turbocad's Cadillac DTS dual pc setup with high end audio

**turbocad6** · 12-22-2006, 12:08 AM

alright, it's not a turbo, but this cadillac will still suit me just fine I think....

I just bought this car with the specific intentions of adding a full system to it, I want to put a large screen in it up front & I think I will also do a rear pc for my soon to be 11 year old son...

I've wanted to do an upscale install for the longest time... I really wanted it to be an s-class benz intially, but that's just not in the cards for me just yet, so this will wind up being it instead.... this car will also be much much easier than doing an s-class for sure, & in the end I think I'll be better off with this caddy over the benz in a lot of ways...

this car has all the standard toys that are part of the dts package... heated memory seats & electric tilt/telescopic, center console shifter, woodgrain all around with woodgrain wheel...(these cars are all real wood like lexus, bmw & benz, not plastic simulated like the older caddy's) ... triple zone climate control & a unique perferated leather that I haven't seen in many of these cars... it is a total virgin in that it hasn't been modified in any way, & has never been taken apart yet, gona change that real soon though

when I started looking at the dts, I originally wanted a night vision car... just cause I think that's so cool... but I drove a night vision car for a bit & to tell you the truth in the city it's just totally useless & annoying, after the novelty wears off it'll just stay off most times really,... I love the look of the grille but I hate what the dash looks like to acomidate the projector on a nightvision car...

in the end I decided I was not going to go out of my way to get a nightvision car... another big problem is most of the nightvision cars also have the moonroof which I definatley do not want, because I think the rear pc is going to be an overhead design at this point, plus I HATE the wind noise that comes with just about any sunroof, not a big fan of sunroofs at all........

one good thing about starting with a car like this is there is no need to completely strip out the whole interior & dynamat everything... these cars are pretty good factory sound deadened, & I'll only need to do the trunk & the doors.... a lot of cars would need much more aditional sound dampening to get the car quiet enough to be nice & quiet on the highway, this one should ride like a cadillac though

**Dennis5587** · 12-22-2006, 01:54 AM

Hopefully this car lasts longer then the last one, lol... Good luck man

**turbocad6** · 12-22-2006, 05:20 PM

yeah, the last honda was just not right for me... I'm a bit surprised I actually did like that car though... I think cause it was pretty wide & didn't feel like a tiny car, & the leather & everything it didn't feel like a cheap plastic car either.... either way, I like this one much better & don't worry, this ones a keeper for sure

**turbocad6** · 12-22-2006, 05:43 PM

alright, so heres the dash.... I want something bigger than a 7" monitor up front.... my first thoughts were to relocate the climate controls down lower in the center console, & then I would have enough space for a 12.1 maybe even... but from my initial measurements, it's too wide to really go down low... without taking it apart it's hard to know how much I can do there really...

my second thoughts are to leave the climate control in place, & then use the radio area & extend below that too, even into the wood ashtray area... & then using maybe a 10.4" in portrait mode.... I would probably need to shorten the shifter a bit... maybe even use a different wood handle like from a benz or beemer maybe...

**turbocad6** · 12-22-2006, 06:17 PM

the doors look great for speakers... I'm willing to bet I can get an 8" in there without having to butcher the panel..... if I can fit my horns under this dash I'll be set... I have a few McIntosh amps that would go great in this car....

I won't take delivery of the car till Tuesday maybe...sucked having to leave it there this weekend but it was just not possible for me to get it today & the dealers closed tomorrow.when I get it I might even drive it a few days before taking it apart.... if I make it through the weekend it'd be nice, then on the next Monday start tearing it down.... I doubt I'll be able to wait that long to take the radio out for some exploratory surgery at least

this car is going to be a trip in just the remote start/alarm end of it... theres a whole **** load of computers & stuff in a car like this, & everything is computer controlled... the bcm is in control of many of the functions....there are separate modules that need to be interfaced... most people wouldn't consider adding a full remote start system to a car like this... most shops will butcher an install like this for sure.... I have a good idea what I'm getting myself into here with this..... I'd expect 12-14 hours at least in the remote system...

**turbocad6** · 12-22-2006, 07:33 PM

hard to tell how a large screen will look.... I don't want it to look gaudy or cheap... this is what I had in mind...

this is not to scale, but aprox a 12.1 I think... maybe it'll be slightly less long looking really...

**turbocad6** · 12-22-2006, 07:59 PM

maybe a 10.4 with buttons on either side... but the buttons would have to look factory which is not easy at all... I'd have to probably make them myself, then make a mould & cast them so they could have text & be backlit to match the factory buttons.... that could be sweet... kinda like the acura new systems with all the buttons.... that would be a very ambishous project... not sure if I want to get that nuts... then again..... maybe it wouldn't be that bad...

**turbocad6** · 12-22-2006, 09:01 PM

if I had the car I'd be playing with it right now, instead I am just playing with ideas.... this might not be so crazy to do.... I've never cast molds before, but I'm sure I could do it... this is an approximation of a 10.4".... if done really nice it may not look bad being this big....

**turbocad6** · 12-22-2006, 09:04 PM

worse case, if a 10.4 didn't work like this, then an 8.4 certainly will... I have a good 8.4" screen too.... with an 8.4 I might even be able to keep that wood ashtray intact.... maybe not even shorten the shifter either....

can't wait to rip the dash apart

**Dennis5587** · 12-23-2006, 02:44 AM

idk, i almost want to say go for the 8", think the 10 will be too much. But just my personal opinion...

I love installs that look completely stock, and a 10" will look no where near stock in this car, lol