Ok, I have been hesitant to post pics because nothing is finished...and the fact that my video card drivers are so screwed up that I can't capture images from my videocamera doesn't help.
Note that these are a couple of weeks old, so I'm alot further on these things.
Here ya go...
Early pic of speakers in fiberglass pods positioned for best imaging. Cut up old(bad) dash used it as a preshaped surround and screwed a plywood/MDF frame to it in later pic. New guage setup. radio/heater vents& controls angled tword me. Using stock-modified guages.
Various things hanging around...IR receiver for wireless keyboard. Center chanel for Dolby 5.1 is by windshield. Rally guages moved over, the 10.4" touchscreen monitor will be above the vents.
A PIII 450 is more useful than the donut. Fix-a-flat will be handy. Delorme GPS(yelllow box) is mounted above the purple neon lit motherboard(under the window,center) The grey carpeted thing is the drive bays. 2 piece fiberglass and hardboard cover to hide all the ugly stuff will be covered in carpet. Fan controller mounted flush(next to window)
Early pic of case. Spans width of compartment. The drives are mounted on a shock absobing mount. The HD is vertical in a pull-out fan cooled mobile rack. DVD and CD are horizontal.
In-car view of case. The compartment and case has been ventilated with cooling fans. Air will be expelled by stock type blower fan.
The whole setup weighs less than the spare tire, but I will eventually make it out of Aluminum to reduce weight.
The computer is working, out of the car right now. Some stuff still need to be installed.
Why the $#%@ do you need a computer in your car??? Uh, to be cool?!
The main function of the computer is to program the TECII engine control system(below, kinda sideways sitting on the engine in that pic). You don't really need a computer in the car, but its a good excuse. All engine sensors are shown on screen and you can change parameters while testing. Why did I get the TEC? I didn't want to be limited to 85mph...what the van 3400 computer is limited to!
Hope you liked 'em...I'll post some new pics soon.
[This message has been edited by Joe Torma (edited 08-27-2001).]
Man!!! I thought my little project of just installing a stereo system had taken on a life of its own. I don't feel so bad now. Now whenever I start feeling overwelmed by mine I'll just call up this thread for some quick relief.
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03:42 AM
Joe Torma Member
Posts: 3485 From: Hillsborough, NJ USA Registered: Jul 2001
Hey man I am working on something similar. I am mounting a laptop to the pass side dash. Hooked up my pocet GPS and loaded my AAA map software. Also hooked up aa FM transmitter to the line out from the laptop so that I can play MP# and CD's through the standard CD player. Was working great till for some reason my GPS stopped picking up sats. I have not really been anywhere to test it yet but it was great during local tests. The laptop swings up so that the screen is fully extended above the keyboard, so its easy to type. This is an older laptop so it does not have DVD but I can see that in the future if this works out after so long run testing. Just have to work on some kind of cover to hide it or pull it out evrytime I go into a store or something!
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09:03 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
How are all of the shocks and jolts of a Fiero gonna impact your computer, especially with it sitting right above the front wheels? And how do you plan to expel heat? Seems like it would get awfully hot in there?
I'm very interested in what you are doing.. great project!
Bumps won't be a problem(I hope) I designed a mushy mount(technical term ) for the drives. I will hot glue everything important in place. The compartment is ventilated.
Here is a pic of the dash with monitor in position...I got a cool pushbutton starter(right bottom guagepod)
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11:23 AM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
Lookin' good! When/If I ever build my custom Fiero, I want to build a custom interior & dash, too. Please keep us updated on your progress. Let us in on a few details and "how to"s or (maybe more importantly) "how not to do"s.
------------------ Roy :D 87 GT
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02:24 PM
Bluebottlejunky Member
Posts: 465 From: Hortonville, WI, USA Registered: Jan 2001
Sweet deal Joe! Keep us updated with progress What are you installing for a stereo? Are you just going to have a free-floating keyboard, or are you going to have an area reserved for it? Do you have any pics of your "mushy" mounting system, or could you just tell us what you're doing with it? As far as your ventilation, where's the vent/fan air coming and going from? Is there a web page for the TECII control system you're using, that sounds awesome...you can tweak the controls on the fly?
Sorry so many questions, but I'm VERY interested, and you obviously have a little know-how Thanks Joe!
Bryce 88 GT
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09:47 PM
PFF
System Bot
Joe Torma Member
Posts: 3485 From: Hillsborough, NJ USA Registered: Jul 2001
Today's updates: Voice control installed GPS Functional
"How not to dos"--Got plenty of them. I've been making things as i go along. This makes it a pain in the arse. I had sketches, and kinda threw them out. I originally wanted to make it look like a new Eclipse's dash...yeah that happened?! Instead of fiberglass mat/cloth I use trunk liner carpet. The stuff requires 1 coat of resin to get stiff and another(oter side) to get solid! No time wasted in layering stuff. Just glue & staple to wood, stretch the stuff and you're good. It isn't smooth, but you just spread some bondo glass over things and sand, and you're good to go. I made my lid scoop this way. I made the scoop out of carboard and put tin foil over it and when the resin dried, removed the carboard easily.
The fiberglass, resin actually, is pretty heavy and hard to get flat. I use 1/8" or 1/4" hardboard for these surfaces--it is fairly light. Apply some resin to the edges and staple the carpet to it and it bonds better than glue. Some more resin and it becomes one piece! Note that if you apply the resin to every side of the harboard it is pretty much waterproof...mmm...possibilites. The stuff is super easy to work with.
Fiberglass is my friend! So is my table saw! I used a plywood frame for the dash screwed to what was left of the old dashboard. There is a convenient spot to screw a new frame to below the defroster vent. It isn't that heavy either.
I see a few people have computers going in their cars!!! So I guess I'll be seeing computers in lots of Fieros soon?! I guess I'll have to come up with some surprises...not that I'm telling all right now
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11:32 PM
Aug 28th, 2001
Joe Torma Member
Posts: 3485 From: Hillsborough, NJ USA Registered: Jul 2001
So a total of 3260watts@RMS almost double that for max.
Are you just going to have a free-floating keyboard, or are you going to have an area reserved for it?
I tried to mount it somewhere, but there is NO good place for a keyboard in a car!!! It will be hidden in the armrest console.
Do you have any pics of your "mushy" mounting system, or could you just tell us what you're doing with it?
My experiments have resulted in the simplest of mushy mount materials. FOAM. I am using 3" thick air conditioner weatherstrip foam. The trick is to absorb the shock. Springs just bounce around. I'll post pics of my experiments later.
As far as your ventilation, where's the vent/fan air coming and going from?
Enters from ductwork on firewall exits through bottom of trunk(long water deflecting path)
Is there a web page for the TECII control system you're using, that sounds awesome...you can tweak the controls on the fly? www.getfuelinjected.com They have a new TEC3. more expensive, a couple of new features, but not really an "advantage" over the TECII. The new TEC II software allows more tuning on the fly(not that I've gotten the new version to work yet) It is cool. Like for the base timing, I type a number into the box and hit ENTER and the engine instantly responds and runs different! There are other less expensive systems out there too.
Sorry so many questions, but I'm VERY interested, and you obviously have a little know-how Thanks Joe!
No prob...hmmm... Alright, yous all know too much. Time to fit yous guys for concrete shoes so yous can swim wit the fishes.
[This message has been edited by Joe Torma (edited 08-28-2001).]
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12:01 AM
Boomtastic Member
Posts: 2359 From: Athens, Alabama Registered: May 2000
Originally posted by David Bartlett: Do you think you have troubles with the vinyle coverings?
Absolutely. I'm expecting one hell of a pain in the arse time doing it.
I think I'll be ok... There will be some well placed(read:convenient-crease hiding) screwed in accent pieces. I discovered a little trick too. The vinyl I got has fabric webbing glued to the back...it naturally stretches one way, but if you sand it off you can stretch it any way you want! I'll be doing this in rough spots. I will be spray gluing 1/4 foam to every surface and then spray gluing the vinyl to that(stapled on undersides).
Wish me luck...I may start this tonight.
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01:56 PM
Steve Normington Member
Posts: 7663 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Apr 2001
Man!!! I thought my little project of just installing a stereo system had taken on a life of its own. I don't feel so bad now. Now whenever I start feeling overwelmed by mine I'll just call up this thread for some quick relief. 
) for the drives. I will hot glue everything important in place. The compartment is ventilated.
So I guess I'll be seeing computers in lots of Fieros soon?! 
