'02 Chevy 2500 8'' TS Install *PICS*

arejayy · 07-18-2008, 09:34 AM

****WARNING*****
If you're like me and hate posts that have pics of a project in them that is only half done, then wait until Sunday to read on because Im only 50% done.

Quick Stats
- 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500HD crew cab
- Original dash = 1.5 din with A/C controls below
- Installing 8" touch screen monitor + PC

I cut the dash to make room for the monitor using a Dremel, mounted and glued the frame to the dash with 2 part epoxy. All of the gaps/voids were filled with marine epoxy putty (GREAT stuff!). Sanded down the putty and filled the small divits with Bondo. SAND, SAND, SAND....

That's where im at now, I'll be sanding and filling for the next day or so getting it ready for paint. More pics to come, should be done by Sunday afternoon.

Im adding a slot load DVD/CDRW drive under the monitor and possibly a USB port. Lemme know what you think so far.. Also, any tips, constructive critisism, and or opinions good or bad welcome. Thanks!

This is the original template (they sent me a 7" first and when I realized that PowerAcoustik's "Touch Screen" is garbage, I ordered a differnt LCD and they sent me an 8" rather than a 7")

Here's the 8"

A little bigger than the 7" eh?

First primer coat to bring out the flaws, and flaws there were!

Check back soon, I'll post more pics as progress is made..

pancit175 · 07-19-2008, 05:49 PM

Obvious question, What are you doing about your HVAC controls? relocation?

rdholtz · 07-19-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by arejayy

****WARNING*****
If you're like me and hate posts that have pics of a project in them that is only half done . . .

If you hate posts that have pics of a project only half done, you should probably stay out of the Worklog section, because none of us are done. When we get done, the projects go to Show Off Your Project.

I like the progress pics, and I'm glad you posted yours. I post here because I've gotten some terrific questions, suggestions, and information, including some comments that changed the direction I was taking with my install.

And, speaking of questions: what do you plan to do about the touchscreen controls?

Nexson · 07-20-2008, 08:49 AM

Looks good, but did you use a reinforcement for the back of the epoxy putty. Like wood or even popsicle sticks?> Believe it or not popsicle sticks work great. Might sound "ghetto" but if it works, it works!

Looks Great though keep on sanding that primer!

arejayy · 07-20-2008, 07:25 PM

I think I was a bit mis-understood. I was only providing a fair warning to anyone that might have thought this post was going to be a "completed" A-Z project showing the end result. I too enjoy seeing the progress people make and would be more than open to ideas or suggestions that anyone might post. I just wanted to be clear about the fact that the project wasnt complete.

All that said, I have made progress and the dash is now installed! First to answer some questions:

Regarding my HVAC: I have purchased an overhead "Suburban/Tahoe" syle rear air setup that I am going to use for my HVAC controlls.

Regarding what support I have used: NONE. I epoxy'd the frame into the dash and used the marine epoxy putty for filler and can asure you that the screen is not going to move in ANY direction.

Touch screen controls: I purchased the Shark 8" TS monitor that came with a driver disk that has worked well with RR. If you are referring to something specific please let me know.

I will post pics shortly, thanks for all of the replies!

arejayy · 07-24-2008, 10:04 AM

Some updates...

I’m no where near done, but thought I'd post some additional pics up. I finished the monitor install and painted the frame, but still have to paint the rest of the dash, I wasn’t able to find the correct color anywhere to color match my tan dash, so I had to order it.

I relocated my HVAC controls to the overhead console and that’s currently in a rough fill stage and needs quite a bit more sanding/filling. It was definetely an adventure getting all of those wires extended. Had to run them from behind the dash, up through the A pillar, and under the headliner,not fun.

I’m using a Creative X-Fi 5.1 USB external sound card, so I had to find a place to mount that. I decided to go with the small square cubby hole to the right of the screen. It was hell getting the solder off of the board to disconnect the volume knob. But after an hour or so I was able to un-solder it and add 8" of wire to the 7 contacts. That portion is still in the "slap it on real quick so that I can listen to music on my drive in to work tomorrow" stage, and will get filled and sanded tonight. I'm actually going to move the knob up and to the right and add my bass knob next to it.

Dash in semi-final prime stage:

Monitor all in and painted:

Creative X-Fi board:

This is the sucker that took me forever to get off the board:

HVAC control bezel:

HVAC control rough mount:

Back of HVAC:

Some of the HVAC control extended wiring:

Another group of extended HVAC control wires:

The HVAC control's new home:

Gettin' there:

Testing the HVAC wiring:

Test fit:

"Slap it in real quick" test fit of X-Fi knob:

That’s all for now, stay tuned for more pics. Any comments or advice is definitely welcome, this is my first time with any of this stuff and all of my ideas have come straight out of this forum, so to the veterans out there, I'm all ears (or eyes I guess) Thanks!

arejayy · 08-10-2008, 03:01 PM

Still working on this project, slow but it's comin' along I guess...

The biggest hold up at this point is the HVAC, definitely a "round peg, square hole" situation. Lots of tedious adjustments... Looks like hell still but here's a pic of the current state:

Finally got some paint on the dash (even though the color is completely wrong). I ordered the correct color based on my "color code" so that will hopefully look a bit better. I cant tell you how many times I had to touch up the lines between the black and tan, if anyone has some pointers on taping or whatever is used to get nice straight lines, I'm all ears...anyway heres the dash getting a coat or 2 of tan:

And finally, here's the dash in for the first time after paint. The small square area to the bottom right of the screen is the "Creative X-fi" USB external sound card's volume knob that I relocated off of the card and my bass knob (yes, the actual knob is gone, went MIA during install).

As always, constructive criticism, ideas, thoughts, negative bashing all welcome! More updates to come.

arejayy · 08-10-2008, 03:12 PM

Still working on this project, slow but it's comin' along I guess...

The biggest hold up at this point is the HVAC, definitely a "round peg, square hole" situation. Lots of tedious adjustments... Looks like hell still but here's a pic of the current state:

Finally got some paint on the dash (even though the color is completely wrong). I ordered the correct color based on my "color code" so that will hopefully look a bit better. I cant tell you how many times I had to touch up the lines between the black and tan, if anyone has some pointers on taping or whatever is used to get nice straight lines, I'm all ears...anyway heres the dash getting a coat or 2 of tan:

And finally, here's the dash in for the first time after paint. The small square area to the bottom right of the screen is the "Creative X-fi" USB external sound card's volume knob that I relocated off of the card and my bass knob (yes, the actual knob is gone, went MIA during install).

As always, constructive criticism, ideas, thoughts, negative bashing all welcome! More updates to come.

Nexson · 08-10-2008, 04:48 PM

wow! very nice! did you use texture for the ivory color, what type of paint did you get, SEM? Looks very nice, as a fabricator i can say great job!

arejayy · 08-10-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nexson

wow! very nice! did you use texture for the ivory color, what type of paint did you get, SEM? Looks very nice, as a fabricator i can say great job!

Thanks! That means quite a bit coming from someone like yourself, to be very honest, 99% of my ideas and almost all of my knowledge of this sort of thing came from your posts. So thanks again!

Regarding what I used etc. this is the very first time I have attempted something like this. So I didn't know about the "right" products to use. I just recently came across SEM products and am using those on my HVAC controls, but I used "Rust-Oleum textured finish" for the bezel surrounding the LCD. Luckily for me it came in a matte black. For the light tan color I did actually use a SEM product, but it was merely by mistake. I wondered into a Sherman Williams auto body supply shop and saw that they had spray cans with color matched paint. I used a swatch to get close and bought a can, but unfortunately it wasn't the right shade.

But I've now ordered some of the SEM clear texture and also the correct color-matched paint for my dash, so I'll be re doing the tan on my dash and waiting to paint my HVAC control housing until that arrives.

I think the end result after using the right types of paint and materials will be much better than the current, but I'll let you all decide once I'm done.

murd969 · 08-24-2008, 01:26 AM

I was thinking of doing the same for my HVAC controls because I just had a double din custom installed...how much of the HVAC controls did you have to cut off? Any info about it would be great...thanks