When it comes to reversing I am the running joke in our family so I installed a backup camera in the Fiero. The camera sits just above the number plate. The hardest part was running the wire into the cabin. Fortunately for me I have moved wires around a few years ago and so one of the plugs by the ECM is just a dummy now so I took that apart and went through there (sealing it of course to stop fumes getting in the cabin) and ran the wire along the center console skeleton to the front. Since I wanted it to look fairly stock I removed the radio (which I never use anyway) and built a new console with an angled section to mount the screen into. The screen has two video inputs so at some point in the future I'll do something with the other input. The only down side to the screen is that when it is on but with no signal it displays a bright blue screen and 'NO SIGNAL'. Originally I had the screen wired to come on with the ignition and the camera with the backup lights but that blue screen meant I had to do some rewiring for now so both the screen AND the camera now come on when the car is in reverse. Works pretty well although the shift lever obscures it a little. I can see a short shifter in my future.
Some pics:
Construction of the console. I used 1/4 inch 5 ply Baltic Birch plywood which is a lot better than the garbage you get at the local DIY store although I had to buy a full 5 foot by 5 foot sheet ($35 from local specialist lumber yard).
Covered with grey vinyl. The wooden cross pieces are to mount the screen bezel too that the screen clips into.
1/8 inch acrylic face plate. Took three attempts to get this one! I reused the hvac vents from the original Fiero faceplate and epoxied them on to the back of the face plate. It took a loooong time to get that hole 'just' the right size!
The gear shift obscures it a bit but it is still usable.
View from the passenger side.
Video of it in action:
I still need to build a new gear shift surround but I think I can reuse the existing top plate with the ash trays in it and just build the lower part.
------------------ Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!
That looks great! You should add a forward camera mounted really low that gives the normal signal when you aren't reversing. Handy when parking so you don't bump into items that are too low to see when you are moving forward.
The fact you made a piece that looks nice is an accomplishment in itself.
While many think BU cameras are a joke... Sad but true that people and kids are killed ever year by backing over them because drivers never see them. NHTSA wants them in all cars trucks etc under 10,000 pounds. (Mainly affects 2019 models.) Many people can't bend around to look because of spline problems. Using mirrors and turn to look rear still have blind spots behind most vehicles. Trucks SUV and Vans can have huge rear area you never see from driver's position. Even when you look before you enter the car... kids and often adults can easily move into rear blind spot in time take you to start and put in gear.
Some companies have tried to use extra mirrors on back for many years. FedEX is one. When I drove a panel van, I tried to park so I don't need to buck up. You could have an elephant back of E350 panel van and not see it.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
hey neighbor, That Surround looks great... its giving me some ideas for future projects.
I agree that a backup camera is a great & practical upgrade.
I went a little different path when deciding on where to mount a monitor. I have a 7.5" Touch Screen monitor that also supports (2) analog video inputs [1 used the backup camera], 1 svga input (for my carPC), 1 audio input ( built in speaker- worthless) and a USB output for the touch screen. Given the limited space in a Fiero and needing to be able to easily control functions on the screen, I opted for fabricating a pedestal mount to mount the display. This seems to work very well. It's within easy reach and it doesn't obstruct my use of the Shifter or power controls (windows/mirrors). An added convenience is that I can pivot the monitor toward the passenger seat allowing the wife to watch/control & listen to a movie without bothering me while I'm driving
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ltlfrari What kind of Camera did you end up using ?
I went with this one because it came with a mounting bezel which is what I wanted.
What screen are you using? Looks like you are running a full computer there behind the pass seat?
I'd like to add a computer interface and touch screen capability but going to be hard with this screen since the inputs are both rca. Right now I am thinking a touch screen overlay for the screen and using an arduino to generate some basic black and white graphics. I found a tvout function for the arduino (software, two resistors and an RCA cable and you are in business) and there are also a couple of tv out shields out there as well I may look at.
------------------ Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!
I am currently using a Kenwood single DIN head unit in an 88 Mera with a 7+ inch pop up screen. I have my rear view camera configured to come on any time I push the switch and then it will stay on until the switch is deactivated. There is no interference with a manual shifter. It is a bit heplfull since the rear window in a Mera is even smaller than a stock Fiero view.
Nelson
[This message has been edited by hnthomps (edited 10-16-2015).]
Originally posted by ltlfrari: What screen are you using? Looks like you are running a full computer there behind the pass seat?
Dave My Screen - Generic/China also from FleaBay think I paid around 50$ for it, works well for what it is.
and Yep a full computer and then some....
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Found the CPU on FleaBay awhile back ( less then $100 ). Its from a commercial vehicle, so its perfect for this application. Runs on 12v, (big heat sink), solid state HD, sound card video ect.. internal, only moving parts and the largest inside is the CD Drive. I had to build a Smart Power supply for it...startup/shutdown all done with the ignition switch and it wont brown-out the CPU when starting the engine. System is mounted on an aluminum panel that can be removed from the car in one piece.
You mention (arduino), Not seen (will be behind the drivers seat) , the CPU will be connected to what I have been referring to as a SUI (System Unit Interface), basically an independent micro controller that can read inputs from the vehicle and control certain functions (ie windows, door locks lights horn ect). It will take care of the security functions and enable me to have some bluetooth capability.
If your thinking of using an arduino for the the screen look at the Arduino Mega 2560, (good bang for the buck). Also, I dont know much about them but Parallax Propeller (micro-controller) has built in video output.
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Originally posted by hnthomps: ................ I have my rear view camera configured to come on any time I push the switch and then it will stay on until the switch is deactivated. There is no interference with a manual shifter. It is a bit heplfull since the rear window in a Mera is even smaller than a stock Fiero view.
I know what you mean.... smaller rear window..... I lost 3" in the back glass with the Chop.
Bob Edit for bad grammar
------------------ 88 GT Choptop, Vertical Door Hinges Lowered Suspension w/ 13" Brake Disk CarPC - WinXP Pro (GT Sport Edition) + a lot more.....
[This message has been edited by Orig88GT-NC (edited 10-16-2015).]
The thing about using the Arduino is that I have a UNO just sitting in a drawer so for the price of a couple of resistors I can be up and running. I am trying (not very hard, but I am trying) to keep the costs down while still achieving what I want to.
I also want to use the Arduino to turn on the video camera nd have the reverse signal go into the arduino. That way I can have a switch to turn the backup camera on anytime without the reversing lights coming on but it will still come on when the lights are on. I also want to put a small delay into it so that it turns off a couple of seconds AFTER I take it out of revers. Had that feature on a loaner car a while ago and I liked it.
I'm thinking I might add a bluetooth interface to the arduino, pair it to my phone and have it unlock the doors whenever it detects the phone is nearby, also enable the fuel pump so no phone, no start!
Still, all that's for later. Right now I have to get the console finished than I can get my other car (99 Mercury Cougar) in the garage because it needs a new transmission!
Sadly I have more ideas and projects than time!
------------------ Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!
I know what you mean.... smaller rear window..... I lost 3" in the back glass with the Chop.
Bob Edit for bad grammar
I think that the actual measurement on a Mera rear window is about four inches less than stock. The actual window is the same size but the lower portion is blacked out and below the rear deck lid.
I am currently using a Kenwood single DIN head unit in an 88 Mera with a 7+ inch pop up screen. I have my rear view camera configured to come on any time I push the switch and then it will stay on until the switch is deactivated. There is no interference with a manual shifter. It is a bit heplfull since the rear window in a Mera is even smaller than a stock Fiero view.
Nelson
That's a good idea, I've been considering a BU camera on my truck, just wasn't sure where to put the screen.
They have so many different types and style of monitors out there to choose from. When I was looking for a backup camera I came across many styles that were everything from 3.5" to over 7" and many different styles of mounts, even one that you just stuck on the top of the dash and when not in use you could just fold the monitor into itself and just looked like a small tissue size box.
I got one of the smallest ones out there, 3.5" because I had a spot all picked out for the suburban when I was hitching up the trailer, I have yet to get time to install it. But when I do it will be in the pocket cassette holder right in the hole the original radio was in. That had been replaced with an aftermarket CD player above the ashtray.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
I put one in my motorhome since there is no way to see out the back at all. It didnt need any wiring except to a hot wire. I didnt go to the backup lite wire because I want it on full time. The camera has a tiny transmitter that sends to the video display. Its a 7" screen that also has a audio/video input I can run to a tv receiver/ dvd player if I want. Nice install in your center console though. Mine I wanted on top of the dash so I could see it easily all the time like a rear view mirror while driving without having to take my eyes off the road. I may make up some sort of console on top of the dash to mount it alongside a 7" GPS screen.
[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 10-19-2015).]
Covered the gear shift plate and face plate with carbon fiber film and replaced the window, trunk and defrost switches so one final picture now that it's all done (or now at least):
------------------ Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!
