Thread: 2005 Pontiac GTO - wake's Carputer Attempt

Today was a thinking day.

I took apart my dash, and I think I might have the same idea that GTPDan has? Let me know.

• Here is the dash with just the LinITX shroud in it. You will notice that the INSIDE of the shroud is a perfect fit on the left and right sides, however lined up at the top, it goes down too far to the bottom, which is where the silver horizontal peice covers the bottom of the shroud.
  
  

• Here is the dash with the LCD in the shroud. Notice the same issue, where the silver plastic peice covers the bottom of the LCD itself. (below the buttons).
  
  

• To give you a better idea of what the issue is, I have taken a side shot of the dash. Notice how the silver piece is on the right.
  
  

• And here is a sideshot of the dash with the screen being held in place. Notice that it does not mount flush to the dash, because of the silver piece.
  
  

To combat this issue, my plan is to cut the silver peice out completely. This will allow the screen's shroud to mount flush to the dash. I would then cut the top, left and right portions of the shroud, so I am only left with a small lip. This lip will then be placed over the dash lips, and bondo'd together.

• Here is where the cutting would take place, the stuff in red would be snipped.
  
  

• And finally, a photoshop of what it would look like before being bondo'd together, with the shroud cut and placed in the dash, as well as the LCD inserted.
  
  
  
  

Compared next to the stock radio, the LCD Shroud seems to go down further than the stock radio, so the bottom might have to be cut as well, however I have not examined how much of a role that little extra length will play when being mounted.

*** EDIT ***

I take that back. If you notice in the first picture where it is NOT photoshopped, the bottom of the shroud looks to come down to the exact place of the bottom of the radio. Upon measuring both the shroud and the radio, they are within 1/16th or so of an inch in size, so it should fit like a glove once the top and sides are cut from the shroud.

Long week without the car. Finally got it back. A 2-3 day estimate of down time turned into over a week at the dealer. I got a sports package installed, had the windows tinted, and had the leather/carpet/paint treated.



I'm going to the track Wednesday, so I am switching to Synthetic Saturday as well as hoping to get my short shifter installed, so I won't be doing too much to the carputer probably. I've got to order the dash piece that GTPDan ordered, so I can work on it while keeping my original dash in place.

Didn't make it to the track, some people backed out so only 3 of us would have been going. One guy with a Toyota Supra is getting a new clutch kit so we decided to just hold off two weeks for the track.

BUT, that means it's carputer time! Here are some pics:

I first started out by putting a plastic epoxy down the sides to hold the headrest shroud in place. Here is the back of the shroud. If you look closely, you can probably see the hardened epoxy that dripped down when it was drying.





These next three are of the Fiber Bondo Glass added to the front. This was my first application, so I will be doing some filing/sanding here shortly before adding another layer. So far it's turning out great...it actually looks like it has some potential!

I have filed down the first coat and have placed a second coat on the dash. I will post updates tomorrow (later today).

** Edit **

I am going to be buying some wood for my amp "rack" in the trunk. Any ideas on a "cool", but clean/professional look without over doing it? I have 2 amps and the PC, so I want to build something around them all.

My current idea is to place a board down on my trunk floor, covering the entire trunk, bolt the 2 amps down, then put a piece over the amps that covers the entire area, with cut outs for plexi glass (creating a "fake" floor affect). However, I would also like to work my PC into this equation, so now I'm thinking of doing the same thing, except having my PC in the middle, surrounded by my 2 amps. I am completely open to suggestions!

Originally Posted by wake

I have filed down the first coat and have placed a second coat on the dash. I will post updates tomorrow (later today).

** Edit **

I am going to be buying some wood for my amp "rack" in the trunk. Any ideas on a "cool", but clean/professional look without over doing it? I have 2 amps and the PC, so I want to build something around them all.

My current idea is to place a board down on my trunk floor, covering the entire trunk, bolt the 2 amps down, then put a piece over the amps that covers the entire area, with cut outs for plexi glass (creating a "fake" floor affect). However, I would also like to work my PC into this equation, so now I'm thinking of doing the same thing, except having my PC in the middle, surrounded by my 2 amps. I am completely open to suggestions!

I have a step by step description in my website, look under "Amprack V2".
I'm sure you could do something similar...

I had the complete SAP package installed. I am willing to sell my stock bumper, and in fact, all of the stock parts that were removed.