kind of a weird question

[RedDaemon]

does anyone know the dimensions of the center console in our cars? im interested in installing a carputer

 

[Kilgore Trout]

You are going to have to be more specific. Also, do you happen to own a ruler?

 

[DocG]

Yeah, not sure what the heck you're talking about. Are you trying to build K.I.T.T.? WTF is a carputer? I'm lost. Is this a joke?

 

[the98stang]

hahaha....maybe he's talking about a computer that will fit in the center console area?

 

[DocG]

That's what I was thinking too....but I've never seen a laptop that small to fit in there....heck I don't think you could fit a multi-changer. Maybe a Palm Pilot. Even if the laptop fit, you would have to have it pop out, and swivel forward so you could actually see it without feeling like you're looking into the backseat.

Sorry, having a little fun at your expense, but no disrespect intended. If it makes you feel anybetter...I once built a homemade RC snowmobile out of an erector set and a few RC car components, made the ski's out of rulers...and built a RC boat out of the GI Joe hydrofoil....shoulda been an engineer!

 

[goshia]

It would be kind of nice for a laptop holder in that area to keep your laptop secure when you are using your Predator software at the track...

test and tune

 

[BennyBlown2v]

You are going to have to be more specific. Also, do you happen to own a ruler?

:Word: Take the trim peices out and meassure! Perhaps a Micro ATX board would fit, but cooling and power would be issues...you could always put it below the stereo behind the shifter, there is a decently sized area there where the stereo amp is.

 

[topless98gt]

I was going to install a PC in my old car. Do not put it near the engine, it will overheat way too often. Also, you need to think about how you will cool it on the hot days. From what I've thought about, putting it in the trunk would be the safest and coolest place for it to be. Just route the wires under the carpet and have a LCD touch screen and/or a wireless mouse and keyboard. Also, consider the auxilary line and what type of connector it uses. If an RCA, no problem running 10ft of wire. If it uses optical SPDIF (unheard of on car audio decks), then you're screwed after 6ft.

Oh, and back to the overheating issue: the center console in my car gets VERY hot to the touch after driving a while. Please be careful

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I think that if the plan is to mount a laptop in the car just do it the way the police do

 

[RedDaemon]

micro towers are the way to go, installing a monitor where our radio and cd players are, the three options for the place to put a computer would be either in the back in the trunk, the console area, which to my knowledge hasnt been done yet, or in the glove compartment, the glove compartment may seem small however theres a clip that you can sort of press in that makes the compartment open up even further

the problem with the trunk is is that i have subs in the back of my car, those magnets would screw up the computer big time so thats out

if you must know what it would be for, it would be for media playback, audio and video. i have found a few articles online on ECU readout but that would be a little involved. there are many things u can do with a carputer, its just that its a pain to install them lol

 

[Mossberg]

http://mp3car.com/

 

[RedDaemon]

yup, thats a great site to find out more information

 

[RedDaemon]

you know how i was saying ecu?

http://www.carobd.com/featobd.html

 

[topless98gt]

Whoa. That's awesome. I am totally investing in that someday!

 

[Mach1Run]

The is a guy on mach1registry who built a custom puter into the mach460 slot. pretty sweet.

 

[RedDaemon]

if i get around to doing this, ill definitely do write ups and whatnot, it all depends on if i get my job back this summer