View Full Version : lostforawhile's hatchback head unit relocation
lostforawhile
10-12-2009, 08:22 PM
I've been trying to figure out what to do about the radio, the choke control and fuel pressure gauge take up the old radio space, I was going to mount it under the seat and use a remote extender, but ran into problems, i finally mounted the radio BOX under the seat, but this is where i came up with to mount the face on the new dash i'm building.
first I made this nifty aluminum plate out of a chunk of aluminum.......
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020219-4.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020218-3.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020217-4.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020216-1.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020221-4.jpg
notice the volume knob, I've been missing the cheap plastic knob for a while, the answer has been staring me right in the face, pulled this knob off of an old VOR radio from an airplane, it's sitting on my mantlepiece. It already had the set screws in it and everything, nice black aluminum knob. All I had to do was redrill the center hole to a larger size. I always thought this clarion looked like an aircraft panel radio anyway, and the knob adds to the illusion. Since I have aircraft stuff all in the car it blends in perfectly. the face will be connected to the radio box with a multi wire cable. the dash will be black, so i painted the aluminum surround for the radio face ultra flat black, and I also changed the aluminum piece that holds my gauges to ultra flat black. All aircraft instrument surrounds are that color.
Rendon LX-i
10-12-2009, 08:45 PM
Thats crazy lost.
what do you do if you wanna put a cd in it?
2drSE-i
10-12-2009, 09:58 PM
what do you do if you wanna put a cd in it?
You break a CD. lol. I've always liked those remote installs. I had a buddy that put his faceplate in his armrest (it was a truck so it was right on his arm) and his actual head unit under the seat. It was pretty trick.
lostforawhile
10-13-2009, 03:45 AM
what do you do if you wanna put a cd in it?
the box is under the passenger seat, just slide in the cd like normal
2drSE-i
10-13-2009, 05:25 PM
Hey not to threadjack lost, but what did you do for your Oil return line on the back of the engine?
lostforawhile
10-13-2009, 07:08 PM
Hey not to threadjack lost, but what did you do for your Oil return line on the back of the engine?
well i've got two i have a remote oil filter so i have a filter adaptor and two oil lines going to the filter. then two more lines going to the cooler still don't have the money for the oil thermostat right now. i have an entire thread somewhere.
JFern
10-13-2009, 07:54 PM
looks good lost! i like the airplaned theme you have going on ^_^ pretty clever way to mount the radio if i do say so myself
lostforawhile
10-13-2009, 08:22 PM
I'm getting ready to paint the dash, I was going to use the expensive paint, but everyone is saying to use Krylon fusion now, it sticks like glue, it's UV resistant, and it's supposed to bond into the plastic and vinyl surface. I've been testing a piece of trim, so far two weeks of sun and weather exposure, no fading, and the satin finish black is the exact same shade of gloss that the original trim pieces have. A lot of people I know have used it and they say it's holding up great. Once i get the cutouts in the dash made for the gauge panel and the wire feed through for the radio face, i'll take the entire dash apart and paint it. getting very close to getting this dash installed in the car. I installed riv nuts in the dash to hold the aluminum pieces, drilled the holes slightly undersize, then put epoxy in the holes and pushed the rivnuts in. gives me threaded mounting points for this stuff.
b20a86lude
10-18-2009, 07:04 PM
dude i just got to say ur a fuckin genius man. dude like theres people out there lookin for guys like u. and makin big bx
oldschoolhatch
10-18-2009, 07:28 PM
lol i just realized that you and i have the exact same cd player in our accords. nice. of course yours is mounted in a way cooler way. awesome work though, i cant wait for final pics of this.
lostforawhile
10-18-2009, 07:31 PM
dude i just got to say ur a fuckin genius man. dude like theres people out there lookin for guys like u. and makin big bx
right now no one is looking for anyone in custom stuff at all, no one is even getting custom stuff done, it will pick back up later though. It's supposed to warm back up this week then i'll paint the dash, and finish putting it back together. I still need to pull the old dash and swap over the wire harnesses from it and the heat and air control panel. once I get the dash in the car should start to come together quick.
lostforawhile
10-18-2009, 07:32 PM
lol i just realized that you and i have the exact same cd player in our accords. nice. of course yours is mounted in a way cooler way. awesome work though, i cant wait for final pics of this.
yea i want to finish the dash this week and get it put in,nothing much else to do but look for a job and work on the car.
lostforawhile
11-04-2009, 08:32 PM
I could swear half of this thread is missing. anyway without the dash painted http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020223-4.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020236-4.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020216-1.jpg
lostforawhile
11-04-2009, 08:37 PM
the acrylic will clean up nice I have some special polish to take out the scratches. the life of a removable face radio ,they make the carrying case so big it's like an eighties cell phone.
lostforawhile
11-04-2009, 08:56 PM
I need to get some good D sub connectors that are shielded to hook the two pieces together these things are sensitive to rf interference
MessyHonda
11-09-2009, 08:38 PM
at least get a nicer stereo...but that is just my opinion...i know you just like good gadgets
lostforawhile
11-09-2009, 08:46 PM
at least get a nicer stereo...but that is just my opinion...i know you just like good gadgetsI like this clarion, this is one of the cleanest sounding head units i've ever heard, and indestructible. I'll polish the face back up again. I have an ipod dock and xm radio too so it serves mostly as an fm tuner. i picked it specifically for it's simplicity, it has more features then it looks like but a very simple layout which suits the car well
lostforawhile
12-14-2009, 02:41 AM
well I was going to solder a D connector to the wiring from the radio face, but I've discovered my eyes have gotten really bad, and I have tremors in my hands now, so i'm no longer able to solder the tiny pins sadly, I've been soldering stuff like that since I was six, I ended up having to use Molex connectors instead of D connectors.
original attempt
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/S4020684.jpg
new attempt
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/S4020690.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/S4020691.jpg
Dr_Snooz
12-14-2009, 06:37 AM
well I was going to solder a D connector to the wiring from the radio face, but I've discovered my eyes have gotten really bad, and I have tremors in my hands now, so i'm no longer able to solder the tiny pins sadly, I've been soldering stuff like that since I was six, I ended up having to use Molex connectors instead of D connectors.
Looks good man. Nothing wrong with Molex connectors, for reals. Take care of yourself. You know too much to go killing yourself. We need you here. Stay out of the solvents and plastics and phosgene and what-not, okay?
lostforawhile
12-14-2009, 09:17 AM
Looks good man. Nothing wrong with Molex connectors, for reals. Take care of yourself. You know too much to go killing yourself. We need you here. Stay out of the solvents and plastics and phosgene and what-not, okay?
Ok I will some other stuff going on with my health don't want to go into it here, I'll write on the blackboard 500 times I will use my respirator, I will use my respirator.................:D
lostforawhile
12-16-2009, 08:42 PM
i finally found a 20 wire data cable in my junk so the face is connected to the wire, i had 5 dollars left in my paypal so i ordered a solder sucker for 3 bucks plus free shipping. i need to take the original contact off of the radio box,so i can solder in the wires. this is a complex setup, i have an fm modulator and a manual switch box hidden in the car, it switches between XM radio, the Ipod, and the video screen in the hatch.
lostforawhile
12-19-2009, 09:32 PM
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/S4020697.jpg
lostforawhile
12-21-2009, 08:44 PM
still waiting on my solder sucker, it was 3 dollars and change including free shipping, but i didn't know it was being shipped on the slow boat from Taiwan, for that price as long as it unsolder s the pins on the radio box socket, it will work. I had a really nice Weller rework De soldering station with the electric vacuum pump,the whole deal, but it broke and parts aren't available.
lostforawhile
01-12-2010, 04:28 PM
it's here finally, i just haven't sat down and worked on the head unit, nice solid well made solder sucker, not bad at all for a few dollars and free shipping.
stat1K
01-13-2010, 12:47 PM
those d-sub pins are freaking tiny... i had some of those for doing the aux jack on my wife's 08 fit... i could barely do those with my young and good eyes and hands... granted i'm a bit shakey too, but that's usually the amount of soda and coffee i've consumed.
Ichiban
01-13-2010, 08:07 PM
I like this clarion, this is one of the cleanest sounding head units i've ever heard, and indestructible. I'll polish the face back up again. I have an ipod dock and xm radio too so it serves mostly as an fm tuner. i picked it specifically for it's simplicity, it has more features then it looks like but a very simple layout which suits the car well
I've got a Panasonic from 2001 that refuses to die. Nice little H/U, lots of power and 3 sub pre-outs. Unfortunately no aux in, which sucks in the age of MP3's and satellite radio.
lostforawhile
01-14-2010, 05:48 AM
I've got a Panasonic from 2001 that refuses to die. Nice little H/U, lots of power and 3 sub pre-outs. Unfortunately no aux in, which sucks in the age of MP3's and satellite radio.
if you aren't looking for completely perfect sound and just want some music to listen to while driving, get a wired FM modulator, they sound way batter then an over the air one, and you can get them for around 15-20 bucks on e-gay. when I get this thing done, between the fact my windows are always down, the carbs,header,exaust etc. I just want it loud enough to be able to hear it. I also have no sound insulation, I built this car to drive is all.
lostforawhile
04-02-2010, 04:25 PM
This project is back on track with the learning remote adapter, soldering to the original remote didn't work.
lostforawhile
04-02-2010, 05:52 PM
I made the cable from the mirror switch in the center console, they have high quality pro ethernet cables at the thrift store all the time, so this gives me the eight wires i need in a compact package. all they will be carrying is milliamps for the subminature relays in the relay box. the relays produce different output voltages with the use of diodes and resistors. these different voltages are what the remote box sees, nine functions on the switch and one pushbutton for select, into a one wire output. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/S4021219.jpg
lostforawhile
04-05-2010, 09:55 PM
Ok some more done, the resistor and relay box is almost finished. I could do this with diodes and skip the eight relays, but the reason they are there, is it's a long way between the mirror switch and the box at the back of the car, the mirror switch, as in a lot of automotive switches, will also produce a dirty signal, steering wheel slip rings will do this same thing. it's simply the way the contacts work. since the adapter unit, that produces the infrared signals for the head unit, senses different voltages, that dirty signal and changing resistance can cause it to not function correctly. by using eight mini relays with silver contacts, and the resistors in the same location, I get a much cleaner signal. It's very basic, eight mini relays, hooked up in place of the mirror motors, two relays with reverse based diodes per motor, one direction makes one relay operate, other direction operates the other. flip the left right switch and it operates the other bank of relays. one side of the switched contact on all eight relays is connected to 12 volts. each output contact is wired in series with a different resistor. all the resistors are connected together to form one output. only one relay can operate at a time, since each has a different resistor, the output voltage changes for each possible combination on the switch. one of eight, plus one for a push button. nine total, the ninth resistor and relay are separate. this is the mute button. I need to build a one shot timer out of a 555 timer IC, this will allow the voice warning module to mute the radio whenever it says something, I need the timer circuit to produce a pulse of voltage not a constant voltage.
if the voice system says anything, pushing the mute button again will bring the radio back online.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/S4021227.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/S4021226.jpg
critical items for working late at night, AM radio and pink quick
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/S4021225.jpg
Tdurr
04-05-2010, 10:18 PM
pink quick?
lostforawhile
04-05-2010, 10:25 PM
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4021235.jpg
lostforawhile
04-05-2010, 10:31 PM
thats an original mug, got it from saving the UPC codes off of quick when it used to come in square cans, back in the 70's when i was a little kid, I still have it. It's liquid pixie sticks, used to be powdered pixie sticks. :D
lostforawhile
10-05-2011, 09:51 PM
update
I really didn't like the way the head unit looked sitting on the surface of the dash, so I've decided to recess it inside of the dash, I made this handy trim ring, it's steel, more on that in a minute, It has four studs pressed into it, then they were welded on, and ground flush, these go through the four existing holes in the dash.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/2011-10-05_16-19-48_718.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/Picture003.jpg
I wanted to be able to cover up the radio when the car isn't being driven, so I made this stepped aluminum cover, I still have to bore out the inside to remove excess bulk and weight. I'm going to fit four alnico magnets into it flush, then I can simply set the cover in place, and it sticks to the steel trim ring.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/Picture005.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/Picture002.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/Picture001.jpg
I've done the rough cutout of the dash, you can see I still have more to go, it needs to be trimmed up, I also cut an access on the back side of the dash, this lets me install the radio face from behind. once it's in and functional, an aluminum plate will replace the cut out plastic.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/Picture007.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/Picture006.jpg
this is ther back half that holds the radio face, this is my old mockup face for this radio, I have a brand new one thats going in
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/Picture004.jpg
Rendon LX-i
10-06-2011, 12:41 PM
instresting.
elpuma
10-07-2011, 05:34 PM
Wow lost that's very creative!
lostforawhile
10-07-2011, 07:49 PM
still some trimming to do, this is the old face. Once everything fits this will be black of course
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2248.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2249.jpg
I'll have to trim the bolt threads shorter of course, but from feeling behind the dash in the car, there should be plenty of clearance, it only sticks out from behind the dash at one point.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2251.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2252.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2253.jpg
this is how the SWI-X unit controls the radio, this tiny infrared LED facing the radio face.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2254.jpg
lostforawhile
10-12-2011, 08:32 PM
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2257.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2256.jpg
dieselgus
10-13-2011, 09:12 AM
Interesting. I used to stick a lot of faceplates into driver's side sun visors on hot rod builds a few years ago. For added nerdery, you can wire the IR LED wires off of the SWI-X directly to the IR receiver within the faceplate and eliminate some issues when in direct sunlight/something on the dash/etc. My fave trick was repurposing the older SOny ES control stalks to be universal controllers (actually not that hard. Big fancy key matrix inside like any other remote. Just had to change some values here and there), ditching out the entire faceplate aside from the display portion and tucking the LCD into some unobtrusive and nifty location, use the rebuilt SOny stalk to control whatever it was connected to.
lostforawhile
11-08-2011, 10:17 PM
I finally got the brackets machined for the radio box , It will bolt up where the combination control box went behind the center console, that box is lightweight plastic and easy to move somewhere else. Honda was thoughtful enough to use heavy bent steel rod to hold the dash, with welded on brackets. I'm still waiting for the coupler to hook the two hdmi cables together. ignore the long bolts, I need to go to the hardware store and get the proper length ones
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2355.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2356.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2358.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2359.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2360.jpg
lostforawhile
11-08-2011, 10:24 PM
the radio bolts up rock solid, I thought I might have to add a third brace, but it's not needed, the only thing I have to move is my one hard vacuum line, but I was going to change to a bigger line anyway. the back of the center console sits flush against the side of the radio box, and it hides away nicely. there's even enough room under the radio to mount the control module to the bottom of it. I'll just take off the metal tabs and grind off the big plastic tab that sticks out of it. A little VHB tape, and I'll be good to go, the original connector will plug right in.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2363.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2362.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2361.jpg
lostforawhile
11-08-2011, 10:49 PM
Interesting. I used to stick a lot of faceplates into driver's side sun visors on hot rod builds a few years ago. For added nerdery, you can wire the IR LED wires off of the SWI-X directly to the IR receiver within the faceplate and eliminate some issues when in direct sunlight/something on the dash/etc. My fave trick was repurposing the older SOny ES control stalks to be universal controllers (actually not that hard. Big fancy key matrix inside like any other remote. Just had to change some values here and there), ditching out the entire faceplate aside from the display portion and tucking the LCD into some unobtrusive and nifty location, use the rebuilt SOny stalk to control whatever it was connected to.
really? lets see some pictures of some of your work? it's neither easy or simple to do one of these relocation's, I know if I had done all that I would have a bunch of pictures, why not start a thread?
dieselgus
11-10-2011, 06:01 AM
Sure thing. Next time I am near my storage unit halfway across the country I shall see if I can dig up some of the old 5x7 photos and scan them in to put up on the interwebs. Anything I took in the digital realm went when a drive puked a few years ago (along with a lot of other important stuff. Neglected to back up. Always back up. If it doesn't exist in 3 media formats it doesn't exist). I don't have a lot of pics from the past 3 years as I have been building law enforcement vehicles (although I have a shitload of pictures of custom aluminum gun racks, nifty looking covert vehicles and interesting ways of putting in LED lighting into cars so that it all looks factory. The coolest would be the adjustable rack that holds a couple HK G36 and a 20mm grenade launcher nicely between the front seats of a 2011 Ford Expedition. That thing looks badass for a bunch of aluminum square tubing, electronic handcuffs, and some other hardware.)
lostforawhile
11-10-2011, 03:12 PM
Sure thing. Next time I am near my storage unit halfway across the country I shall see if I can dig up some of the old 5x7 photos and scan them in to put up on the interwebs. Anything I took in the digital realm went when a drive puked a few years ago (along with a lot of other important stuff. Neglected to back up. Always back up. If it doesn't exist in 3 media formats it doesn't exist). I don't have a lot of pics from the past 3 years as I have been building law enforcement vehicles (although I have a shitload of pictures of custom aluminum gun racks, nifty looking covert vehicles and interesting ways of putting in LED lighting into cars so that it all looks factory. The coolest would be the adjustable rack that holds a couple HK G36 and a 20mm grenade launcher nicely between the front seats of a 2011 Ford Expedition. That thing looks badass for a bunch of aluminum square tubing, electronic handcuffs, and some other hardware.)
well I do enjoy seeing other people projects, I have a technical interest in seeing how others solve problems, I should have mine running as soon as I get the HDMI coupler, if it ever gets here, The dash is almost ready to swap in, the radio face needs to be running before I can install it, as it's not removable with the dash in. My copper shielding tape did show up yesterday, which is a good thing.
lostforawhile
11-12-2011, 06:38 PM
Of course these aren't the right screws, or the new dash, but this is the bracket finished, it came out really good.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2364.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2366.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2373.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2374.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2375.jpg
of course this is the reason I had to move the radio in the first place
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2376.jpg
and it LIVES!!! testing it on a power supply.
works perfectly!! now all I need to do is put some high temp hot glue over the face terminals and the copper shielding tape.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2379.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2378.jpg
this puts me really close to getting the dash swapped out, once it's in, i can start reinstalling stuff and get this harness all wired up and in place. then the interior goes back in FINALLY!!
lostforawhile
11-16-2011, 08:26 PM
I made the templates for the side panels, the temperature sucks, 80 some degrees and 100 percent humidity, I've been crawling around under the dash fitting this stuff.
cardboard template
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2381.jpg
lexan templates for the left and right sides, I made them out of lexan because it's impossible to see where the support brackets go, I was thinking I wish I had a clear template, DUH! the right side is fitted, now I just transfer it to aluminum, I'm wanting to do a motorized door, where the disk pops out beside the console, It depends on how much clearance I have. I'll just make a small flip down door, I need to get into the guts of the radio again, I need to tie a small relay into the changer eject motor, when the relay is tripped by the motor, it will trip a 2 minute timer, this opens the door for two minutes, the changer mechanism automatically reloads the cd if not removed ,like other changers. I'll put a hidden button to open the door manually to load a disk
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2380.jpg
these are the brackets that attach to the dash supports.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2382.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2383.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2384.jpg
DBMaster
11-17-2011, 05:56 AM
I just realized that your interior looks like something right out of a "Mad Max" movie. Cool!
lostforawhile
11-18-2011, 09:44 PM
passenger side panel, it will look better when the carpet and the rest of the trim panels are in.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2386.jpg
drivers side, it's not in place of course, it will have plenty of clearance from the gas pedal when done
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2388.jpg
lostforawhile
11-25-2011, 09:12 PM
I got the harnesses done for the radio box, I just have to anchor them down, everything will fit nicely,
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2394.jpg
I got one bracket for the drivers side inner kick panel fitted, it's not as close to the gas pedal as it looks, that's an illusion or perspective, I need to make a spacer for the other bracket.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2397.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2396.jpg
this is the little Ford JBL amp I was talking about, I still need to find the factory plugs, it's small but 140 watts rms by four channels, It fit really well on the brackets for the original computer under the drivers seat, you can see why I need such a small amp, space is really tight, I already have an old school sony for the bazooka, this is just for the four main speakers. I eventually will find these connectors
the rube goldberg contraption is the vaccume powered cup holder, it works great, I have a very limited amount of space in this car and it makes the holder slide out under the edge of the drivers seat. I had to fix some minor issues with it.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2399.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2398.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2325.jpg
you can't see any of the mechanism unless you slide the seat all the way forward
lostforawhile
12-05-2011, 10:13 PM
warning! heavy technical stuff ahead beware of migraine
I was wanting to create a controller for both the XM unit and be able to switch between audio from my droid, and the satellite radio, or completely turn off the Fm modulator to listen to the radio, this is what I came up with. Let me explain how the system works first, with the radio in the dash, I have a power mirror control in the center console that is able to control most radio functions through a PAC audio SWI-X unit, normally they are used for steering wheel controls, but you can use them with any kind of switch, it reads a different resistance from each switch, and mimics functions on your remote control that you have programmed it with. The radio has eight functions that can be controlled with one finger, and I never even have to look at the control.
The Clarion doesn't have an AUX in, so I had to use a wired FM modulator, the issue is I have two outputs and one input to the modulator. I'm in the middle of building an audio switchbox right now, you have the option of the droid through a bluetooth interface, or the XM radio, or neither, when the droid isn't switched through the stereo, it's output is switched through a small 10 watt amplifier, and a vintage Motorola communications speaker. This is so I can still hear the phone ring, or the GPS while listening to XM, when the modulator is selected, the power antenna goes down. When the modulator is turned off, the antenna goes back up. I have a delay relay to prevent the antenna from moving, while switching audio sources.
OK now how to control the switchbox?
I started with this, it's a mirror switch from a new beetle. It acts as a joystick, and a three position selector. as far as the joystick, it has three surface mount resistors and one circuit with no resistor, this part of it will work great with another SWI-X unit, to control my presets on the XM radio.
that was the easy part........................................
http://www.dragtimes.com/images-classifieds-large/VW-GTI-New-Beetle-Mirror-Switch-Control-Knob-heat-New-for-sale_150646568323.jpg
now to the selector switch, I needed two circuits with no resistors, and it has one circuit with two switch positions sharing resistors.
I discovered that it has one circuit trace going all the way around the board, for the illumination LEDS, those aren't being used anyway, so they had to go, and I stole that pin for my switch.
you can see the selector switch at 10 and 6 both connected to the same lead, and the extra wire that will be left over from illumination.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/2011-12-06_000246.png
at the top you can see the two surface mount LEDS and at the very bottom, the surface mount resistor for them.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2413.jpg
the first thing I did was remove those resistors and LEDS from the board
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2417.jpg
I then removed resistors 4 & 5,these are the two resistors tied together for the selector switch
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2418.jpg
I have bridged resistor 4 but not 5, this effectively separates all selector switch functions from each other, and allows one side of the switch to have a direct output.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2419.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2420.jpg
all of the missing resistors and LEDs are now bridged, and connected to the disconnected part of the selector switch. This allows the selector switch to use the illumination lead as a direct output. The illumination circuit is also disconnected from power on the board.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2422.jpg
In keeping with my aircraft theme, the switch selector positions have been relabeled. This fits into a nice bezel I made and goes where the lighter used to go.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2410.jpg
lostforawhile
12-06-2011, 04:45 PM
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2423.jpg
lostforawhile
12-20-2011, 09:33 PM
worlds smallest amp? I needed an amp with a few watts to run the motorola communication speaker when the system was in XM, basically so I could hear the phone. I came up with this beauty.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2468.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2467.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2469.jpg
lostforawhile
12-21-2011, 09:25 PM
I tested the little amp, to my surprise it wasn't dead out of the box and actually sounds decent. It was three bucks from egay including shipping, brand new. It's perfect for operating this Motorola speaker.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2477.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/moultriemanicmechanic/IMG_2479.jpg
The communications speaker is a vintage Motorola, it's the same year as the car, I forgot how good these old ones sound. It's for the voice warning system, and for the phone audio when the satellite radio is on. This lets me hear the phone ring or the gps on the phone. When the audio in to the stereo is switched to satellite, the phone audio from the bluetooth receiver is routed through the little amp and to the Motorola speaker. I'm making a bracket right now, I needed a bracket that let the speaker sit over where the E brake cables are, right in front of the rear seat. With it there I can hear the voice warning system or calls perfectly.
Tdurr
12-22-2011, 10:50 AM
U have so much going on in this thing man! I can't wait to see all of it come together.
gtoman
08-16-2012, 09:40 PM
Your interior is CRAZY! Yet it makes me smile.
:thumbup:
Adam
lostforawhile
08-16-2012, 09:55 PM
I need to get well so I can get out there and put everything back in,seats are in the house dash is in the garage etc, everything is done and here I am sick
Civic Accord Honda
08-17-2012, 11:13 AM
I need to fly out there Tim and help you get the car together
Hazwan
08-17-2012, 07:53 PM
Cah?!? Is that you?!?!
King Peetis
08-18-2012, 04:41 PM
Lost,
I have been on this site for several years and I have learned plenty from you. You are also in aviation as I am; so that makes you special :cheers: BUT you know I dont think I have ever seen your cars. I mean the whole thing!!! What the hell do they look like :omg:???
lostforawhile
08-18-2012, 05:18 PM
Lost,
I have been on this site for several years and I have learned plenty from you. You are also in aviation as I am; so that makes you special :cheers: BUT you know I dont think I have ever seen your cars. I mean the whole thing!!! What the hell do they look like :omg:???
losts86hatch.tripod.com I really need to update that most of the new stufff isn't on there, tryint to get this diabetes stuff together and this financial mess under control and I can start putting stuff together, I have a ton of pieces done for this car but everything is all over the place, was going to finish the wiring but ran out of materials at the moment, I would really like to get this new dash in, I will probable start working on it a lot more towards fall as it's so hot right now it's unbearable outside, the garage is often at 100 plus degrees and close to 90 percent humidity
King Peetis
08-19-2012, 12:45 AM
On my list of things to do for the weekend is always "the car" the bad is I usually choose to go to the JY or tinker on other things because of the damn heat and humidity...
ecogabriel
08-19-2012, 10:21 AM
Maybe we should drive to southern GA one weekend and get that car running once and for all, don't you think?
I would just drive to see how the electronics in the car work; do you keep schematics of all the stuff you are installing?
lostforawhile
08-19-2012, 10:32 AM
Maybe we should drive to southern GA one weekend and get that car running once and for all, don't you think?
I would just drive to see how the electronics in the car work; do you keep schematics of all the stuff you are installing?
it's going to take more then one weekend but when I get it closer to being finished maby some of you guys can come out, at least the major stuff like the exhaust is done, other then a couple of band clamps and having to redesign one hanger, The main issue is the wiring, I know how to finish it just fine but it's just been impossible with the heat and humidity, and there is a TON of wiring in this car, I'm hoping for a good weekend where is rains all weekend and cools things off
ecogabriel
08-19-2012, 10:45 AM
it's going to take more then one weekend but when I get it closer to being finished maby some of you guys can come out, at least the major stuff like the exhaust is done, other then a couple of band clamps and having to redesign one hanger, The main issue is the wiring, I know how to finish it just fine but it's just been impossible with the heat and humidity, and there is a TON of wiring in this car, I'm hoping for a good weekend where is rains all weekend and cools things off
I was kidding on the single weekend thing to get it running; I knew you need to rebuild the carburetors.
Besides, any help is of little use if you cannot use it because of being sick. I hope you get better; the weather will eventually improve in a few weeks. Once those two things are met, you may use some help.
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