350z carpc install
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From: Fl
350z carpc install
Carpc install into 350z
Finished pics
How it began:
I found a laptop on craigslist that had a cracked touch screen and broken outer shell for a hundred bucks. This gave me the idea to install it in my car to replace my 7 inch touch screen stereo. Here's what the laptop looked like.
The first thing I had to do was to replace the touch screen. I found a vendor in china online and managed to pick it up for 150$. Part arrived in about a week. Install took about 20 min.
My next task was to fabricate a bezel that I could mount the screen to in the center of the dash where the original radio had been. This is the original setup.
As you can see the screen was very small and it was hard to navigate while driving.
This is the factory bezel cut out with card paper cut and formed to the general shape I needed. I coated it with fiberglass resin to make it stiff.
I then fiberglassed and applied bondo, then sanded the bezel.
A couple more applications of bondo and some primer...
J B welded 2 studs to the back of the bezel to hold the screen in.
Gutted the passenger side of the dash to make room for the laptop...
Test fit the bezel.
I bought an Audigy 2 ZS for the laptop to run sound to the Bose amp which was very easy as I had an aftermarket adapter with 2 pair of RCA jacks and the zs 2 had 5.1 out, all I had to do was wire the Bose amp to acc. power and buy 2 adapters for headphone jack to RCA out so I would have front and back speakers. I ran the power to the laptop from the acc power for the radio and grounded it to the radio ground. I was blowing fuses so I had to buy an inverter to run the power supply through. I finish bondoed and sanded the bezel and covered it with carbon fiber print pleather I bought from a marine upholstery shop for 5 bucks. This is the finished product so far.
Bezel was 300 dollars from a custom fabricator. He did a great job well past my expectations.
His info is:
Alvin Lawrence
5293 tower way
Sanford Fl 32773
340-513-1290
autofanatik@hotmail.com
Tell him I sent ya!
Finished pics
How it began:
I found a laptop on craigslist that had a cracked touch screen and broken outer shell for a hundred bucks. This gave me the idea to install it in my car to replace my 7 inch touch screen stereo. Here's what the laptop looked like.
The first thing I had to do was to replace the touch screen. I found a vendor in china online and managed to pick it up for 150$. Part arrived in about a week. Install took about 20 min.
My next task was to fabricate a bezel that I could mount the screen to in the center of the dash where the original radio had been. This is the original setup.
As you can see the screen was very small and it was hard to navigate while driving.
This is the factory bezel cut out with card paper cut and formed to the general shape I needed. I coated it with fiberglass resin to make it stiff.
I then fiberglassed and applied bondo, then sanded the bezel.
A couple more applications of bondo and some primer...
J B welded 2 studs to the back of the bezel to hold the screen in.
Gutted the passenger side of the dash to make room for the laptop...
Test fit the bezel.
I bought an Audigy 2 ZS for the laptop to run sound to the Bose amp which was very easy as I had an aftermarket adapter with 2 pair of RCA jacks and the zs 2 had 5.1 out, all I had to do was wire the Bose amp to acc. power and buy 2 adapters for headphone jack to RCA out so I would have front and back speakers. I ran the power to the laptop from the acc power for the radio and grounded it to the radio ground. I was blowing fuses so I had to buy an inverter to run the power supply through. I finish bondoed and sanded the bezel and covered it with carbon fiber print pleather I bought from a marine upholstery shop for 5 bucks. This is the finished product so far.
Bezel was 300 dollars from a custom fabricator. He did a great job well past my expectations.
His info is:
Alvin Lawrence
5293 tower way
Sanford Fl 32773
340-513-1290
autofanatik@hotmail.com
Tell him I sent ya!
Last edited by TheStonedOne; Dec 22, 2012 at 11:41 AM.
Maybe its just me,but putting a laptop in a car just does not make sense.
Also,has to be a major distraction that may very dangerous.Saying that,
it is interesting of the different focuses owners have for their cars.I'd guess,performance wise,your car is pretty much stock.Your more interested in shopping at Best Buy than
looking at the latest exhaust system.Going FI is in another world.Track your car?No way.
Takes all kinds...
Props on the work you have done.I greatly admire a guy having an idea(no matter
it is)and actually DOING IT!
Drive safely
Also,has to be a major distraction that may very dangerous.Saying that,
it is interesting of the different focuses owners have for their cars.I'd guess,performance wise,your car is pretty much stock.Your more interested in shopping at Best Buy than
looking at the latest exhaust system.Going FI is in another world.Track your car?No way.
Takes all kinds...
Props on the work you have done.I greatly admire a guy having an idea(no matter
it is)and actually DOING IT!
Drive safely
You remove the passenger side airbag? Any lights? Warn all your passengers.
Not feeling over all height of the screen of the location of the laptop. The rear cubby would have been much much much better. The cables could be run up the middle of the car just as well. Plus there is a 12v socket back there ready for an inverter.
Laptop is a good choice vs normal micro pc since they are built for more bumps. A carpc that is purpose built wouldnt be bad either.
Not feeling over all height of the screen of the location of the laptop. The rear cubby would have been much much much better. The cables could be run up the middle of the car just as well. Plus there is a 12v socket back there ready for an inverter.
Laptop is a good choice vs normal micro pc since they are built for more bumps. A carpc that is purpose built wouldnt be bad either.
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