Thread: '05 Nissan Altima- Intel D945GCLF2D Mini-ITX in Center Console (Storage Bin Mod)

I started the exhaust fan modification to the rear panel of the console. I will complete this tomorrow. Here are the pics of the progress so far.

Click on the pics for zoom.

Preview of the fan on the back panel.






Preview of a rough outline to guide the cut for the fan.





Preview of the lip that needs to be cut so that the fan sits flush against the panel.





I cut the lip and started the outline cut for the fan.





The completed cut for the fan.







Preview of the fan in place after modifying the panel.






That does it for tonight. Tomorrow I will perform the sanding and clean up of the panel for the exhaust fan. Regarding the outside of the panel, I will be mounting a chrome laser cut grill. The design is in a way appropriately called an "Atomic Laser Cut Grill" (the motherboard is an 'Intel Atom') . It will be interesting to see this with the green LED shining through once my installation is complete.

Originally Posted by rdholtz

You've cut the intake area to half of the outflow area. Since you're going to have so much fan pulling air through that grille, I'd recommend opening it up as far as possible to minimize the restriction. Anywhere you can see the console material through the grill, you could cut more material away and still have plenty of support. It's a little more work to do that, but it will keep your 120mm fan from working so hard to pull air through the reduced opening, and it could reduce the possibility of airflow noise at the grill.

I see what you're saying. I really don't think airflow in general will be an issue only because this console area is quite open anyways, space is not too restrictive. I probably didn't really need the top intake at all but chose to just to help bring in some of the cooler air that may flow from A/C or from rolled down windows. My tower at home has about the same area for intake with a 120mm exhaust fan and it runs very quiet.

I ordered my fan grill, rubber screw mounts and silencer to minimize vibration noise from the fan. I also ordered a momentary switch with LED to replace the current latching switch, which does not work well as a reset button.

Well my DVDROM/RW/CDRW drive has been shipped also. I decided to get an external USB only because it was convenient at the time. I was originally going to get a SATA drive but the cable I needed was out of stock and the USB was available. I have no problems with USB either..I will only really use the drive for software installation when needed.

I performed more work on the back panel for the exhaust fan. It was a little dramatic because the design of the panel is not flat, it's a bit curved. I had to do more cutting to the panel in order for the fan to fit flush. I need to do some clean up and cover the space that is seen now. Pictures coming soon.

I also received my new momentary switch and it tested great. The LED is amber as opposed to green but that's ok. This week I should be receiving my slim DVD drive and USB extension cable.

Here are the pics for the work on the rear fan.

Click on the pics to zoom

A View of how the grill will look.




Examining the placement of the fan silencer.




Rubber screws to assist with minimizing vibration noise.




Time to do some minor sanding and clean up.







It may be hard to tell here but the panel is not flat but has a curve to it. This impacts how flush the fan sits against it.





I had to do more cutting in the area where the hump is so that the fan sits flush.





The fan sits flush now but the view from the back shows the space that needs to be filled now. I need to figure out how I am going to fill or cover that but this should be a minor task.








This is a view of the fan at work while mounted. You can also see the ugly spacing that I had to cut.





Well this part of my project is done for now. I will have to figure out how I am going to fill in that space but this doesn't impact the rest of the tasks to be completed for my project.

These are the pics of the new momentary switch. I am replacing the latching switch which does not work well as a reset switch, at least in my installation.

Click on the pics to zoom

Switch with Amber LED ring and cable with LED Power/Reset





This is the simple wiring diagram that came with the switch. I think the diagram posted on the FrozenCPU website is better.





Removing the 22mm Latching Switch.










During the process of disconnecting, testing and moving the cable connections on the switch I accidentally broke one of the wires. So I had to break out my soldering iron.











Connecting the cable to the mobo headers.






The switch and LED works.

I forgot to post how the switch looks from inside the console so here it is.

If you have followed my thread you may recall I had to do some modifying to the storage tray to make room for the I/O panel and cables. Well I finally got to perform this modification today.

Here are the pics.

Click on the pics for zoom


Before modification.






I needed to make room for cabling and I/O panel.







Originally I was going to just cut the bottom of the tray. I had to make drill holes to relieve the stress of the dremel...thick heavy plastic.





Today's work. Surveying what work needs to be done in order for the tray to close and allow room for cabling.











I need to cut the bottom and side of the tray.








Started to cut with the Dremel.






I did some riggin' and put the dremel attachment on my drill because it has more power and it proved to be too much work for the dremel. That ABS plastic is thick which is great for stability but bad for modifying and OEM work.




So eventually the drill was just a little too much but it got the job done. The cutting disk broke It's all good because I have more.





Cutting complete




A view of how the tray looks now on the console.





You may be asking why all this work on the tray, why not just remove it from the installation altogether. Well I thought about that but the hinge of the armrest is also supported by this tray which is why I only cut the bottom and inside wall of the tray. The hinge area is still in tact.