Another R&D idea

Seraph · #1 09-19-2002, 10:48 PM

I am in the process of re-doing the interior of my car and re-doing the wiring/screen placement on the SVX. I can tell that my 5.6" would go in nicely in double din area. I do not have any problem placing the radio somewhere else. The question is: Where do you think would be a nice place to relocate the stereo head unit?

Ideas are all welcome.

Lwin

wasions · #2 09-19-2002, 10:56 PM

Whoa, there's like a thousand places you could put an itty bitty thing like that. Let's see. How about the passenger headrest? (No . . . maybe not.) Under the seat - ala 1972 Torino after-market 8-track? (Well . . .) About the only place I can think of that will accept something like that would be in the armrest - but then you couldn't use those cool cup holders!

#3 09-19-2002, 11:19 PM

No idea about LCDs, but a R&D forum would be a great idea. On all the other boards that i have frequented they had always been an invaluable resource.

#4 09-20-2002, 12:32 AM

Radio hidden in the glove box? Maybe (if there's room) inbetween the ashtray and the shifter, controls sticking up, the rest sunk into the center console? probobly not enough room in there for that one. #3 right beside the steering column where the change holder is? might not look good though, but photoshop can tell you. Somewhere out of site with controls wired into the steering wheel, you would lose tape funtionality, plus the controls would take a lot of work so that's probobly out of the picture. sunk into the back of the arm rest, losing the ash tray, not sure if the arm rest is wide enough though, plus you definatly wouldn't want to be changing stations or tapes while driving then.

Bwana · #5 09-20-2002, 06:42 AM

Head units with CD players are usually recomended to be placed up to 10 degrees from level. Therefore, putting it in where the ashtray/cig lighter would probably not be the best place unless you could get it sitting level....but then the shifter would probably be in the way...

I'd say the glovebox would be the best place, then get a remote control if you have an aftermarket headunit. Might interfere with passengers though....

mattski · #6 09-20-2002, 06:47 AM

I think Blaupunkt had a unit with the control module mounted on a flexible shaft positioned near the shift lever.

There are other aftermarket units which come with remote controls so the head unit could go under passenger seat.

#7 09-20-2002, 07:26 AM

I have a sony model which has wired and wireless remotes. I use the wired one all the time... have it right next to the shifter... i can adjust the stereo without taking my hand off the shifter.

A buddy of mine has an LCD mounted in the double din opening in his legacy. He put the headunit in the console vertically... it works fine.

Mike

lee · #8 09-20-2002, 07:57 AM

Maybe dumb idea - I don't know sizes well...also don't know if you want both din slots

Could the LCD move on some sort of track & pivot in front of the head unit. Off-condition: the lcd would be stored under the head unit and door closed for security. On-condition: door opened, lcd pulled out, and swung up (lcd moving like some doors do for an entertainment center).

Then want to change CDs, just temp pivot the lcd out of the way.

Seraph · #9 09-20-2002, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lee
Maybe dumb idea - I don't know sizes well...also don't know if you want both din slots

Then want to change CDs, just temp pivot the lcd out of the way.

Ideally speaking, this would be the way I'd do it.. I really suck at making things move without making it ugly. I currently have 2 LCD screens I can place around the car with the following specs.

(5.6") 14x10.5x3.5 cm and (7" Widescreen) 17.5x10.5x2.5 cm

Both of them fits in nicely over the double din slot so I thougt the easiest way is to take my blaupunkt head unit out and put it somewhere else. I like the hand rest idea... let's see how it can go in.

Lwin

Mr. Pockets · #10 09-20-2002, 09:06 AM

What about leaving the stereo where it is (it's handy and, obviously, deep enough for the thing) and then putting the screen in the radio door? You're talking about places that would effectively hide the stereo anyway. Besides, closing the door and having that screen there would look cool.

You wouldn't have to manufacture anything that moved - just a nice bezel for the screen to blend it with the radio door nicely.

Seraph · #11 09-20-2002, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets
You wouldn't have to manufacture anything that moved - just a nice bezel for the screen to blend it with the radio door nicely.

Now we are talking. I need more ideas... This is good nick

Lwin

lee · #12 09-20-2002, 10:09 AM

The screen in the door idea is the best I think so far. I went and measured and both your screens are wider than the large flat on the door. That would cause fabrication issues on the door opening. I think you would have to make space for the door to be considerably thicker (I wish I could visualize better).

Maybe another fabrication issue, but what about removing the lighter and ash tray and having the screen pull up.

As to slide & pivot I know you said you sucked at it, but...depending on the bezel around the screen you could put a small stud into each side. the stud would move up and down a U-shaped channel in the empty din space. The channel would have to be able to slide out some to get the screen clear, but once clear the screen could then be tilted up. Some idea needs to be added to hold the screen in place in place. The channels idea could be tested with some cheap aluminum from a hardware store and a glue gun to set it in place. If it looked OK, they could be treated to look like whatever your housing looks like now. Here's my idea

Seraph · #13 09-20-2002, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lee
Here's my idea

With the housing, the big screen will not fit. I'll have to make my own housing for that. If only I could put the stereo head unit somewhere else that everyone can access. too little room, too much car.

Lwin

sfsvx · #14 09-20-2002, 02:29 PM

Fabricate a housing that mounts on the top of the dash, just to the right of the climate controls - maybe angled slight toward the driver. A bit of a stretch for the driver, maybe, but it sounds doable and relatively simple compared to some other locations in the car.

Seraph · #15 09-20-2002, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dick Young
Fabricate a housing that mounts on the top of the dash, just to the right of the climate controls - maybe angled slight toward the driver. A bit of a stretch for the driver, maybe, but it sounds doable and relatively simple compared to some other locations in the car.

I don't want to put it there since it does not look like it was built into the system

Lwin