Thread: 2005 Ford F150 MAGNUS Truckputer - project and pics

shut control is an option, but the big issue is that when i am out I am often running quick errands, and I want to be able to leave the system up while inside... so the master switch thing is what I'm going to go with for now. I still have a lot to learn with electrical wiring...

Looks great so far. I can't believe there was no airbag in that passenger side cubby though. Makes for a super easy spot for installing stuff though.

There is an airbag bundle, it is just located above the cubby area. The top of the dash (faing the windshield) is the pop area for the bag, and it's the rubberized area that the bag deploys from. I figured the bag would pop out to the passenger, but it actually deployes up toward the windshield and out toward the passenger.

I know I have seen somewhere on thee boards a mod for iguidance where the on-screen keyboard is bigger.... any ideas? HELP!

and no, I am not talking about the igqwerty... IG9 has qwerty... I am looking to increase the keyboard size without modifying my resolution.

Originally Posted by Kalenth

There is an airbag bundle, it is just located above the cubby area. The top of the dash (faing the windshield) is the pop area for the bag, and it's the rubberized area that the bag deploys from. I figured the bag would pop out to the passenger, but it actually deployes up toward the windshield and out toward the passenger.

Ahh I was thinking that was the case but then just couldn't see how there was enough room for the cartridge to fit above the bar and below the top of the dash. Wish it was like that in my truck, would be more room to stuff gadgets lol.

I did have to remove 2 metal bracers between the lateral post and the forward retaining bar... but it didn't cause anything to weaken, and I see no direct impact to the safety of the vehicle. I think they were there mainly to help hold up the plastic on the dash.

"crosses fingers" that'll hold up.

I am looking for someone to possible spot weld the bracers at different points in the dash.. just a bit wider out so the LT still has room. Right now, everything is functional, but the forward bracer that the dash panel is hinged to flexes ever-so-slightly when the door is opened.

I finally got my power buttons installed. What a beating... I think I just had some cheap crap in there earlier. I SWEAR I am picking up my camera today so I can get some pics of the newest parts of this install.

PC is running. HD radio is running. Everything is up with the exception of the sound system. I still need to mount the amp and splice/stretch wire to and from. I also need to find a good 8" sub and enclosure to put under the backseat.

Here is a pic of the amp in the spot under the backseat. I decided to not bolt it down until March, when I install the Raam mat and pull up the carpet. I stretched the audio cables from near the shifter where the USB sound card was, down the carpet. Not pretty, but easy to work with later on.





Otherwise, it's cleanup and optimize. The only issue thus far has been occasional power drops, due to a loose connection between the adapter plug and the 12v... I cracked the 12v adapter open and tightened the pins, now there is no longer an issue.

Audio is up and running. Blaupunkt works well. Amps always seem to run so hot... I think I might mount this one a half inch above the carpet to give it some airflow. I have two configurations with this... one is an ipod with a splitter, connected directly to the amp... that sounds great. I will eventually have to upgrade the stock speakers though, I can hear them struggling to keep up.

The second is what will eventually be permanent... I have that 5.1 external soundcard, which has 3 mic outs, sub, front, and rear. Currently, one of the three will work with no issue, but any more than that and I get a "tic tic tic tic" sound with the music... I think that the sound card isn't getting enough power... it is a usb to usb-mini... but I have it connected to a USB extender... so 15 feet of usb cable.... it very well might be loosing power.

... fixed the tic issue. I think that this is not the best card. I ended up using the front and c/sw channels... as well as removing the USB extension cable and hooking up the card directly to the laptop.

So far so good... just working out the bugs. Other than the sound issue, the only other hiccup is my power. As said before, I have 2 switches, one master, one temp. THe temp works flawlessly, 100% of the time.

Currently, I have the laptop running to a 110 adapter, which connects to my 12v hot system. This is controlled by the master switch. The screen is connected to the 12v acc line... so it is powered when I turn the truck on... but occasionally I hav eto reset the 110 adapter, or unplug-replug the screen 12v....

I keep thinking selling that m2 was a bad idea. But even if I had it, I would have to have something to give 110 to my laptop. After I work the bugs out of this one, I may revisit the power controller idea, but for now I really want to work these bugs out.