97 Dodge Ram "RAMPUTER"

**jumbodogs** · 01-20-2008, 11:56 AM

Ok well here is my worklog for my 97 Dodge Ram 1500. This whole project started for me in May 07. I was always toying with the idea of putting a computer
in car/truck for awhile. Well one day I am on my way to go play some golf, jump in friends Mercury Mountaineer, see his GPS/Radio setup and well I ended up here.
I remember thinking "it would be nice if you could do this or how about if it did this" and that is when I knew the "RAMPUTER" needed to be built. So this is
what I got so far:

System:

Monitor: TM-868 8"
Case: Center truck console
Power Supply: M2-ATX
Motherboard:Gigabyte GA-K8N51GMF NV 6100
Processor: TURION 64 ML-28
Memory: 512 DDR
Hard Drive: 160Gb 3.5" SATA
Sound: ON board sound (Looking into getting new sound card)
Optical Drive: Nothing currently
Bluetooth: HP bt450 USB
Keyboard: Mini Keyboard for PS2(Need to find name)
Wireless: ENCORE ENUWI-G2 802.11G Wireless Adapter
Radio: VISTEON HDZ300 HD RADIO (Not Installed yet)

Software:

OS: Windows XP Pro
Front End: Road Runner
Skin: Digital FX 2.5
GPS Software: IGuidance
Phone Software: FreeFone?(not working atm)

Sound System:

AMP 1:Kicker ZX350.4 60x4
AMP 2:Fultron 100x100
Front Speakers: 5 1/4 alpines (need to find model)
Rear Speakers: 5 1/4 eclipses (need to find model)
Sub: MTX 10" Thunder 4000

Progress:

1. acquire parts (+++++++...) 70%
2. Install (++++++++..) 80%
3. Frontend setup (++++++....) 60%
4. Tune Audio (++++......) 40%

Also I would like to thank:

MP3Car.com ( Thanks for all the info. This site is amazing)
Guino (RR rocks

)
JohnWPB (Digital FX 2.5 is awesome can't wait for 3.0)

Pics to come just wanted to get something out there for now.

**jumbodogs** · 01-20-2008, 11:57 AM

My 97 Ram

The Ramputer sits inside my center console

In my truck the console had a black tray for holding cds/change and what not. A friend of mine cut away the center part and pulled the foam padding that was below so I could use the console as my case. You can also see that he reframed the inside with some MDF.

He also cut up an old computer case I had around and used to finish the rear of the console

Here is a pic of after I put the computer together. Its hard to tell from picture but most of the top plastic tray is still there. I still have spots in the front of console for change and other stuff. Thinking of using space for CD/DVD player or maybe some switches that I want to put in.

My 2 amps that are mounted under the rear seat. Wires are a mess but I want to wait until I have everything kinda in place then I am gona go through and run wires nice.

This isn't from my truck because I started cutting before I took some pics. But this is what dash looks like on a 97 Ram.

Here I had to cut away some of the plastic behind so I could get screen in.

I removed a center plastic strip so I could fit my screen in the opening. I lost my ash try and cig lighter but I still have another cig lighter so all is good.

And here is a picture of my screen ... still needs alot of work on molding it in but I will probably work on that when it gets warmer out.

So thats where I stand so far. I still have some parts to get and software things to work on but man its great to have some tunes back in my truck.