99 Grand caravan

ryan518w · 10-21-2009, 04:00 PM

I been into this for a while now and decided to go for it. I have a 99 grand caravan that I am doing my install in. I am only 19 with a very very low budget, as a matter of fact I don't think i even have a budget

but anyway I am using parts i had laying around and a few things off of ebay (thank god for ebay) to do this.

Computer:

Dinosaur asus desktop
256mb ram (upgrading to 512mb but DIMM ram is expensive)
Nvidia video card (I think its about 128mb kinda old I know but gets the job done)
60 gig HD for windows and other programs
200 gig HD for music and movies (Slave drive)
5.1 Sound card but only using stereo thoe it just sounds cleaner then on bored audio
DVD rom
CD burner

Audio:
Pioneer head unit deh-p6300(the best in my opinion) witch was relocated to the cup holder/ash tray
ip bus for my aux port
All oem speakers (had infinity premium sound system stock so speakers were pretty decent)
Sony xplod 1200 watt amp
15 inch inch inerfire sub (dvc 1000w peak amp is bridge) in slot style ported box

The real challenges are the the screen and the computer location.
I wanted to go with a 7 inch screen and i got one but broke it

so i seen someone go with a 15 inch flat panel monitor. so thats what i was going to go with. so i ordered another screen and it ended up being a 17 inch...WAY to big, but i already got so its gon have to work. seance it is so big, it covers the radio, ac controls, ac vents just everything in that center area, so I am working on a hange that would allow me to flip up when I need to accesses something under it

Oh yea I am also using a 200 watt 400 watt peak inverter

Pics coming soon......

Sonicxtacy02 · 10-21-2009, 04:18 PM

funny i was just scoping ideas for my wife's 06 caravan. be interesting to see what you do with the dash (models are all pretty much the same).

Oh yea.. and post moved to worklog section. Only completed projects stay in SOYP

TheGuv · 10-21-2009, 04:21 PM

Cant you just sell the screen and buy something more reasonable?

ryan518w · 10-21-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TheGuv

Cant you just sell the screen and buy something more reasonable?

I could but I m going to see how this works out...I am going to have to get my front windows tinted now lol but i gess its worth it.

TheGuv · 10-21-2009, 05:17 PM

Just had all mine tinted inc windscreen, the windscreen is legal but front doors arent, but then again they're dark smoke rather than limo so I doubt i'll get much complaint from the police as you can still make me out through it when driving.

But you can barely make out the screen through it when it's parked up which is good! Here (South East London) we pretty much get a breakin every day on our street at the moment!

ryan518w · 10-21-2009, 05:21 PM

This is what it looks like now. That thing under the radio is the bottom of the keyboard it is in the house right now as i am working on the computer now but when it is done the keyboard will screw on to that

Also the computer i am using...I don't know were it is going to go yet but for now it is going to go between the two front seats

TheGuv · 10-21-2009, 05:26 PM

It's gonna be tricky moving those manual ac/heater controls isn't it? Also that looks like the 17" screen will exceed the width of the centre console?

ryan518w · 10-21-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TheGuv

It's gonna be tricky moving those manual ac/heater controls isn't it? Also that looks like the 17" screen will exceed the width of the centre console?

Well what I plain to do is mount some type of strips back in the radio din that will support the screen and also push it out about mabye 3 inches and then put some hinges on the back of the screen so i can flip it up when I need to get to the controls mabye some hinges for a cabinet or somthing

TheGuv · 10-21-2009, 05:45 PM

is the 17" screen a touch screen?

ryan518w · 10-21-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TheGuv

is the 17" screen a touch screen?

No it is a regular lcd desktop monitor

TheGuv · 10-21-2009, 06:05 PM

Sell it and get an old POS screen, you can get them pretty cheap. I got a 10.4" POS touchscreen for £20 (approx $35-40), not got around to using it for anything mind but the touchscreen is responsive, brightness could be better... Good budget choice though...

rdholtz · 10-21-2009, 06:16 PM

Here's a 17-inch system mounted in a Scion xB. It's in use as a daily driver, and works just fine.

That mount was custom-built, but, since we built that, we've found some very nice tilting systems on old desktop mounts for LCD monitors; many of them might be adaptable to your usage. Almost all LCD monitors and panels use a mount with a 100mm square screw-hole pattern. You might even attach the desktop mount to a custom base attached to the floor or seat rails. Check for non-functional LCD monitors at your local PC shop or Goodwill; tell them you're looking for an LCD panel that doesn't work. Maybe even offer them a few bucks for the right one; otherwise, they'd probably put it in the trash.

One other thing: you'll probably want to look at investing in a DC-DC power supply -- like an Mini-box M2-ATX or M4-ATX, or one of the Opus or Carnetix models. Yep, it's a chunk of money, but that inverter will change your fuel economy, and not in a nice way.

Oh, and one other thing you could consider somewhere down the road: I'm not familiar with the space in the Caravan, but I can see that you have a lot of air in that computer case. If you replace the power supply with a DC-DC unit, you could cut your existing case down in size, or relocate the PC to a much smaller box. In fact, the shell of the case you have would be pretty decent material to make your own box, and you could use the existing mainboard mounting panel as the mainboard mount part of it. You could use some aluminum angle -- not too expensive at Home Depot or Lowes -- to form the corners (pop rivets and pop rivet guns are cheap; check Harbor Freight). Lay out the size you want; eliminate the AC power supply, and move some of the parts around, and you might well fit it into the console or, if you just cut it down, make it so it fits naturally as a console. If you make a new box for it, it might fit under one of the seats.

ryan518w · 10-21-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rdholtz

Here's a 17-inch system mounted in a Scion xB. It's in use as a daily driver, and works just fine.

That mount was custom-built, but, since we built that, we've found some very nice tilting systems on old desktop mounts for LCD monitors; many of them might be adaptable to your usage. You might even attach the desktop mount to a custom base attached to the floor or seat rails. Check for castoffs at your local PC shop or Goodwill; tell them you're looking for an LCD panel that doesn't work. Maybe even offer them a few bucks for the right one; otherwise, they'd probably put it in the trash.

One other thing: you'll probably want to look at investing in a DC-DC power supply -- like an Mini-box M2-ATX or M4-ATX, or one of the Opus or Carnetix models. Yep, it's a chunk of money, but that inverter will change your fuel economy, and not in a nice way.

I like ur setup thats what i was aiming for

ryan518w · 10-21-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TheGuv

Sell it and get an old POS screen, you can get them pretty cheap. I got a 10.4" POS touchscreen for £20 (approx $35-40), not got around to using it for anything mind but the touchscreen is responsive, brightness could be better... Good budget choice though...

sounds like a plain if u still have it when i get about $50 I will pm u

ryan518w · 10-21-2009, 09:04 PM

The Hoopty

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