2013 Ultima Can Am - PC Install

**356Speedster** · 11-08-2012, 03:07 PM

I was in 2 minds about posting this, but I'm at a loose end tonight, so here goes! It's taken me a while to get around to this, but the time is finally here. After 10mths of planning, 16mths of building and countless hrs in the garage, the Ultima is nearing completion. Fabrication work on the interior is underway and I'm currently working on a lower console that will link the main dashboard down to the gearstick surround (see pic below for the viod I need to fill!). This lower console will house the touchscreen, frontending to a PC located down in the passenger footwell. Specs as follows.....

M350 mini-ITX case - Zotac D2700 M/B with dual core 2.2GHZ Atom CPU, integrated WiFi, BlueTooth, Nvidia 520 and audio. 4GB RAM, 128GB mSata drive, MonkeyBoard DAB radio, TDA7850 amp, BU353 S4 GPS, M3-ATX intelligent PSU, Lilliput 669HB touchscreen in Bybyte DD frame, iPhone 4S, JL Audio 5x7 speakers. I'll be running Win7 (built with RT7Lite), FreeICE or Centrafuse front end, Sygic or Odyssey navigation.

I'm mid way thru' the procurement of the above and hope to have the last items in hand in the next week or two, at which point I'll build up the PC and get Windows running. In the meantime I'm working on the centre console to house the screen.

There's not much to show for now, but as I progress with the PC, I'll try to keep this thread updated. Until then, here's a couple of pics of my last 16mths work and if you want to see another hundred or so, the full picture set is on my build diary linked in my sig. In the meantime, if you've got any advice for me, pls feel free to share

Thanks, Mark

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**Johnny_Truant** · 11-08-2012, 08:48 PM

Sick build! Im def following this thread.

**highfive** · 11-08-2012, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Johnny_Truant

Sick build! Im def following this thread.

I agree, following...

**TemjinX2** · 11-09-2012, 04:30 AM

i liked the page as well..nice build

**356Speedster** · 11-09-2012, 01:23 PM

Thanks folks, I guess there's no pressure to complete the build to a high std now then ;-)

Over the weekend I'll be working on the touchscreen mounting & custom centre console, I'll add some pics of progress early next week.

**desidriver** · 11-10-2012, 11:38 AM

Wow nice car. Can't wait

**356Speedster** · 11-11-2012, 11:55 AM

Firstly, I realised today that I'd posted this thread in the wrong place, so I've corrected that by shifting it to the "Worklog" forum, apologies! Now onto work....

November here in Middle England is bit cold, so I didn't get too much done. I've prepared the recess for the Mercedes SLS air vent and started to mock up the all important touch screen and new centre console. This is quite a challenge as the Ultima is not meant to have a console of any kind, so I'm working blind. My carboard mockup has worked well through and I'm pleased with the rough look. Next, I'll refine the templates, to get a perfect it to it, before disassembling it and transfering it to MDF. Job done, time for a warm cup of coffee!

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Name: 2012-11-11 - Centre Console - 2.JPG
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**VolvoCarPC** · 11-11-2012, 04:22 PM

Brilliant car! Love it.

About the screen. Did you "test" it's location imagining you're driving? Now it's 90deg from the ground, but it's too low and it's not a bad idea to think for some angle, you know. Most screens have wide view angle by horizontal but in vertical the things are bad.

The bottom part, which connects the screen and gear-shifter is nice. It's sharp now, and I guess the only reason for the sharp edges is because you make a model from paper, just to imagine the end result. Look around - there is no sharp edge in the whole car - it should be soft. The bulk is in right proposes anyway, BUT what about you knees? The edge of the screen's bottom corners are dangerous right now.

Idea: Look your car on side:

You got the answer - copy that line - it's perfect.
Just keep the spirit of the great job so far, and make something which corresponds to it.

If you didn't understand me, PM me to make a sketch of what I mean.
Good luck.

**356Speedster** · 11-13-2012, 12:56 PM

Hi, thanks for the note. Yes, you are correct, the card mock up it for the following reasons... 1: to prove it will actually fit and 2: for the card to become templates which will get transferred to MDF once finished. The MDF will be an internal structure only and will ultimately be covered & shaped with foam / fibreglass, before final finishing.

To be honest, the screen was always planned to go on the front of the dash, but it interfered with the column stalks

As you'll have noticed, there's not much room in there for alternative mounting locations! You can't see from the pic, but the gearstick in first, third and fifth will come quite close to the screen, so I need to push it back and I won't be able to angle it upwards either. Unfortunately it's a bit of a compromise, but thanks to the very, very low driving position, I'm hoping it won't cause too much of an issue.

There's more work to do on the mock up, so we'll see how it pans out! I'll post more pics as it progresses

**356Speedster** · 12-07-2012, 02:55 AM

The centre console is nearing completion. It's now been fabricated in MDF, fleeced & resin'd and now I'm working to finish the external appearance.

I'd upload pictures, but for some reason the forum won't let me! If anyone can advise why the "Insert Images" pop up won't show the "OK" button, I'll get them loaded.... I've tried two different computers and 4 different browsers, still no joy