2002 Mitsubishi Magna VR-X - 15.4" ultrabright LCD, fabricating... - Page 2

BiGGy · 03-11-2006, 10:16 AM

**UPDATE**
Sanded back with 320 grit further. Filled a bit more, sanded, filled, sanded, couldnt get it right. I went out and bought some putty spray. This will fill all the cracks and holes in the bondo. I sprayed the whole piece with some plastic primer before I used the putty.

2nd layer of putty:

After the 5 coats of putty I sanded it back with 800 grit, got it real smooth. Then I applied the first layer of flat black paint, I didnt use primer because the putty will do the same thing. Had trouble getting the screen bezel buttons to fit back in with all the layers of crap. Had to sand them back a bit to make them fit again.
2nd coat:

Tomorrow I will lay another coat, sand it back with wet & dry 1200 grit, then lay the final coat. Hopefully all the grit marks will be gone by then.

Also my 200GB 3.5 HDD, 512 DDR, m2-atx and case fans arrived today. This means I have everything I need to start the software installation and config, as soon as I get the screen back together.

Kiriller · 03-11-2006, 09:31 PM

that looks real niiice

gj the bottons look incredible, that outline looks verrry nice

ramy_zohair · 03-12-2006, 12:11 AM

can't wait to see it in the car

BiGGy · 03-12-2006, 12:13 AM

Thanks for the support guys

Fush · 03-12-2006, 12:18 AM

mate your car looks awsome....

i used to have (parents) a 98 Magna loved the car even if it did suck up the fuel around the city..

Can't wait to see the final work

regards

Andrew

kamikaze2112 · 03-12-2006, 12:59 AM

very nice work on that part. By the looks of it, it's a Double DIN opening that you started with and you just had to enlarge it slightly? You've got me thinkin about selling my current Lilliput for one of these lol

BiGGy · 03-12-2006, 05:16 PM

**UPDATE**
I put the screen back together to find it not turning on. Freaked! Turned out I had a cable loose, I simply pulled it apart again and put it back together and it works. *phew*

I set up my pc on a bench hooked up an old power supply to my new 200GB, a temporally DVD drive and an old kb, mouse and screen to install everything.

I got it on the network to update windows, transfer files etc. I rewired one of the molex connectors on the power supply to test the screen out. I left the fuse box on, cut the cig lighter connection off, soldered the wires with the white mark (+) to the yellow wire. The other wire to the black molex wire next to the yellow one (-).

I am using Media Engine front end for now. RR seams so confusing and hard to use... WHERE IS THE STOP BUTTON FFS! Oh well my car will start off with just media anyway, ill learn the ins and outs of a better front end later.

Now I will start on the computer case going into the dash. Will get measurments and go buy the Perspex

BiGGy · 03-15-2006, 10:33 AM

**UPDATE**
Went to the local plastic fabricator to get some Perspex for the case. Got enough for a box 200x180x100mm with an overhung roof of 220x200. For an extra 5 bucks they put it together for me as well with professional looking joints and such. Cost me AU$35 total.

I screwed on the mobo risers for the mobo and the m2-atx going on the far wall of the case. The plan for the roof of the box is to be fixed onto the box by rubber rail system. The hard rive will be screwed to the roof so this will give extra vibration protection. I went to Clark Rubber and got some seals for the roof. These were hard to glue, rubber doesn’t like to stick to plastic.

I have also decided not to cut load bearing steal bars within my dash to fit my computer. I will work around it. Instead I will be using the same mounting system as the stock double DIN chassis. There are 2 U shaped mounts that slide onto two rubber protected bolts, this will also give some vibration support. Still some planning to do with the mounting, I am hoping the box isn’t to big, im worried about the vga cable coming out the back cus there is no room at all back there its pretty much flush. Here are some pics.

BiGGy · 03-20-2006, 02:42 AM

**UPDATE**

I cut up the old DIN bracket with an angle grinder and bolted them on the side of the new case, stuck a case fan on the corner (only one will fit), and attached the hdd with the vibration dampeners on the lid. I’m starting to second thought the 3.5 hdd choice. Can it handle the rough roads? Well see.

With some precise measuring the case slides in perfect. The arms come out the front and two screws hold it in place. The case is very firm, it does not move at all. There was a problem with the vga cable it protrudes to much and won’t allow the case to fit in while plugged in. I had to use an extension that didn’t stick out as much, it still was a tight fit but it worked.

I had trouble running the cable via the firewall, there were 2 on my car and in and an out and there was no room at all for more cables. I ended up getting the drill out making my own, hehe. I sealed it after and ran an ignition wire straight to the ignition. I used a 25 amp fuse for the power line, I think thats overkill. The power supply has its own fuse so the 25 amp one should not be needed anyway.

m2-atx is perfect, no problems. Jumper is set for 30 second time off. And starts after 3 seconds. Now all I need is sound and some USB devices etc and its done.

Fush · 03-20-2006, 03:43 AM

mate that looks bloody awsome well done..

Regards

Andrwe

ramy_zohair · 03-20-2006, 03:49 AM

that's tight

What sound are you planning to go with.You need at least a 4-ch amp seeing you don't have a head unit. I have the Creative x-Fi and it made a hell of a difference on my 2.1 desktop speakers. only problem is it is almost the size of the motherboard

and is PCI. so i'll be needing a huge case for it. keep us updated. you're the first magna on the forum with pics

been waiting for one for 2 years now.

Fush · 03-20-2006, 03:58 AM

Yeah if you have no head unit and you got no room in your case get yourself an external usb 5.1 sound card and connect it to a couple of amps...if your looking something good and cheap try the response amps from jaycar...the 2x150WRMS's would do the trick...and you can bridge them as well.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...Max=&SUBCATID=
or

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...Max=&SUBCATID=

Regards

Andrew

BiGGy · 03-20-2006, 08:02 AM

Thanks for the comments.

Quote: Originally Posted by ramy_zohair

that's tight

What sound are you planning to go with.You need at least a 4-ch amp seeing you don't have a head unit. I have the Creative x-Fi and it made a hell of a difference on my 2.1 desktop speakers. only problem is it is almost the size of the motherboard

and is PCI. so i'll be needing a huge case for it. keep us updated. you're the first magna on the forum with pics

been waiting for one for 2 years now.

I am planning to get a 4ch alpine amp with 6-9 and 6" alpine speakers to replace the stock ones. I got a quote from a local car audio place $800 installed.

Quote: Originally Posted by Fush

Yeah if you have no head unit and you got no room in your case get yourself an external usb 5.1 sound card and connect it to a couple of amps...if your looking something good and cheap try the response amps from jaycar...the 2x150WRMS's would do the trick...and you can bridge them as well.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...Max=&SUBCATID=
or

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...Max=&SUBCATID=

Regards

Andrew

For the time being I will skip the usb sound and just use a 3.5>rca adapter and go right into the amp. If I get static or weird sounds ill get a usb sound card with rca output. They cost around $2-300.

Fush · 03-20-2006, 08:52 AM

why not install them yourself...??

You've done all the other work so far..its probably easier to install yourself and save between $100-200, thats how much JB HI-FI where quoting me to get a amp and sub put in the back of my car..told them to stuff it and installed it myself...all i ended up paying other then equipment was $20 for an auto electrician to feed the wires through the firewall because i was to lazy to do it myself...

BiGGy · 03-20-2006, 09:24 AM

I would, I did on my old car. That $800 is the price of the equipment, and they will put it in the car for free if I buy it off them. They said they can do it in 2 hours too. I spent a full day rewiring my speakers on my old car, it took forever and is hard to dismantle the doors. I also like the warranty if they do it. JB HI-FI is not really an installer. These guys have a massive garage and do this all day long they make most of there money from the products which arnt the best price, a little over retail.

http://www.techbuy.com.au/products/4...Sound_Card.asp
Found this little bad boy, it gives rca outs and no additional power adapter. Perfect for the price. It was $70 delivered and is on its way.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password