1999 Chevy Suburban

**avengerki** · 03-23-2009, 01:00 PM

Finally picked up an suv to haul my family around in. It is a 1999 Chevy Suburban 1500. My little old Tercel is still around but the carpc in it has died and I just havent gotten around to fixing it.

Since as usual whenever I go to do this I have limited time before my first planned trip, being that I have about 2 weeks before I go cross country and back, and I wanted an all in one solution I have gone with a RevoSys X300 Double DIN Car PC. Hopefully it will arrive before I have to leave. This will require modifying my dash, but hey sometimes you just gotta.

The Plan:
1.) Install headrest monitors(Non-VGA) with built in DVD player - Done just need to finish wiring
2.) Modify OEM visors to hold the LCD monitors(Non-VGA). - Done but passenger side visor needs fabric redone. and still need to finish the wiring.
3.) Install RevoSys computer in dash - On Order
4.) Install Clarion MSS430 A/V Switch - Shipped to wrong address will be delayed 2 weeks.
5.) Modify Original XBox power supply to be straight DC-DC - Some parts have arrived
6.) Install overhead LCD monitors for third row of seats - Still in planning would like it done by the end of July.
7.) Install Rear view camera - On Order
8.) Install front and rear parking sensors - On Order
9.) Install the TPMS system - On Hold pending funds. Not a high priority right now.
10.) Install like a Lund Sunvisor on the Suburban. Doesn't change anything for the Carputer other then lowering light levels in the front. Possibly install a camera into it and als provides a place to hide like the gps and a cellular high speed modem in.
11.) Sure I will come up with more wants.

**avengerki** · 03-23-2009, 01:17 PM

One thing I had wanted to do in my old Tercel was replace the Visors with visors that had an lcd in them. I had even purchased them but got lazy and never installed them. So I figured I would to it on the burban.

Well as you can see just doing a straight swap would make it look pretty funny. Since the interior is a tan and the visors I have are black that just wont look quite right. The other thing is you can almost put to of the small visors in the place of the oem visor.

What is my solution well I will move the guts over.

This is the OEM visor with the cover off and the mirror and lights removed.

And the guts to the LCD replacement visor.

I will have to desolder those five wire at the top of this board to pull the wire out of the support tube and then slip into the OEM tube. And then resolder it.

I will have to cut the button section off the LCD visor and figure a way to mount it to the OEM visor but it is doable.

Sorry that is as far as I got last night before my girlfriend yelled at me to go to bed.
------------Next Day---------------------------------
Had to run home on my lunch break to let the dog out and decided to do a little more work on the visors.

Desoldered the wires from the LCD visors board and snaked the wires out of the hollow support bar and then coaxed them back into the OEM visors hollow support bar.

Resoldered the wires to the board.

Desoldered a couple of just support wires that was holding the button board to the other board and pulled it away from the other board leaving its double sided tape.

Did some rough cutting of the space for the LCD just using some snips. Will need to go back with the dremel to finalize the opening space and take away the little bit I still need to in order to fit the LCD. At this point I realized I should of waited on doing the resoldering of the wires, at least I will know for the other one I have to do.

Just a dry fitting of the LCD to the visor frame, looking for where I still need to remove plastic to make it fit.

Thats all I got done on my lunch break. I am trying to maintain the extender part of the visor. I think I will also have to make a new cloth cover for it all but it should be fun.

**avengerki** · 03-23-2009, 02:24 PM

Mostly just waiting on parts right now. I have the Revosys computer on order, a elmscan 5 OBD-II reader, Front and rear parking sensors(currently it will be just a standalone system.), Replacement headrests with LCD and DVD player built in. Along with a car audiovideo switch and a rearview camera.

Most of the items for the passengers will just be video and entertainment devices. Will probably also be a mobile hotspot.

**avengerki** · 03-23-2009, 05:16 PM

Reserved for something more

**avengerki** · 03-23-2009, 05:23 PM

Reserved

**avengerki** · 03-23-2009, 05:23 PM

Reserved 2

**koolmoedee** · 03-23-2009, 10:25 PM

looking great so far, i was wanting to go with visor screens but my old beast has terrible visors and they wont hold the weight

, cant wait for some more updates

**avengerki** · 03-24-2009, 02:09 PM

Got a chance last night to do a little more work on the visor. Not as much as I would of liked but it is coming along.

Pulled out the dremel and did some fine cutting of the area making it so I can fit the lcd into the space.

When I went to close the slide I realized it would be hitting a couple of capacitors I believe so I did some trimming of the slide area to allow it to pass. The slide still functions properly.

Just checking to see how it looks from the front.

I still need to figure out where I want the electronics placed. I have a few ideas but just kinda playing around right now. I was originally planning to use the original fabric, but I think I will have issues with it so I am turning to alternate plans.

**avengerki** · 03-24-2009, 05:59 PM

I am trying to figure out the best way to cover the visor. I worry that if I go with fabric it might get to hot and catch fire. I have thought about trying to find some of that heat paper I sometimes see inside of some things but not sure what it is called or where to find it.

My question is should I go with fabric and use some type of back or attempt to do fiberglass which is something I have never done but I have read up on the techniques and theories. Any input?

**avengerki** · 03-25-2009, 02:30 PM

Continuing to work on the visors. I think I am going to go with fabric like i was thinking but going to remove the backside of the replacement visors casing to use as a backplate between the lcd and the fabric.

Decided to start building a frame within the frame to better hold the LCD. Just using popsicle sticks. This is about as far as I got the glue I am using really sucks and my hotglue gun battery was dead. I think I am going to get some epoxy and just go with that.

Desoldered the board so that I don't have to worry about ruining the board. Besides I realized I needed the board on the other side of the visor.

Pulled off the column molding on the drivers side, along with removing the driver's side sun visor. Also removed the passenger side molding but didn't take a picture yet.

I find it hard to get much done on the days I work and my fiance still wants to spend time with me.

Does anyone know a good way to run a wire up the column and back through the visor mounting hole? There is a hole at the top that look to be for wires and a corresponding hole up in the column behind the headliner but I jsut can't get to the hole to get the other end of a wire. And I have never taken a headliner out so I don't know how.