2004 Ford Ranger - Page 3

Rocky388 · 12-31-2005, 12:22 AM

This is the computer trim piece made entirely out of aluminum. It's not entirely finished yet, the front piece of the enclosure need to be made. But you can get a good idea of what it looks like. I also included pictures of the fiberglass trim piece I orginally made as a comparison of the two pieces.

And here is the piece I originally fabricated out of fiberglass. Personally, I think it came out pretty bad (although, it was my first time working with fiberglass), which is why I decided to make a similar piece out of aluminum.

To finish these pieces I'm gunna have to sand them smooth, and they'll be painted. Although, I was thinking of doing a swirl pattern (or even polising the aluminum)..but I'm not to sure that that would really go well in my truck.

That's pretty much it for this update.

rextj · 01-02-2006, 12:09 AM

i like the metal a lot better than the fiberglass.. do you plan on painting the metal?

Rocky388 · 01-02-2006, 12:23 AM

Thanks..yeah, the metal was definitly an improvement. I'm not too sure how I wanna finish it. I was thinking of either painting it (probably a flat black) or doing like a swirl pattern (basically taking a scotch-brite pad and using a drill press to make swirls throughout the whole piece..if you can picture that).

Also, on the top part of the aluminum computer trim piece, where it slopes down, I was planning on painting some kind of design there..i'm not too sure what though lol

Rocky388 · 01-11-2006, 09:46 PM

Update:

- I ran all the wiring and cables over the weekend and made my own atx extended power harness.

- I welded up a nice little keyboard tray and installed it

And with that, I was able to start up the computer inside my truck for the first time 0l33l. The actual setup works fine, and the inverter works great..it survives crank and everything.

My only problem is that I used my copy of windows xp pro more than 25 times, and now it won't log me on until I activate it...what a pain in the ***

Next is to mount in the power supply, and finish up the computer trim piece.

I'll try to post up a couple pics this weekend

jon102034050 · 01-12-2006, 03:41 PM

wow, thats a really interesting install, i dont know if i like the screen that much, i think tall screen would be weird to deal with as opposed to wide screen....

Rocky388 · 01-26-2006, 10:12 PM

Quick update:

- The back computer trim piece has been finished
- The power supply is mounted securely
- My New headunit is installed, and the mount for the headunit and DVD player in the double din opening is complete.

Overall, this part of the project is quickly coming to an end.

What's next:
- make bezel for double din opening
- install GPS
- install microphone for voice control

After that I'll be starting the overhead console 0l33l

RawsonDR · 02-05-2006, 03:40 PM

Good work on the install. I'm especially interested in the monitor enclosure because I just so happen to be planning the same thing. There is virtually no dash space with which to work in my '91 Continental, and I figure a 14 or 15" LCD will be cheaper than a good touchscreen. What size is yours? Your sig says 15 but the first post in this thread says 14.

When I first envsioned this idea I figured I'd be able to utilize the space behind the monitor for storage (keyboard, mouse, usb hub, etc). I see you haven't done that. Does it seem feasible, though?

I also figured a cover would be a good idea for the same reasons you point out. The interior of my car is a very light color, with almost no tinting on the windows, so I'm even more concerned that what I put in there will be very obvious. Are you still going this route?

Are the enclosure panels bolted along the car body, or connected only at the monitor?

Good job with making a clean install. I personally think painting to match your interior would look nice.

Keep us updated with your progress.

Rocky388 · 02-07-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RawsonDR

Good work on the install. I'm especially interested in the monitor enclosure because I just so happen to be planning the same thing. There is virtually no dash space with which to work in my '91 Continental, and I figure a 14 or 15" LCD will be cheaper than a good touchscreen. What size is yours? Your sig says 15 but the first post in this thread says 14.

When I first envsioned this idea I figured I'd be able to utilize the space behind the monitor for storage (keyboard, mouse, usb hub, etc). I see you haven't done that. Does it seem feasible, though?

I also figured a cover would be a good idea for the same reasons you point out. The interior of my car is a very light color, with almost no tinting on the windows, so I'm even more concerned that what I put in there will be very obvious. Are you still going this route?

Are the enclosure panels bolted along the car body, or connected only at the monitor?

Good job with making a clean install. I personally think painting to match your interior would look nice.

Keep us updated with your progress.

Thanks

My screen is a 14" (I gotta change my sig, didn't even realise that lol). For around $150 I really don't think you could go wrong, as long as you have the space.

Utilizing the space behind the monitor is very possible, if you plan it out right. The picture of the monitor and stand are kinda old. In thoes pictures (where I show behind the monitor) I didn't have the controller for the screen installed yet, and in my mount, that takes up a bit of space. To mount that, I welded on another flat piece of steel at an angle. Then, also not pictured, just behind the contoller I welded up brakets to mount the aluminum bezel too (which almost looks like a goal post). I wanted to utilize the existing holes in my truck, rather then drill new, and my layout was pretty much planned around that. There's some wiring hidden behind there as well. It is possible to plan it to utilize as much space as possible though, that just wasn't a concern of mine.

A cover is a very good idea, but as of now, I haven't come up with any good design for one, other then a rectangular piece of aluminum that covers the screen when not in use, and I have to remove it when in use. Though, with my black interior, when the screen is off, it really doesn't stand out that much, so I'm not sure if I will ever make a cover.

The enclosure for the screen is all one piece, and is simply screwed to the mount that my screen is on (it screws into the goal posts - 1 screw on each side). And the mount that the screen is on, is screwed to the trucks floor, using holes that use to hold a small console.

Yeah, I'm waiting for warmer weather (and for the arrival of my aluminum H/U / DVD bezel) before I start painting anything, but it will be painted to match the interior. With everything all black/dark the screen should be pretty stealth.

Hopefully that answered your questions, and made sense lol. If not, just lemme know. I'll post some pictures asap to illustrate some of the things that i mentioned..as well as a progress update.

xs10x · 02-08-2006, 07:20 AM

Where is the inverter? How did you set it up for Shutdown and startup?

Rocky388 · 02-08-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by xs10x

Where is the inverter? How did you set it up for Shutdown and startup?

The inverter is in the center console. I have a power switch going to the computer to turn it on, and I shut it down like a normal computer. It has nothing to do with whether the truck is on or off. The inverter has built in low-voltage protection - while it doesn't shut down the computer properly, it does turn everything off when the battery gets low (though this has not happened yet). It also has built in reverse polarity and thermal shutdown protection. AND it survives crank.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=125-305
(if anyone is interested in buying an inverter this is the one I have)

Rocky388 · 02-09-2006, 05:52 PM

Well, heres the most recent update. Sorry I didn't get a chance to take off the monitor enclosure and take pictures of the inside, I'll have to do that tomorrow.

The IR reciever for my credit card remote control. It works perfect mounted here, and you can barely see it from the driver or passenger seat.

A shot of the dash, with my new Pioneer DEH-P4800MP, and my DVD player below it. I already have a CAD drawing of the bezel that's going to fit over them, I just have to send it off to a machineist. I'm going to make the DVD drive as stealth as possible.

The custom keyboard tray I fabricated. It works out very nicely. Although, when open, it puts the keyboard in an ackward position, which is why I made sure the keyboard can be removed with ease (just pick it up lol). I forgot to take a shot of the armrest up, with the keyboard closed..but I'm sure everyone can picture it. And when closed, though it looks it in the picture, it's not actually resting on the console.

Rocky388 · 02-09-2006, 06:29 PM

Heres a shot of the inverter, and where I mounted it. Whats nice is that theres a gap between the storage part and the very bottom of the console, which is where the fan of the inverter blows out. Yestarday I took the screws off the top, and soldered 2 wires onto the exsiting switch, so I can put a power switch in the overhead console (eventually). that's what the grey wire coming out of the back is (if you can even see it)

And finally, the completed aluminum computer enclosure. Next is to just lightly sand it, and paint it. (If you can't tell what's diffrent from before - I added on pieces to the front of the enclosure)

^ if you look closely, you can see my GPS mouse mounted on the lower part of the window

Rocky388 · 03-26-2006, 01:39 AM

An update (with pics too..kind of)

- I re-mounted the computer. Before, the bottom was bolted down, but the top was held with industrial velcro..which was still pretty ****ty. I ended up bending a small lip in the metal of the case, and screwing it in. You can't really tell in pictures, but in person it looks better.

- I finished the bezel for the H/U and DVD drive in the dash. I was going to send it out to be machined, but decided to just grab a drill, a hacksaw blade, and a file and just go at it. It took awhile, but I think it came out great.

- I'm currently working on the OHC, which can be seen here:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/fabrication/72881-custom-aluminum-overhead-console-pics-inside.html
(That's where the most recent pics are)

Soon, I'll try and post back with pics of the H/U bezel

Rocky388 · 04-08-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RawsonDR

When I first envsioned this idea I figured I'd be able to utilize the space behind the monitor for storage (keyboard, mouse, usb hub, etc). I see you haven't done that. Does it seem feasible, though?

Here's the pics (of behind the monitor) that I mentioned I would take earlier..

You can see how much space there is behind there, and the 2 pieces of steel sticking up, in which the monitor enclosure screws into.

Rocky388 · 04-08-2006, 03:38 PM

Heres the pics of the Headunit/DVD Bezel I made: