1997 Jeep Cherokee - Custom In Dash

SeeBQ · 10-08-2003, 01:02 AM

As always, it's still a work in progress, but I couldn't wait to show it off.

Car
Car: 1997 Jeep Cherokee
Engine: ummm, a V6?

Sorry, no pic of the car itself, as it isn't clean!

Car Stereo
Amplifier: Rockford Fosgate Punch 800a4 - 4 channel 800 watt amp
Speakers: Boston Acoustics Pro Series Component Speakers (seperate woofer and tweeter with external crossover) in front, 2 JL 12" subwoofers in a PowerWedge box.
Configuration: 1 channel at ~75 watts RMS left, 1 channel at ~75 watts RMS right, 2 channels bridged mono to subs at ~400 watts RMS. Yes, it is loud.

Computer
Computer: Via Epia M10000 Nehemiah
Case: Custom Plexiglass bottom mounted in center console
Power: Opus 90W DC-DC PSU w remote trigger option
Storage: 40GB laptop drive
Drive: Slim Slot-Load DVD/CD-RW/CD-R Drive
Sound: Via "on-board" sound - AC97
Display: Gain 7" LCD touchscreen from Xenarc
Extras:

CoPilot 2003 for GPS Navigation (USB version)
XMPCR - XM Satellite Radio
D-Link DSB-R100 AM/FM Tuner
Microsoft Wireless Network Adapter

Right now, I'm running Windows XP Professional and using the hibernate feature to enable a pretty quick boot. The Opus remote trigger works great for turning on my amp, but when XP comes back from hibernation - pop - there's that annoying sound of the sound card turning on. For input I am using just the touch screen with the On Screen Keyboard - what a pain, I am going to have to spring for a keyboard soon.

I quickly coded up my own windows media player 9 skin, but have since decided to scrap the all inclusive screen (with equalizer, vis, and playlist visible all at once) for a better interface (work in progress).

The XM PCR software is just about the worst piece of junk ever. It causes my system to not go into hibernation (if I don't watch it and shut it down manually when it fails, it would let my battery drain). However, it is cool to have XM Satellite Radio playing while getting Global Positioning Satellite navigation at the same time. Kinda makes the world feel pretty small....

The DLink USB Radio sucks, frankly I hate FM Radio, so that's not a big loss.

The low-down -- I am still not quite done, as I have yet to add my bluetooth adapter to allow T-Mobile internet access full-time. My Windows XP Embedded build is coming along, and I am writing the software specification for an all-in-one media player program that hopefully will be pretty slick and allow instant control of media files/CDs/DVDs (using the Windows Media Player 9 SDK), the XM Radio (using the XM PCR hacks and an XM PCR OCX), and whatever else goodies I can find. And yes, I am following all of the other software builds.

So, here are some pics:

I am not yet done with the install, I have one more round of putty, sanding and painting to get rid of those dents and dings (that was my fault for being too Dremmel-happy) on the dash. The cover for the console will be replaced, and I was thinking of mounting my DVD drive somewhere else with a firewire bridge (like gork's beamer). I also have to mount at least semi-permanently an antenna for my XM Radio and the GPS antenna/receiver. And of course, like so many others in the forums, I am working on some software as well.

For the gallery of the not-quite-finished install, visit:

http://www.seebq.com/gallery/carcomputer

Since I just graduated from University with a degree in Computer Science, and don't have a real job yet, I am going to try to start a company providing in car computer systems, much like Gnet Canada, but cooler. Wish me luck.

Comments? Criticisms? Praise?

updated gallery photos!

stkdidy ntshidy · 10-08-2003, 01:04 AM

sand down that center console a lil more, looks great, but i can see the imperfections in the way the light shines

good work so far...but you shoulda gotten w7's

jk

SeeBQ · 10-08-2003, 01:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by stkdidy ntshidy

sand down that center console a lil more, looks great, but i can see the imperfections in the way the light shines

Don't worry, I'm not done with the dash yet - the reason I included that picture is to show the imperfections. It needs a little more putty and a little more sanding and one more coat of paint.

Quote: Originally Posted by stkdidy ntshidy

good work so far...but you shoulda gotten w7's

jk

The subs are already a bit too loud for my taste, I don't know why I got such a big enclosure so long ago.

Thanks for the input!

stkdidy ntshidy · 10-08-2003, 01:27 AM

no prob on the input, way to keep this hobby growing

carabuser · 10-08-2003, 02:02 AM

looks good, man, i wish i could do this kind of magic

brrman · 10-08-2003, 12:23 PM

dude that looks great - little more detailing and it will be awesome.

How do you like the BA Pro Series speakers? I am about to spring the $ for them.

cproaudio · 10-08-2003, 01:37 PM

I have Boston pro 5.4 in the kick panel and 5.5 in the doors. They sound great

SeeBQ · 10-08-2003, 06:03 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by brrman

dude that looks great - little more detailing and it will be awesome.

How do you like the BA Pro Series speakers? I am about to spring the $ for them.

As for the quality - they are top notch. I upgraded from some relatively cheap 2-way Eclipse speakers (that were not that bad), but I just had a big amp powering tiny speakers. I don't have to tell you that when you have a nice amp putting out plenty of wattage (RMS that is), you might as well have speakers that can handle the power.

I was also just using the Eclipse's for the higher frequencies -- using the amp's built in cross-over. Now I send out full frequencies to the front and have some really crisp high end as well as good bass up front (even though the bass in the back is enough to drown anything out)!

Anywho, they're epensive, but good. I believe Hi-Fi Buys (also known as Tweeter) has them, so you can go take a look at them, but the details are in the specs, as I'm sure you're aware. The seperate crossovers are big and the cover fell off one so it's surrounded by electrical tape, but it's completely hidden and other than that, they both work well.

The paint should be dry by now (48 hours to dry fully) so it's back to the grind (literally - sanding) and puttying and another coat....

I'll keep you guys posted,
--
Charles Brian Quinn
seebq.com

stkdidy ntshidy · 10-09-2003, 02:11 AM

^^^just a question cuz ive only done small fiberglassing things before: why are you painting it in between layers of putty? seems counter-productive time wise...?

SeeBQ · 10-09-2003, 09:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by stkdidy ntshidy

^^^just a question cuz ive only done small fiberglassing things before: why are you painting it in between layers of putty? seems counter-productive time wise...?

That is an excellent question. If I had done any type of fiberglassing, I would have known better - also, if I had realized that there were still some tiny imperfections after the first "coat," I wouldn't have needed to go back to the puttying stage. It is taking me a long time, I agree.

I thought with enough primer and paint that it would look ok, and that perhaps the tiny imperfections would not be noticeable, or would get covered up sufficiently. I was wrong.

Today, I goofed again, I decided to paint while it was raining, out in the garage where I'm working. Needless to say, the paint did not go on as smoothly as before. Looks like it needs another good sanding and priming on a nice dry day, and one more coat before I call it quits.

So, note to anyone looking to do any type of fiberglass modifications, be careful what you get yourself into!

--
Charles Brian Quinn
seebq.com

LIJeepGuy · 10-10-2003, 12:07 AM

May sound dumb, but worth asking

What is the "Hack" and "OCX"? Is there a hack out there for XM PCR?.. and where do we get it? What does "OCX" stand for.

Thanks!!!

SeeBQ · 10-11-2003, 02:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by LIJeepGuy

May sound dumb, but worth asking

What is the "Hack" and "OCX"? Is there a hack out there for XM PCR?.. and where do we get it? What does "OCX" stand for.

Thanks!!!

Since the XMPCR is really just a device that outputs audio, and is controlled by a simple USB->Serial type interface, it has been "hacked."

By "hacked" I mean, shortly after it came out, people figured out all the commands sent by serial communication to change channels, turn it on and off, get information such as sattellite signal, etc., etc. And, even better is that there is an OCX, or OLE Control Extension that enables someone to have high-level access through Visual Basic or Visual C to the commands. It's actually an ActiveX control, this is the newer version of Microsoft's program module controls.

So, instead of sending "02343243x324" to the serial port to change the channel, with the OCX, you can issue a command "channel_up()" to change the channel.

You can visit:
http://xmpcr.sourceforge.net/ For the linuXMPCR development project on sourceforge.
Or try:
http://www.avionline.com/ For the ActiveX (OCX).

There may be more here on mp3car.com about the XM, but I still haven't figured out that search thing yet (I'm kidding, guys....).

--
Charles Brian Quinn
seebq.com

JeeP-3 · 10-30-2003, 04:28 PM

Just to let you know, your 1997 Cherokee will have an I6 4.0L engine or a 2.5L I4 - and is the "XJ" model.

Only the newer rounded "KJ" models have a V6. The I6 is a great motor...

I've got a 4.0 L I6 Jeep Wrangler and the closest thing to a Car-puter is an Ipaq 5450 at the moment... Not bad at all, but the FM-transmittor is quite poor...

Enjoy!

Look forward to seeing the finished thing.. the dash looks great!

black_ice · 10-30-2003, 04:49 PM

nice setup, good luck with getting your company going.

R3l0ad · 10-30-2003, 05:46 PM

Very Nice... I was looking for an idea like this and this is awesome... I never thought of bondo.

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