Wondering How Much For This Install

[850 Stylzz]

Hey yall- Just wondering what you thought I should ball park for a shop to install a sindle DIN radio where the ashtray is now. What I want to do is have it mounted there facing slightly upwards (along the angle offered by the console up there) and use the double DIN for a screen. This is going to involve a little cutting of the console, which is a little more than I trust myself to do.

[paulr]

Dunno if a clean fit would be possible without a lot of bondo / custom glasswork, but it'd defiently fit or at least I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't. Cost ? depends on how good the shop is, how they go about it, etc. I'll leave that part up to the installers, but I'd say anything from $100 to $650, depending on how they go about it.

Let us know how it goes, I've thought about this before, but never seriously persued it. I'd be interested to see how much it costs, how well it turns out, etc.

[Owned]

Well, there's nothing to really get in the way of the HU, plus there's already two good mounting screw locations in the top. Not to mention you wouldn't have to extend any wires. Seems pretty basic, actually.

It can be done a number of ways, but an ABS face with internal supports would be the way to go if you don't have much to spend and want something kinda close to OEM look. Or if you just want to T-Brick it by gluing the tray shut and craming the HU into it, that would work too. It might look like crap, but it would work..

Prices for the various methods and such will be wildly different based on several conditions, as Paul mentioned. If you had a more specific idea of what you wanted I could give you a better idea of what to expect, though it will only be a rough range as different shops have different rates, among other things.

Depending on who's in your area, you might be able to pick up some chop, resin, and all the other misc stuff to do a basic glass piece yourself, then bring it somewhere to have them finish it. This would keep the spending down, while keeping you from doing the more difficult and laborious portions of the project.

[HPTDoh]

Oh damn! I had the exact same idea recently as I realized my ashtray has been thrown away I was going to try to pick up a spare console to fit the glass piece on, but funds are short as always.

Is this something that could work? http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/13/plastic...r-diy-projects/

After reading around on MP3Car.com, it seems using a bumper repair kit is the easiest method for making custom pieces. Any experience with those, owned?

[Owned]

Oh damn! I had the exact same idea recently as I realized my ashtray has been thrown away

I was going to try to pick up a spare console to fit the glass piece on, but funds are short as always.

Is this something that could work? http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/13/plastic...r-diy-projects/

Or maybe this is a better guide to using ABS http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread...050&page=14

I'd be worried about the beads releasing. 160F is not likely to be an every day occurance, however, it is also not outside the realm of possibility. Even at a more reasonable 110-120F, is this stuff going to droop? It certainly wouldn't be good for a piece that's holding weight and secured from above. I can just imagine the HU slowly facing downward.

That glue is great, but not the method to use for this situation. You would have to free-form the piece out of that goop. A lot more work than what is required if you just create a negative of the upper portion of the ash tray. Make a piece that will slide over your neg and hold a sheet of ABS. Place your ABS in that piece, get it ready over your neg, apply heat, gently let the neg push on your ABS to create the blow out. Becareful because even 1/4 ABS will rip if you don't take care while it stretches. Also be aware of how much heat you're using, you can over cook it.

Cool it, release it, trim and sand it, and then cut out your HU opening and mount holes. Done deal. Very easy if you've done ABS blow outs before. The hardest part is building your neg.

[HPTDoh]

I'd be worried about the beads releasing. 160F is not likely to be an every day occurance, however, it is also not outside the realm of possibility. Even at a more reasonable 110-120F, is this stuff going to droop? It certainly wouldn't be good for a piece that's holding weight and secured from above. I can just imagine the HU slowly facing downward.

That glue is great, but not the method to use for this situation. You would have to free-form the piece out of that goop. A lot more work than what is required if you just create a negative of the upper portion of the ash tray. Make a piece that will slide over your neg and hold a sheet of ABS. Place your ABS in that piece, get it ready over your neg, apply heat, gently let the neg push on your ABS to create the blow out. Becareful because even 1/4 ABS will rip if you don't take care while it stretches. Also be aware of how much heat you're using, you can over cook it.

Cool it, release it, trim and sand it, and then cut out your HU opening and mount holes. Done deal. Very easy if you've done ABS blow outs before. The hardest part is building your neg.

Sounds pretty straightforward. What do you make the neg out of? Some heavy duty tagboard? And use a heatgun to shape the ABS?

[Owned]

You can use MDF. Cheap and easy to shape. After 5-10 runs the wood will warp, but if it takes you longer than that to get one right, just keep practicing on your warped jig before you go making a fresh one. There's only a slim chance your first one will come out. Should take you maybe 3-4 shots before you understand how to work with it correctly.

For jigs that require more runs, I use mostly aluminum.

[AnthonyR]

I actually just grafted an Elcipse 1/2 din EQ in the ashtray position (straight, not angled though) cause I wanted a better crossover and an actual volume knob for the carputer (I had a recent accident with the volume on the computer getting messed up (ie going up to the maximum) and i damaged my 2 idq's)

Anyways, to actually get it to fit and work well there, it was really easy, but you will have to cut it unless you want a crazy angle. but there is plenty of depth and open space back there. and it should be pretty easy, I had mine cut and mounted securely in under an hour, however i didn't have time to clean up the install.

[HPTDoh]

Where can you get sheets of ABS locally? I've seen it different places online, but I'd rather just pick it up

[Owned]

Where can you get sheets of ABS locally? I've seen it different places online, but I'd rather just pick it up

You might try a craft-type store. I use a local plastic supply company.

[HPTDoh]

I was just at the two closest ones.. they didnt seem to know what I was talking about.

[Owned]

I was just at the two closest ones.. they didnt seem to know what I was talking about.

Check if there are any supply places in your area.

Another option would be a machine shop. They would be able to place an order with one of their material distributors. The problem with this, though, is that the min order may be excessive for what you require. It might be good to ask if they know of a local supply house, first, so you don't have to pay their cut.

[CAPT_BLOTTO]

can I ask why?

[HPTDoh]

can I ask why?

I've got a 7" screen taking up all of my double din space where the radio used to be. I took out the ashtray while I figured out a better place to mount the reciever for my wireless controller (for my Xbox HU). Apparently the garage wasn't a safe place to store the ashtray, cause the damn rents threw it away. So for now, I'll settle for a cover over the gaping hole where ash tray used to mount, and when I get money for it, put a dvd player in. Also, the EQ is a good idea.. XBMC is still without this feature.

Is this a good enough reason? ^_^

[dnapunk]

A whole HU in there WoW...something I would have never thought of. I put a back-up cam in my car and put the 2.5 inch LCD in the ashtray; that was odd enough for some. I do like the idea though. I'd be interested in seeing the finished project.