2000 Pontiac Trans Am V 2.0

Snootch · 02-24-2006, 09:16 AM

this is the SECOND worklog on my TA carputer due to some minor problems with the old setup which eventually led to motherboard failure. Here is the first worklog. Since I just came into a little bit of money to purchase some more gear, I figured why not re-design everything?
The reason my motherboard bit the dust was because in my original design, everything was packed into the dashboard and I ended up busting a capacitor off the board. So this time, I am creating a small fiberglass enclosure behind the driver's seat to hold the powersupply, motherboard, and hard disk. Here's a pic of the new location with the components laid in place to make sure there's enough room:

Next, I started sreating a fiberglass enclosure to hold everything. First, I taped off the whole area using 2" masking tape and cardboard:

Then I smeared a coat of vaseline over the tape to keep the fiberglass from adhering to the tape/cardboard:

Next, I laid two layers of 'glass to the area using fiberglass resin, fiberglass matt, and a couple of cheap 2" chip brushes:

I purchased a sheet of 3/4" thick pvc plastic from McMaster-Carr, and cut some to form the inside surface the components will mount to. After I screwed it in place inside the fiberglass form, I filled the hollow spaces between the two with expanding spray foam, and trimmed it with a hacksaw blade:

That's all i've done for now- I'll post updates as they happen.

Sonicxtacy02 · 02-24-2006, 09:23 AM

you never use ur back seat?

Snootch · 02-24-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sonicxtacy02

you never use ur back seat?

Only to throw stuff in, The TA's and camaro's have zero leg room for rear passengers, and I'm 6'4" tall, so no one sits behind me ever.

shuggyboy · 02-24-2006, 10:39 AM

That should look sweet, lookin forward to seein some more pics :-)

kamikaze2112 · 02-24-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sonicxtacy02

you never use ur back seat?

having a pc back there is a good excuse to not have to cart all your friends around all the time..... LOL

Nice work on the TA too

Snootch · 02-24-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by kamikaze2112

having a pc back there is a good excuse to not have to cart all your friends around all the time..... LOL

Nice work on the TA too

Earlier I was contemplating removing the entire back seas and make a new amp rack there and incorporate my PC, thereby increasing my cargo room, but decided against it because I sometimes carry 2 passengers max.

OKflyboy · 02-24-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Snootch

Earlier I was contemplating removing the entire back seas and make a new amp rack there and incorporate my PC, thereby increasing my cargo room, but decided against it because I sometimes carry 2 passengers max.

You could always take out the bottom part of the driver's side rear seat since its never used. Then the carputer could go where the seat used to be... just a thought.

Looking good so far!

kamikaze2112 · 02-24-2006, 11:35 AM

well, if my 'Fire ever becomes my toy and not a winter beater, the back seats will be comin out for sure.......

Magnezium · 02-24-2006, 12:25 PM

Hey, I have a TA too. What does your dash look like? What monitor and stuff. Your other work log shows "Bandwidth exceeded."

Snootch · 02-24-2006, 12:49 PM

Done a little more work, Currently I'm waiting for foam and epoxy to fully cure. Here are a few more pics:

Carpeted the rack:

I also made a small PVC plastic housing for my Powermate that will keep it looking smooth on what was the ashtray in the center console:

Magnezium- I just got all the pics from the other worklog transitioned onto my new server. Post up if they are not working.

Snootch · 02-24-2006, 04:06 PM

More progress today-

After I carpeted the rack, I did another test fit of the components and I fit the powermate in it's box into the center console, and began to epoxy it into place:

Well, that's about all for today, I might get around to cutting the MDF wood lid, maybe not. I don't have another day off of work for four days, so there won't be be anymore progress until then.

techyguru · 02-24-2006, 07:49 PM

Looks great so far. I like the look of the power mate that is mounted flush.

Did the foam bond to the pvc easily or was it difficult to get it to stay?

The expirience shows, nice.

Peoples · 02-24-2006, 08:42 PM

im a little confused why you chose PVC instead of wood? How are you going to mount the board and parts to the carpet?

Snootch · 02-25-2006, 12:24 AM

I chose PVC because it will not swell like wood if it gets wet,(door open while raining) it's more rigid compared to the same thickness of wood, and it's less likely to strip a hole out in it while putting screws into it. The components are being mounted to the pvc covered carpet using stainless steel screws through 1" plastic stand-offs. BTW, if you have never used Great Stuff foam, it bonds to EVERYTHING.

Shelbrain · 02-25-2006, 07:06 PM

I like the Powermate mounting idea and the "case" is coming nicely, although I cannot picture the finished product. Will you be changing any of the stereo components from your original install?