Thread: 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee + PC

So still waiting for the check, so i decided to do a little bit of prep work. I knew that i am going to need to test the PC on my bench before i put it in the Jeep, so i needed a "lab power supply." I had bought a project box, for when i thought the PC was going to go in the DIN slot. When i changed my mind to put it in the center console, I stuffed it away.

So far, all ive done is hack up the PSU casing so that it will fit into the project case, drilled a hole in the project case to fit the A/C plug. I figure i wont need the switch for the back of the psu to turn it on, if its plugged in i need it on. Also, i left one of the Molex connctors connected so i can put a load on it. I heard that it is neccessary for the PSU to have a load somewheres. Im going to cut off the MB connector to put out of the box the +12v ground and also an ignition wire. I am going to put a switch on the box to mimic ignition. All of this is dependent of me not getting audited. or some stuff like that.

Also I am at work this week and will be getting underway so I wont be able to work on it until we pull back in.

toodles.

I got my check so I ordered my lilliput. i got the 8" cuz that one fit the best in my dash. plugged it in and tested it out, just to make sure, and i am loving it. i have a spare bezel on its way that i got from Ebay. should get here hopefully tomorrow. If it does, then i can start on my fabrication. I decided to go with fabrication first, because it was the thing that i was most worried about. I already got some Bondo glass and hardener and some spot putty and well, i think i got some primer, not sure. I am not going to worry about painting it until i get it all done. Does anyone know of anything that i missed that i will need, and overlooked in the FAQ?

I found the cord to my camera, and then i realized that none of the pictures i took so far are any interesting. I have a 4 day weekend this week because my CO felt bad that we were underway for most of V-day, so if i get the spare bezel in, ill get lots of interesting pictures up and ready to go.

So i got the screen and the bezel in so i chopped up the screen and made a lilliput sized hole in the bezel. I used some epoxy to permanently bond the two:




Once that was dried, i mixed up some Bondo Glass for a first try:



Once i got it sanded down, (which is what that picture is of) i threw it in the jeep to see if it was very shapely.



There are still some little divots that i want to fill up with umm... whatever that other stuff i have out on my bench is. glazing putty i think.

also i got in my Visteon HD Radio, but i dont have any component cables to see if it works, so im just going to cross my fingers.

Looks like you are doing a great job. I too am about to start a similar project with my 2004 Grand Cherokee. The pics have given me a few ideas. thanks. Really just wanted to post to let you know others are watching, and please continue to post your progress. I will start a worklog soon for my project. keep up the good work.

I got the cord for the HD radio and decided to throw it up to the computer. Works great!!:



In addition to that, i put like 3 coats of spot putty on my bezel and sanded it down to 400 grit. it feels pretty smooth but i can still see scratch marks from the 100 grit. plus there are tons of pinholes. Ive heard that primer is the way to go to fill pin holes. The big problem i am having is that the dust from sanding in the pinholes wont go away. so if i put the next coat of whatever on, the dust will just stay in there. wtf?

pics:

So i bought some primer and some paint. i also got some 600 grit wetsand paper cuz 400 wasnt cutting it.

After the wetsanding of the primer, the thing was like glass. Im sure i could have done some higher grit wetsanding but i couldnt find any. I forgot to get a picture of it wetsanded with the primer, but i laid down like 3 coats of primer. Sanded the first two with 400 and the third wetsanded with 600.

I did however get some pics of the final coat of paint. At first i wasnt in love with the texture but I think it will look nice (waiting for it to dry to see how it looks in the console.) :



cheers!

Heres the pics of the screen comlpletely installed. When i tested it, i thought that it wasnt working because it kept getting the no signal error when switched to PC, but i realized that my video card doesnt send out a signal when the "screen saver" comes on, so i just jiggled the mouse and pow! there arent any pics of the FE or of the screen running because a) they cameout pretty ****ty b) the actual 'puter isnt in yet.

without adeu
pics:

Did you "cap off" the air vents, or do they just blow on the back of the monitor ?

Originally Posted by Error23

Did you "cap off" the air vents, or do they just blow on the back of the monitor ?

I haven't capped them off yet, but i do plan on doing something to keep the air from blowing on the screen. It isn't going to be permanent, because i want to keep everything reversable.

On another note, I just purchased the actual PC that will be going underneath the center console. Im going to be underway again this week, so hopefully it will be there when we pull back in. I would have ordered it earlier, but i wasn't sure i was going to get the bezel completed in only one weekend.

PS, any one know what the hell is this smiley?