Hey guys I'm to the point where I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Right now the Carputer is up and running perfectly. All I have to do is a little cosmetic work to get it looking totally stock. This is what I have left.
1) Create a new mount for the DVD/CD player.
2) Paint the lower console to match the rest of the interior.
3) Create and paint fille panels to go above and below the monitor.
4) Trim the dash bezel to a little to fit the screen face better.
5) Place a small fan at the rear of the computer for a little more ait flow.
6) Obtain one of those plastic, flexbile keyboard to keep in the arm rest.
Here are the specs of the computer and components:
-AMD XP-M 2200: 35W, very low power consumption. Runs at 20C temp wise.
-Biostar M7NCG 400 Mobo
-1x512mb PC2700 Kingston Valueram (it was cheap and available). I will upgrade to 1 gig so I can run them in parallel.
-Holux GR-213 GPS receiver
-Innovatek TM-868 8" touchscreen (it was cheap). Works GREAT, no compaints at all. Look incredible too for 640x480.
-M2-ATX power supply.
-60gig 2.5" Toshiba HD
-Linksys wireless I card.
I'm sure I left something else out but I'll add it when I remember it.
I mounted the computer itself under the front console extension. I placed the PSU and HD under the drink holder area (it is a sold piece of plastic, it won't leak. Here it is protected from the elements and since there is an AC collecting duct just forward of the mobo, I have been able to create a small channel that pulls cold air across the whole system, which also pull away any moisture. I moved the HVAC controls to the side of the front console extension, and moved the Alpine CDA-857 Headunit inside the main console. My sound goes through here and acts as a backup should anything happen to the computer. The GPS module was run under the dash up through a defrost cutout to the top of the dash. Hmm I think that is about it.
The computer itself runs very quickly, is really quiet and stays pretty cool. It boots to the RR in about 20-25 seconds on regular XP. Let me know if you guys have any opinions, questions comments, etc!
Search terms: Tahoe, Denali, Silverado, Yukon, Escalade, Avalanche, Sierra, Suburban
Here are a couple of pics of the truck as well, if anybody really cared to know!
I'm going to be putting on a hood from a Silverado HD pretty soon as well as install factory paint matched handles to clean it up. Any opinions on the truck would be great too!
Thanks guys!
where are you located?
I swear I've seen your truck...the alpine sticker in that location stands out...
but then again there are only a billion of those trucks on the road...lol
Jan Bennett
FS: VW MKIV Bezel for 8" Lilliput - 95% Finished
Please post on the forums! Chances are, someone else has or will have the same questions as you!
I'm in Chapel Hill, NC.
I've had the truck posted on Cardomain for a while I just haven't gotten around to putting more that 3 pictures up on that site.
Looks good!
How hard was it to relocate the HVAC controls? Just splice in extensions?
it looks real nice..but why the hell would u mount the ac controls on the side like that and not use the pocket underneath ur dvd rom????
i got dat ***** sittin on 22s! SUPERMAN EDITION!
Originally Posted by Furevo
It really wasn't that hard at all, just a bit time consuming. I think there are something like 20 wires that I had to lengthen, so that was a pain. I cut a hole in the plastic under the original HVAC and ran it down that way. It was pretty easy to mount. I just cut a hole with a Dremel tool, put in some temporary screws, and then filled the gaps with some filler made for filling in body panels.
Ha, trust me I've gotten that question quite a few times! The simple reason I didn't mount it below the DVD player was because the HVAC contol was wider than the face of the cubby (by only 1/2"). It would have looked really funny to have cut the face up and have the controls sitting part in and part out of the face piece. Plus that center piece it removable, so I could change out the DVD player if it broke and get to the computer as well. I am also planning on putting a USB hub and card reader down inside that cubby.
It really isn't that much of an annoyance to have it down there either. I can read all the controls fine, reach the easily and do what I want with them. I was trying to go with a certain color theme and the HVAC controls clashed pretty badly.
Thanks for the feedback guys! Keep it coming!
quite creative to mount them down there, I will say that much!
(I get the same kind of questions about my DVD-player being down there but on the opposite side...)
Jan Bennett
FS: VW MKIV Bezel for 8" Lilliput - 95% Finished
Please post on the forums! Chances are, someone else has or will have the same questions as you!
Just an update if anybody is interested. I've mounted the DVD player and fabricated the dash bezel so that the monitor fits through nicely. All I have left to do is put another coat of bondo on it, smooth it out, then paint it! Let me know what you think!
The truck is also for sale if anybody is interested. Let me know and I can point you to my Autotrader ad and ad on Chevytruckworld.com. Thanks!
Nice! I'm getting ready to start on mine(2002 silverado) I may need some pointers along the way!
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