but here is side by side comparison. Keep in mind I have never fabricated anything like this.

Only thing I might change is it came out a bit more glossy than I was looking for, so might sand lightly to dull it down (400).

You might also notice the touchscreen looks different. Replaced it last week and it aligned really well. No white edges.

danielkh · 04-11-2008, 12:24 PM

Here is full size.

Caelric · 04-11-2008, 12:28 PM

That almost looks like it is stock! Nice job. Maybe try a different paint to get less shininess?

danielkh · 04-11-2008, 12:32 PM

Yeah, it is a satin finish that I thought was going to match the stock better. But it's close. I could also still clean up some imperfections and mold that CD slot better, but think I'll wait till I get the next version of Ultrabay (this one should pop out of the form pretty easily).

Here's a closer pic showing some scratches I still need to get rid of. On the plus side, it fits like a glove!