97 Toyota Tacoma You gotta See This. NEW UPDATE with 100+ pics on 7-4-03

cproaudio · 01-02-2003, 03:48 AM

I can't get http://www.mp3car.com/usersites/cproaudio to work. so sorry for dumping everything here.
Well my project is almost done except a few minor panels here and there. So I feel comfortable enough to post it. Here it is. Enjoy. Any questions feel free to PM me or reply post.

Project Name: Damn that's a lot of crap you got there
Car: 1997 Toyota Tacoma LX ExtraCab 2WD Auto
Engine: V6 207? CI EFI 3.4L DOHC 24V

I wanted my setup to do more than just MP3. I feel that if you're going to put a PC in a car, get the most out of. Dont limit yourself to just audio, video, and navigation.

Basic Stereo Information: SONY CDX-C780 HU, SONY XT-40V TV tuner, Accel 6.4 LCD Module In Custom Built Driver Visor (waiting to be built), JL 300/4 Amp For Mids & Highs, JL500/1 Class D Amp For Bass, Boston Acoustics ProSeries 5.5 In Doors, 5.4 In Q-Form Kick Panels, Boston FX6 In Rear Quarter Panel, JL 12W6V2 D4 12” Sub, Monster Cable wires, MC 1 Farad Cap, 100 Amp CB,

Hardware: FV24 MB With Intel Pentium III 933Mhz 256MB RAM.
Case: ABS And Lexan Custom Built Case With 2 low profile 2.5” Fan (PSU, HD) And 2 Clear High Power 3” Fan (CPU, Motherboard). 7.25X8X4
Power: 150W DC-DC ATX With Built In Shut Down Controller And Remote Power Up via alarm remote.
Storage: Maxtor 160GB, 1.44MB Floppy Drive, Ricoh RW9200A 20X10X40X12X CDRW/DVD Drive, USB/Firewire 80GB External HD. (enclosure cannot handle 7200RPM drive so im looking for a hi cap 5400RPM drive)
Sound: Hard Wired Audio Out andMic From Internal Audio Header On FV24 MoBo.
Video: Onboard video with Xenarc WVGA Touchscreen Molded Into The Dash.

Other Fun Stuff: Clifford AdvantGard4 W/CliffNet Wizard Ver2.0 beta, Allows the Computer To Totally Control, Monitor, And Program The Alarm, Window Control Module, Remote Start
Linksys Wireless Ethernet For File Transfer, remote desktop control from the house And Internet.
OBD-II Scanner for Displaying Engine Status.
Garmin GPS16 WAAS receiver. Very Accurate and fast locking GPS Receiver for use with Street Atlas 2003 Plus and Streets & Trips (1 sec hack)
CoPilot2003 GPS For Actual Step By Step Navigation.
IRMan For Winamp Control.
Port Relocation Kit Mounted In Center Console For Easy Access To USB, Firewire, Audio In, Out, Mic, P&P Keyboard Port.
Keyspan USB to 4 port serial hub.
Port replicator adds 3 more USB ports, 1 serial, plug and play PS/2 mouse and keyboard.
Serial relay control module to roll windows up/down, lock/unlock doors, open driver door, open pass door. (I need software for it please help. For more info check out R810 )
A4 Rechargeable Wireless RF Mouse, ACK240 Full Size Wireless IR Keyboard.

System Map

This is what the setup can doo

Software
-Win XP pro corp Ed (prim boot)
-Win ME (sec boot for Cliffnet 1.4 This was deleted when Cliffnet 2.0 supports XP)
-Powerstrip 3.28 trial
-WinAMP 2.81 starts playing as soon as WinXP boots
-AO plug in for custom size and buttons
-Album List plug in for album list and cover art display
-IR plug in for IRman remote control
-Windows Media Player 6.4 for all videos and subtitles (DivX, XviD, asf, wma, wmv, mpeg1, mpeg2, mpeg4.
-Power DVD XP (DVD movies, DVD ripped to HD, mpeg1 mpeg2)
-EZ CD extractor (MP3 ripper)
-DVD Decryptor (ripping DVD movies to HD for later playback)
-Nero Burner 5.5.9
-Copilot 2003
-Street Atlas 2003 Plus (runs with Copilot at the same time)
-MS Streets & trips 2003 (1 sec GPS update hack, runs with Copilot at the same time)
-Cliffnet Wizard 2.0 beta Clifford AvantGuard4 alarm control software
-OBD-II scanner for digital dash RPM, vehicle speed, intake air temp, eng temp, throttle position and engine load
-WinLSD frequency generator 10hz - 20khz, sub box design software.
-Select Phone Pro 2002 west coast - phone number search CA, WA, OR, NV
-Dial up networking for Nokia 8390 through IrDA port - Internet access
-Handset Manager - Nokia 8390 cellphone manager - address book, ring tone, background programming
-VNC remote desk top control from the comfort of my room.

Windows boots to music in 45 seconds. That's pretty damn fast considering all the crap I'm running in a fragmented HDD with out any software tweaks.

Will try Media Engine 2 when its available
__________________________________________________
I started my project by building a clear case. My first case looked like crap so I tossed it. I learned from my first case that I dont need to use thick lexan for my installation and also an ALL clear case wouldn't look good either cuz when you look through the top of the case at an angle, you can see all the fiberglass crap on the inside. So I decided to use Black ABS plastics to cover the sides and thin Lexan for the top. I also want the case to have good ventilation so I squeezed as many fans as I possibly could. It gets 110 here in the summer. I ended up with a case that houses the FV24 motherboard, Opus Dc-DC PSU, Maxtor 160GB hDD and 4 fans that measures about 7.25X8X4. The case setup has external quick disconnect IDE cable, ATX plug, audio plug for CD drive, and all onboard USB headers and audio headers.
Case 01
Case 02
Case 03
Case 04
Case 05
Case 06
Case 07
Case 08
Cutting the perfect circle on a plexiglass can be hard. I draw a perfect circle then I cut it with a jigsaw. I made a round sand paper and attached it to a drill. I use the drill to sand the circle to the pen mark. once sanded, the circle is perfectly round with no rough edges.
cut circle 01
cut circle 02
cut circle 03
cut circle 04
cut circle 05
cut circle 06
cut circle 07
cut circle 08
cut circle 09
This is the finished case.
finished case 01
finished case 02
finished case 03
finished case 04
finished case 05
finished case 06
finished case 07
finished case 08
finished case 09
__________________________________________________
After I got the case built it's time to start the alarm install. I need to get the alarm mounted and wires ran so the Cliffnet cable is ready. The alarm is a Clifford AvantGard4. It comes with a remote start, headlight control, window roll up and 3 AUX out. The onboard window roll up was replaced with SmartWindows4 for total Window up/down control.
alarm 01
alarm 02
alarm 03
alarm 04
alarm 05
alarm 06
Once I got the alarm prewired, I need to take the dash apart so I can hide the brain. I relocated the AC control and forgot to take pics.
builddash 01
builddash 02
builddash 03
builddash 04
builddash 05
builddash 06
builddash 07
I want to mount the CD drive somewhere on the dash. I dont smoke so screw the ashtray. The CD drive is about 8" deep. The ashtray is only 7" deep. Behind the ashtray was the AC system. I had to build the CD drive bezel out an inch.
cddrive 01
cddrive 02
cddrive 03
cddrive 04
Scroll down to 4th post for part 2.

albysure · 01-04-2003, 05:43 AM

Excellant job on the dash!!! kicks looks good too

well gotta go shovel the 16" of snow that fell so i can go buy more crap for my car

bosstone74 · 01-05-2003, 12:55 AM

Looks very nice...
why did you not use a slot load?

cproaudio · 01-05-2003, 12:43 PM

I couldnt find a fast slot load DVD and CDRW drive at the time. I I don't use the drive as much. The times I did use it, I never had any problems.

Edit:
The dash is starting to take shape. I mounted the Linksys USB WiFi, Garmin GPS16 and Copilot GPS receivers under the dash cap above the AC duct and behind the Xenarc screen. The LCD screen is still in its original case for warranty purposes.
cddrive 05
cddrive 06
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I wanted a console to hold the PC, all the wires and cables and have it still look decent. I started with a shape of what the console should look like and fit.
console build 01
console build 02
console build 03
console build 04
console build 05
console build 06
console build 07
console build 08
console build 09
After I got the model console done, I decided to add a 3.5" drive bay to the left side of the console for future upgrades. As of now I just put a floppy drive in there.
console build 10
console build 11
console build 12
console build 13
console build 14
console build 15
console build 16
console build 17
console build 18
Since a lot of the neat toys I want are in serial and my motherboard only has 1 serial port, I did a search on the net for a way to add more serial ports. I came up with a Kekspan USA49W USB to 4 serial hub. The hub has a power LED and 4 LEDs to show the status of each port. I want to be able to see the LEDs but the original case looked ugly and big. I had to build a case for it.
serial case 01
serial case 02
serial case 03
serial case 04
serial case 05
serial case 06
serial case 07
serial case 08
serial case 09
After the serial case was built I decided to mount the case on the side of the PC console so that I could see the LEDs
serial mounted 01
serial mounted 02
serial mounted 03
serial mounted 04
This is the finished console texture coated and color matched
finished console 01
finished console 02
finished console 03
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Once I got the everything made, it's time for the install.
squeezing in 01
squeezing in 02
squeezing in 03
squeezing in 04
squeezing in 05
The PC is in the console
squeezing in 06
squeezing in 07
This is the finished console
console done 01
console done 02
console done 03
This is the center console amp rack for the JL 500/1, 300/4. The amp rack houses the amps, two 4" intake fans, two 3" outlet fans, 1 farad cap, 1 4awg in 4 fused 8awg out dist block, 1 4awg in 4 8awg out ground dist block, cup holders for 2 extra large cups up to 64oz, mouse holder, cell phone holder, and USB IrDA port. I cant believe I managed to squeeze all these crap in the center console.
amp rack console 01
amp rack console 02
amp rack console 03
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These are the ALL DONE pics
DONE 01
DONE 02
DONE 03
DONE 04
DONE 05
DONE 06
DONE 07
DONE 08
DONE 09
DONE 10
DONE 11
DONE 12
DONE 13
DONE 14
DONE 15
DONE 16
DONE 17
DONE 18
DONE 19
DONE 20
DONE 21
DONE 22
DONE 23
DONE 24
DONE 25
DONE 26
DONE 27
DONE 28
Here are some close ups and screen caps
closeup 01
closeup 02
closeup 03
closeup 04
closeup 05
closeup 06
closeup 07
closeup 08
closeup 09
I hope you've enjoyed my setup. I'd be happy to see some positive comments and to answer questions you may have

m3rdpwr · 01-05-2003, 01:09 PM

Dude, you rule...

-Mario

Defiler · 01-05-2003, 11:38 PM

Nice setup. I'm getting very close to mine being done as well. Good luck with the rest of the install.

ShinkunoNamida · 01-06-2003, 03:34 AM

awsome!!! I can't wait till spring so I can do some major construction in my car

This is truly an amazing job!

Loftus · 01-06-2003, 10:15 AM

That's a 10+ install, how long have you been working on this? when did you start?.

Quote:

Personally I think it looks better with white face plate so please don't ask me to color match the CD drive.

I won't ask then but i'm pretty sure when you take that truck to show's or just when your showin it off i think that will be your #1 question.

Again....nice install!

cproaudio · 01-06-2003, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loftus
That's a 10+ install, how long have you been working on this? when did you start?.

I started in early August about the same time I became a member here. I've been reading this board a few months prior. I've been working on it about 1-3 hours a day 3-4 days a week. Thats the only time I can have the shop to myself at the place I work at after they closed. There's not a whole lot you can do in 1 hour. You can lay a coat of resin and wait 20 -30 minutes for it to cure then another coat and you're pretty much done for the day.

Quote:

Originally posted by Loftus
I won't ask then but i'm pretty sure when you take that truck to show's or just when your showin it off i think that will be your #1 question.

So far all the people who I've shown it to don't appreciate the work that I've put into it. All they say was "that's cool, it's got a touch screen." some people even pointed at the CD drive and asked what's that. No offense but people who live around here are stupid.

Quote:

Originally posted by Loftus
Again....nice install!

Thank you very much.

TruckinMP3 · 01-06-2003, 11:35 AM

Very nice, That gives me a level of install to shoot for...
TruckinMP3

albysure · 01-06-2003, 08:26 PM

got any pics of the rest of the system?

AVGeek · 01-06-2003, 09:39 PM

Hey cpro, what part of SoCal are you in? I may have a few questions about some upgrades I am contemplating for my truck.

Charliey · 01-06-2003, 10:32 PM

sweet job! i cant wait till spring to start mine.

people who dont understand the whole thing with building computers wouldnt understand what it took to make it. I guess people who are used to doing interiors for cars might understand a bit more, but not nessisarily. nicely done!

cproaudio · 01-06-2003, 11:18 PM

cproaudio · 01-06-2003, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by albysure
got any pics of the rest of the system?

Not yet. I still need to take pictures of the center console and the back wall of the cab. I do have some more pictures on building the case, and console. Those were the things I built when I first started this project. Then I got tired of taking pics so I stop taking pictures of the rest of the system. I will post more pics when I orginize the pics.