cool little gimmicks for your car

shrinkydinx · 03-30-2006, 11:06 AM

i'd like to start a list of relatively cheap mods that you can to to your car that are worth more than they cost. or... look cooler than they cost

ill start:

-hardwiring a power inverter. on most power inverters that you buy at walmart, the outlets are actually removable - you can take the thing apart, extend the wires to one or both outlets, and put them wherever you want, and it will look OEM

TheLlama · 03-30-2006, 11:41 AM

Run your car into traffic and claim insurance.

Kamakazie2 · 03-30-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by TheLlama

Run your car into traffic and claim insurance.

Nice.. I needed a laugh today.

RedGTiVR6 · 03-30-2006, 12:06 PM

hrmm - the inverter thing has been done, had it in my original install....back before there was a viable dc-dc PSU....

but why anyone would run an inverter in their car to power a computer I don't know....so messy....:|

shrinkydinx · 03-30-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

hrmm - the inverter thing has been done, had it in my original install....back before there was a viable dc-dc PSU....

but why anyone would run an inverter in their car to power a computer I don't know....so messy....:|

i didnt say for a carputer...

for convernience on long trips with friends... laptops/ cell phone chargers/ etc

amthar · 03-30-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

hrmm - the inverter thing has been done, had it in my original install....back before there was a viable dc-dc PSU....

but why anyone would run an inverter in their car to power a computer I don't know....so messy....:|

because there are some small form factor PCs that have too high of power consumption to be powered any other way (like by a DC-DC power supply). Sumicom SP620 is a good example.

RedGTiVR6 · 03-30-2006, 12:26 PM

I understand higher performance computers, but honnestly, what's the need in the car? just the fact that you would have to run an inverter would be enough to turn me off. Not to mention, what are you going to do with such a higher performance computer in the car?

game on a 7" screen?

god_of_cpu · 03-30-2006, 12:28 PM

Can of spray paint: $2

TheLlama · 03-30-2006, 12:28 PM

Super bright LEDs

RedGTiVR6 · 03-30-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

Can of spray paint: $2

that's more than one can there!

TheLandYacht · 03-30-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

I understand higher performance computers, but honnestly, what's the need in the car? just the fact that you would have to run an inverter would be enough to turn me off. Not to mention, what are you going to do with such a higher performance computer in the car?

Ummm...6 hard drives to hold 11,000+ music videos.

RedGTiVR6 · 03-30-2006, 12:45 PM

I guess.......

shrinkydinx · 03-30-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TheLandYacht

Ummm...6 hard drives to hold 11,000+ music videos.

where do you get your music videos, the usual places?

if most videos available on the net werent crap quality i might consider downloading more

DLe · 03-30-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TheLandYacht

Ummm...6 hard drives to hold 11,000+ music videos.

you don't even specify the size of the harddrives. for all we know they could be 6 HDs with 7gb each. that would be great...

schpanky · 03-30-2006, 12:58 PM

I've already done all of these:

1.) Inverter as you mentioned for cell phone chargers, etc... ($30 Walmart)

2.) cathodes for interior lighting ($10 for cathodes / $3 for wire extensions)

3.) convenient or in-dash locations for ipod/cd player/flash drives for alternate data ($6 for bondo, dremel you typically already have, paint = $2)

4.) sound-sensitive lighting/strobes for parking lot fun

($10 for lights / $3 for wire extensions)

5.) convenient place to plug in your buddy's xbox/ps2/etc
(inverter / extensions / RCA+VGA extensions...)

any type of interior lights always impresses.