2008 Subaru WRX

murphyslaww · 04-30-2009, 02:49 AM

Starting my build.

No pics yet. I'll get some up tomorrow. Finishing up Exams for the spring.

I'm starting with an old Xpc I had sitting in the garage that I had been converting into a MythUbuntu box set into an old Cable set top box I had. It's an old AMD 1.8mhz processor, 1GB ram, onboard video.

I've reinstalled the Xpc m/b into the Xpc case, and purchased a 250gb 2.5" laptop Drive. It's running with Ubuntu now, but I need to get a smart power supply, and a touch screen.

Looking for any recommendations. I'm going to buy a second piece of Dash trim that surrounds the double din opening in the dash, and possibly set the screen into the dash replacing the radio. If not, then I'll probably have the screen on a movable arm.

The initial plan is to cut the Xpc chassis top half of the Xpc, and try to not make it look too Ghetto, then install it in the Glove box.

The WRX has just begun it's Racing career in Autocross, so a large portion of my desire for this is to get some OBDII gauges up.

akwash79 · 05-03-2009, 05:46 AM

Post pics as soon as you can! I always wanted a WRX......I'm sure it's going to look clean

murphyslaww · 06-14-2009, 03:16 AM

Well, I had more Honey-Do's to do, so I've just got into the work on the box.

I've cut down the Shuttle chassis in half, and need to cut the chassis cover down to fit it.

I think I am going to mount it under the drivers seat, instead of the glove box.

I also don't think I am going to cut the stock stereo out, just due to the complexities of getting Radio over the computer. I think I will mount a secondary touch screen on an arm of some sort that I can turn towards the driver or passenger, based on whether I am racing or traveling with the wife/kids.

Shuttle now has a $399.00 bare bones chassis for, I think, I7, that has a 7' touch screen mounted in the front of it. I'm definately going to look into one of those as a possibility to dismantle for the screen.

I have some pics of the build process, that i need to shrink and post.

Found a cool app for the Tmobile G1 phone for racing called trackmaster, that does GPS based, performance monitoring(lap times, etc.).

Also have a Perrin Performance 25mm front ARB, and Kumho ecsta XS 235/45/17 autocross/road tires coming next week.

murphyslaww · 06-14-2009, 12:14 PM

murphyslaww · 06-14-2009, 12:35 PM

Looks like I need a mod to move this to work logs...

Sorry about that.

bigdakota98 · 06-14-2009, 01:00 PM

Sounds like this could be fun pc. I would stray away from the arm mount monitor, just doesnt look clean. but hey thats just my 2 cents. Cant wait to see some pics of the car & pc.

murphyslaww · 06-15-2009, 05:42 AM

tried to post some pics, but they didn't show up.

Lets try again.

murphyslaww · 06-15-2009, 05:47 AM

The Flap on the inside that I bent down on the chassis is where I will secure the 2.5" HD.

Some more pics.

murphyslaww · 06-15-2009, 05:54 AM

I'm thinking that I am going to leave the monitor non-permanently mounted.

I'd like to be able to move a 7" monitor to in front of my current gauges, with some sort of mount, so that it can function like the digital Race gauge sets that purpose-built race vehicles have, like with Motec data.

I'd then also like to be able to have my wife move it to a semi-permanent mount when we travel so that she can watch movies.

I have a T-mobile G1, and a tethering program for it, so I should be able to get mobile internet wherever there is 3G service. I think my download speeds have been averaging 350-500kb lately, so not great, but not horrible either.

I'm taking all suggestions for software that would help me accomplish this. Right now the box has straight Ubuntu on the hard drive.

Here is what I have to work with:

murphyslaww · 06-15-2009, 06:11 AM

Next Steps:

buy a 7" touch screen
buy some sort of power supply
choose software package (OBDII, Music, Movies, GPS, etc.)
Buy OBDII cable
mount a remote usb, and audio hookup(car has an aux 3.5mm jack in the center console)
might also try dual 7" monitors for the back for the kids.

bigdakota98 · 06-15-2009, 07:50 AM

Nice, That is a good looking car. Keep up the good work.

rogerdugans · 06-20-2009, 07:50 AM

It won't do quite what you have in mind as far as sitting in front of the stock gauges, but I have my monitor on an arm and still use the stock stereo as well as the carpc.

My monitor arm is mounted to the passenger side footwell:
welded to the removable cover for some electrical stuff down there (08 WRX wagon, so yours is likely the same.)

The arm comes up alongside the console and holds the monitor about level with the stock headunit.

I do NOT think my setup will work quite right for you- I'm not doing any autocross, but mention it in case it helps with developing ideas.

The stuff I used was from Panavise.

I have had very few problems with the mounting arm loosening up, and even those could be fixed with some JBWeld if needed, but since it is actually floor-mounted there IS a certain amount of flex/bouncing which would likely be worse on the track.

mswiss · 06-20-2009, 09:00 PM

Looking good!! I have a G1 (rooted w/ teather) as well and was just thinking about using it for the same thing, as well as GPS.

I'm not sure if you thought about this but try looking into gmote for your g1, I'm not 100% sure if it will work, but if it does you will be able to use your phone's key board as well as the touch screen for controlling the mouse on your monitor.

Oh and nice car, I love those things especially after 3k rpms

murphyslaww · 06-22-2009, 09:53 AM

Thanks to Rogerdugans,

I like this mount here:

http://www.panaviseonline.com/produc...gory=44&id=110

some of the flex mounts look cool too, but I wonder how sturdy they would be in a race. Autocross cornering gets pretty intense, with a fair amount of G force.

That should put the screen close to where I want it.

I'll check out the program for the G1.

I'm no linux guru. I can get through it barely, so I may ultimately end up running WinXP, possibly even mediacenter.

rogerdugans · 06-22-2009, 05:27 PM

I thought about a windshield mount too, but decided against it: not the greatest experiences with suction cup mounts in the past.
But the stuff I got from Panavise is well made and sturdy- theirs may be good enough to stay during AutoX.
(And if not, all the pieces BUT the suction cup mount should be usable with another mount somewhere.)

I feel the same about the flex mounts: probably fine for a vehicle that is driven... sedately.
Few people buy a WRX to drive sedately.

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