Newbie installing in 93 wrangler - offroad vehicle!

underwaterdan · 09-29-2007, 02:54 PM

So I am trying to install my carputer, or as I will call it jeeputer, in my 1993 jeep wrangler (yj). I have figured out basically how to handel keeping the computer from crapping out when I off road, I am building a little shock absorber for the MB and HD and using a little foam to help it also(not too much-it needs to breath). The hardest part for me will be actual fabrication and electrical. The 93 wrangler dash leaves a lot to be desired here are some of my known hurtles:

I want the LCD to be hideable as I often drive around without doors or a roof on the car.
I would like to be able to put the lcd on a small horizontal axis swivel to allow me to move it and eliminate possible glare.
The current dash has a texture too it, and I would like my install to look somewhat factory(I decided I will not be using a tecture on my fab, but still want it to look less custom than factory.

I think that is it for the real hard part... Pics are coming of the before install...
--HERE ARE THOSE PICS----
Now you can see what I mean about mounting the LCD.

underwaterdan · 09-29-2007, 04:55 PM

Close up pic of the center dash... Notice how the last guy who had the car messed up the dash installing the headunit... Thinking of fixing that and installing the LCD in that area...

0okami · 09-30-2007, 05:40 PM

off road? I recomend solid state storage. CF card or similar.

underwaterdan · 09-30-2007, 06:14 PM

Yeah that was my other thought, I have a few HD's laying around I am going to see if that works first, if not I will go solid state. Trying to do this project and clean out my stock pile of CPU parts at the same time :-)

BiGGy · 09-30-2007, 08:52 PM

Its vibration that kills motion hdd, not the big bumps, you should be right using a standard drive, they can take a hell of allot of punishment before they go.

0okami · 09-30-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BiGGy

Its vibration that kills motion hdd, not the big bumps, you should be right using a standard drive, they can take a hell of allot of punishment before they go.

So far, i havent had any issues using a 2.5 laptop drive. I drive every day around downtown Athens Ohio talk about ****ty historic roads. Bricks, and uneven pavement half *** patch jobs... im still using the same drive as when i started the project. thats 2 years so far no errors yet .

So yeah you should be ok. Either way, let us know how it goes for you.

KB5WID · 09-30-2007, 10:10 PM

Take a look at what I did for my 2000 Jeep. It solves the issue of Theft, and Glare.
I used theft resistant screws on the covers and the case is strong enough that I can stand on it whith it installed.

When I built it I test fit and marked each piece. My drawings are guides for any jeep owner.

I have been using the computer under the back seat for the past 5 years and am still on the original parts including the laptop hard drive. I drive off road about 30% of my milage. I have had no issues.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/fabr...-new-post.html

PM me if you want to discuss the details.

underwaterdan · 10-01-2007, 05:59 AM

I really like that install, but there are some obsicles in my YJ, including my new bestop ultimate sound bar which runs horizonatal in front of the middle roll bar. I will take a look at possible going in that direction if I can't get it in the dash, but then I would have to either hack apart or sell my soundbar.

underwaterdan · 10-02-2007, 08:11 AM

I have been discussing this on some other threads and I think I am going to try and go with a custom maple dash to house my gauges, climate and Lilliput. So it looks somewhat stock - I am going to try and update my center console to also have a maple look and feel. The maple is affordable if I get it thin enough, I don't really need that much. 10 bucks a board or so for 1/2 inch maple 4'x4'. That should cover both my dash and most of my center console.

underwaterdan · 10-03-2007, 06:48 AM

Only 2 more days until the rest of my supplies arrive. The CPU is just about all set up outside of the car, need to add the wireless card(just in case) and still waiting for my OPUS to arrive. I won't bore anyone with pictures of getting the CPU ready... I think I am going to trace out the dash tonight so that I can get the wood and begin to shape it...

underwaterdan · 10-07-2007, 02:53 PM

Okay all the parts are here, actually everything minus the Opus, but that can wait anyway. They came in on Friday, I quickly got to work hooking everything up and downloading the latest drivers. The only thing that gave me some issues is RR kept wanting to reload Iguidance when I clicked on GPS, which caused it to give me an error saying I had no signal, when infact I did but the other instance of Iguidance was using it. Here are some pics... I just noticed I don't have one of the GPS yet, but I will get it and put it up...

underwaterdan · 10-07-2007, 03:22 PM

Now I am having huge fabrication issues - basically they are that I can't start because I don't have a solid plan, it keeps changing every 10 minutes.
Now I don't know if I want to use wood or fiberglass, maybe I just need to suck it up and use fiberglass..

underwaterdan · 10-11-2007, 06:33 AM

Okay - so for the few who are reading this thread... the answer I came up with was to scratch the lower dash install and install the lilliput in the soft vinyl covered part of the top of the dash. I ordered the part and it should be here next week sometime. My biggest concern is glare at the moment, plus I read somewhere that the foam shriks after a while when it has been cut.

wplate · 10-11-2007, 07:28 PM

I look forward to seeing what you come up with in your Jeep. Keep the posts coming.

underwaterdan · 10-11-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by wplate

I look forward to seeing what you come up with in your Jeep. Keep the posts coming.

I will - I have the dash coming in the next few days, probably monday or tuesday. Once that comes I will be doing some real fab work. Once that is done I just need to run power to it and I should be all set... hopefully in the next few weeks it will be "done"... Then I move on to the next car, this one is just for learning purposes and fun. I am looking into different rocker switchs now. I still have to learn more about doing the electric, I can't seem to find what fuses to use and what gauge wire to use.