2001 Chevy Tracker

DracoPCGuy · 01-31-2008, 07:40 PM

Hello,

My name is Justin and i wanted to start this as my official work log. I figure as I complete tasks on my CarPuter I would post it here. Also I will post links to any info I have and posts I have made in other area's related to my install.

Lets start with my other posts first...
My opening post - alittle info about my idea
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newb...iece-time.html

Second Post - Amp Questions
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newb...-amp-help.html

Then I bought my amp - asked for help hooking it up
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newb...sed-check.html

and my latest post is about the PSU
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newb...y-buy-but.html

So thats it for now. Today I was looking at my firewall trying to figure out how to get through it. Hopefully without drilling a hole I can have it installed in about 1 week.

DracoPCGuy · 02-23-2008, 08:17 PM

FINALLY! I decided today since I was never going to find a hole in my firewall...that while I had my car inspected I would just pay them to drill my hole. the only place they could find that would be clear was to put on the driver side. The battery is on the passenger side. So I am going through there and gonna mount the amp under my seat most likely. Should have that done in the next couple weeks.

DracoPCGuy · 03-22-2008, 10:02 PM

Wow is it now almost April...and i finally got some more work done. First I have glued down a board that will hold the amp. I painted it black and will mount the amp. I am going to mount the amp this week I am wondering if i should putt some rubber washers under it where the screws will be to help with vibrations. I ask this cause I have had friends that the boards on their amps vibrated loose and the amp shorted out. i hagve never had an amp go bad on me but what do you think...worth doing?

I bought a 4 gauge kit and the speaker wire needed yesturday. I did the 4 gauge cause I may decide to run something else off this other than the amp that is powering my speakers. Who knows...something small maybe...

DracoPCGuy · 03-25-2008, 10:52 PM

Ok I have a new update...looking for some help on this one if anyone has any. I came across a notebook and now I just need to get a touchscreen and power to the notebook. I am going to do some research tomorrow but...well I posted info on my notebook post. Check ity out...

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/lapt...ml#post1192793

DracoPCGuy · 03-31-2008, 02:35 PM

Here is my post from Trackitara.com - Throught I would repost here also...

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So I have the install done to this point... I say to this point because the long run will be a Carputer. I have a possible computer but not the screen...so I have just put in my MP3 player for now.

I am using a 600w Sony Explode amp to put the sound to my stock (for now) speakers.

1. Removed the carpet

2. Here is the board I painted and glued into the cargo area

3. I installed 1 4 gauge wire, 4 paired 16 gauge speaker wire and 1 rem 18 gauge wire to turn on the amp (speaker and rem wire not shown). It was a very tight fit really. I had to run the 4 gauge wire above the seat belt mechanism to make it fit right. I checked a few days after the wire was ran and it sis not rubbing but I will check again in about 2 weeks to be sure\(so i will post a picture of that later) If it is I will do something about it. The speaker wires are taped every 8 inch or so to keep them together while i was installing and so they don't shift as much.

4. Here is the amp. Here you can see the speaker wires and the REM wire which is wired to the 12 ignition on the wire harness for the radio hook up. This way it turns on when I turn the car on. The only draw back is that I think I should have moved the amp over about 2-3 inches to the right. What do you all think about putting rubber under the amp to help with any possible vibrations? It’s straight on wood. I have heard of people that the base of their amps vibrated and sorted out on the boards inside. Now I have had 2 amps in cars befor but mine had plastic bases not metal like this one. What do you think?

5. Here is the radio area. I left enough extra so I can easily pull them out if I need to fix something. The wires are soldered...how well...I am not sure but it’s hooked up. I plan on going back and putting connectors on the amp side of things and redo the connections on the other end also.

What do you all think? Not the cleanest right now. I want to get the shelf in over my amp hat will cover the whole thing from left to right and have a lip to hold stuff in that might roll around.

Feedback please...

DracoPCGuy · 04-09-2008, 08:21 PM

Ok another update. Items purchased -

2- 1x6 pine boards 41 inches long
2- 1x4 pine boards 38 inches long

6 - L brackets
12 - bolts (forget size)
12 - locking washers
12 - nuts
12 - short bolts

Ok so I did this. Used the 1x6 and an outside piece and the 1x4 as an inside piece. The 1x4 was centered on the 1x6 to given equal spacing on either side. These board were liquid nailed together then painted with spray can bed liner. Then i lined up the L backets, marked and drilled holes. Then I ran the long bolts from the outside to the inside and nuted them down. I used the short bolts and bolted them down to the base board. I like the head showing so I plan on leaving then exposed. Note the sides you see were liquid nailed down also to help with vibration later on.

Thats pretty much it. I am trying to plan the sides and the top. The top will be removable but i want to make a way to lock it down. I want somegthig that can be removed but not something that is going to wear out from screwing in and out a lot....know what i mean. So I am thinking about that....suggestions? Check the pictures...

rdholtz · 04-09-2008, 10:24 PM

What you've done so far looks good and stout.

It's easiest to do this sort of work if you design the entire system before assembling it. Then you can figure out where components will be placed, where wiring will run, how everything will be attached, and how the sides and top will be installed. It also gives you the opportunity to get everything nicely painted before installation.

I'd recommend some longer-range planning before you do much more. Figure out what you want in the final version, and install the components you have now in the places they'll be at the completion of your project.

I think you're smart to consider vibration in your plan. You could use rubber mounts for the components --just some small rubber feet that you run the screws through; they'll provide cushioning. It's important not to have things flopping around, because they can get impact damage or wear damage, so using ties and hold-downs on the cables is a good idea.

Keep it up . . .

DracoPCGuy · 04-14-2008, 02:30 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I have been in the planning stage for some time. Actually now I am at a stop because I have some other issues to deal with. A couple clients are having problems with computer issues. so I am working on those. The next time I work on it this week I am putting in a distrib. box in the back that will house another fuse for the amp. I figure just that much more fuse protection. also I will be stepping the wire down from the 4 gauge to an 8 gauge.

I was worried the amp was miss placed alittle but it is actually perfect were it is. Esp. after I put the distib box in. I am picking up rubber washers on wednesday to install under the amp too.

Thanks much again for your feedback...a carputer 3+ years in the making...man i am slow on it...haha

DracoPCGuy · 04-15-2008, 08:56 PM

I have another post inreguards to my build which is about wiring...

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newb...ml#post1201633

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I you wonder why I keep doing this I just want to have all the posts listed in one spot that are tied into my build