Here's the beginings of my second dash. I decided to try building this one myself to see if I could do better. So far so good

edit - Please excuse the pic quality I only had access to my camera phone today.

 

one more -

 

Looking good

 

After you finish this, I hope you're gonna start selling replicas... or at least will make one for me

 

Hi Boxcar,
Awesome setup man ! I'm a complete newbie on this "CarComputer" subject. I had no idea you can do that in a car. Can you maybe give us a few links, forums I can visit and start learning more about it please ? Thanks a lot !

 

Thanks Smoker. The best place I know to go to for carputer/CarPC info is http://mp3car.com/vbulletin/ . As far as advice goes... Just research and take your time so you're not doing it twice like I am. If I had to do it over again I would save the extra money for a via mini-itx board so I could hide everything better. I also wouldn't order anything from mp3car.com's store again. Over priced and serious problems with custumer service. They still owe me $20+ dollars but I decided it wasn't worth the frustration.

If you have any more questions just let me know.

 

drool.......

I'm going to have to drive out there when you get it finished.

 

Looks better than the first Rev. Cool job man.

 

Exactly... Pentium M and Celeron M are low power and really fast, but the price... OUCH! The mobo that are available... most of them are daaaamn expensive $200 - 400. A Sempron (or is it Mobile Athalon?) is faster and even more lower power than the Intel chips. Just wish SOMEONE would make a mini-ITX board for it... or even better would be a nano-ITX board... oh well.

Ideally I'd want to mount the CPU in the location of the stock nav CPU or where the rear Bose amp is. So size and heat are real big issues. But I have time... no 8 in my driveway until I *finally* get out of here. This year or die.

I really do wish you both the best of luck. Marriage requires a bit of work, but if you both are giving, then you will have already half the battle.

 

Tamas - "After you finish this, I hope you're gonna start selling replicas... or at least will make one for me "


I wish that was possible. Since this was my first time working with bondo and fiberglass I would end up making like $.25 dollars an hour. It's been 3 full days now and it may finally be ready to go into my car




RR - "drool.......

I'm going to have to drive out there when you get it finished.
Reply With Quote"


It would be about damn time you showed up! You're welcome here anytime man. You even have a free place to stay in Phoenix. Sorry but my car gets the garage.




09 - "Looks better than the first Rev. Cool job man."


Why thank you sir. I can't wait to show it off at the next meet.



Japan8 - "Exactly... Pentium M and Celeron M are low power and really fast, but the price... OUCH! The mobo that are available... most of them are daaaamn expensive $200 - 400. A Sempron (or is it Mobile Athalon?) is faster and even more lower power than the Intel chips. Just wish SOMEONE would make a mini-ITX board for it... or even better would be a nano-ITX board... oh well.

Ideally I'd want to mount the CPU in the location of the stock nav CPU or where the rear Bose amp is. So size and heat are real big issues. But I have time... no 8 in my driveway until I *finally* get out of here. This year or die."


I am seriously excited about the new nano boards. I'm really hoping it will help drop the price of the mini-ITXs. I guess we will know by mid year assuming they don't keep getting pushed back here in the states. Have you had a chance to see one in person yet? 12cm x 12cm should just fit in my hand. I just can't see myself spending $300 on one.



Japan8 - "I really do wish you both the best of luck. Marriage requires a bit of work, but if you both are giving, then you will have already half the battle."


Thanks man. I figured it wouldn't be easy but then again anything that is worth anything never is easy. We have our bad days like every one else but we work through them. We communicate well even if it takes me a day to see it her way. j/k I couldn't ask for anything more and never thought someone like her even existed so I'm in for the long haul and enjoying the ride.

 

I second this, it so clean....is there anyway you get some clearer pics, so I can better steal your idea and show it to the installer.

 

lol. Here they come. I just finished it about an hour ago.

 

Completed Dash V2.0 pics

 

one more

 

That IS the cleanest install I've seen on a RX-8, VERY well done!

 

Boxcar:
Awsome setup. I was wondering how to get around using a huge keyboard in the car.
Question: How high does the screen come up over the dash? Back in your first post you show one, it looks like from the seated position and it didn't stick up too much.

Just wondering... Great work..

 

excellent setup. good job!

 

That's a pretty clean set up. We are currently putting an 8" screen in place of the factory head unit. The whole CarPC will be in the dash, the existing unit will still be in place, just pushed back a couple of inches. This will allow all steering wheel controls to still be used.

 

Awesome work Boxcar, all taht hard work, time, and frustration finally paid off and it look friggin great!!! Sorry I didnt answer when you called I was in meetings the last 2 days...I'll calll you later.

 

Looks very good Boxcar!

I like it and hope to follow in your footsteps when I recover financially from XMAS...

Have you found a body shop for your next project?

 

mazradiodoc - " That IS the cleanest install I've seen on a RX-8, VERY well done!"

Thanks mazradiodoc.

Dagious - " Boxcar: Awsome setup. I was wondering how to get around using a huge keyboard in the car.
Question: How high does the screen come up over the dash? Back in your first post you show one, it looks like from the seated position and it didn't stick up too much.

Just wondering... Great work.."

If you look toward the bottom of my first post you will see a link to more pics of my PC and the old dash. I got the idea for the keyboard from a guy on MP3car.com. I'm using a mini Playstation2 keyboard that I chopped the cord off of and added a USB2.0 zip cable.

If you're wondering if the screen blocks my view of the road then no it doesn't. I think the screen is maybe 5" high and the bottom of the screen sits about an inch above the stock lcd if that helps you picture it.

 

Keith " excellent setup. good job! "

Thank you.


Slims8 - " That's a pretty clean set up. We are currently putting an 8" screen in place of the factory head unit. The whole CarPC will be in the dash, the existing unit will still be in place, just pushed back a couple of inches. This will allow all steering wheel controls to still be used."

Sounds cool. Please PM me with some pics. I would love to see it. If I had some prior fabricating experience I would have liked to experiment more. I had to think of something that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg if I screwed it up.


AZ - "awesome work Boxcar, all taht hard work, time, and frustration finally paid off and it look friggin great!!! Sorry I didnt answer when you called I was in meetings the last 2 days...I'll calll you later."

Thanks Mac. It's all good. Figured you were busy planning with soon to be wife. Get ready to laugh at me Mac. I tore my freaking car apart today to find out why the LCD crapped out at the pavilions last night. After like an hour, and getting to the point of wanting to throw **** I busted out the Multimeter. F-ing blown fuse. lol Of course it had to be the first thing I should have checked.


Jeff - "Looks very good Boxcar!

I like it and hope to follow in your footsteps when I recover financially from XMAS...

Have you found a body shop"

Thanks. Completely understandable on the after Christmas finances. I would love to help on the build if I can. Just let me know when and where.

Yes I think I found a shop. Tim sent me the name of a shop some of the local sevens have used with no complaints. As far as the rest goes I'm waiting on Thew to PM me back so I can get the rest of my kit. Also hoping to do some wheel shopping this week but we'll see what I can get my hands on and what I owe on my credit card after Christmas.

 

Boxcar-Thanks Mac. It's all good. Figured you were busy planning with soon to be wife. Get ready to laugh at me Mac. I tore my freaking car apart today to find out why the LCD crapped out at the pavilions last night. After like an hour, and getting to the point of wanting to throw **** I busted out the Multimeter. F-ing blown fuse. lol Of course it had to be the first thing I should have checked.

HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Figures it had to be something simple!! I still saw it in last night and the new mounting lookd perfect. 1st Up. did that?

 

1st Upholstery vynaled the first dash peice my brother's friend built for me. The new one was built by me and only me

 

Here's a list of what I would really need knowing what I know now. Hopefully it saves others a little money and time


Bondo (small tub) * Make sure the hardener ( little white tube ) is in the cap cause people jack then all the time.
Bondo speader multi pack ( 3 sizes in one pack )
Mixing trays or glossy cardboard ( HD box works great )
Paint sticks
Fiberglass Resin * Make sure the hardener is in the cap cause people jack then all the time.
Fiber Glass Mat (Looks woven)
Epoxy - Plastic Weld x2 tubes
Glazing Putty
Glazing Putty squeege x2 ( the extra one makes it easier cause it dries quick)
Filler primer (sandable)
dremel
couple of cut off disks
Exacto
Thin plywood
CA glue (super glue)
CA Accelerator ( spay that dries CA on contact )
Dust mask preferably a respirator
Gogle style eye protection ( I'm messy so **** flew everywere)


Sand Paper
80
120?
150
150 thin sponge type ( makes rounding really easy )
320 thin sponge type
800 wet/dry
1500 wet/dry
2000 wet/dry