As many of you may have noticed on TOP of the center dash panel, in the flat area above the center vents, there is a nice flat spot there -- just screaming (as someone else put it) for an LCD to be mounted in there..

what I was actually thinking was maybe putting a motorized panel that pops up from there (is pretty much invisible until it pops up) and houses an LCD screen..

anyone thought of this? done this?



(yes I realize I'm no Picasso!)

 

Its not that much area to put a flip out screen, the unit alone is 7" deep. That part on the top is only like 4" deep on the vents.

Dixit

 

Not a flip-up, a flat one that pops up vertically and is stored vertically.. imagine if it was like an elevator raising it up from behind the vents..

oh and you'd basically have to lose the vents.. they'll become more aesthetic than functional, becuase you would need to basically block them off..

 

The classic:

 

thats a lot of custom work...$$$$... would be cool, i;ve also seen a pop up out of the airbag on the passenger side, where the airbag is removed and then a nice 7 inch screen pops up..

 

Probably better to get a flip down LCD from a money perspective. For a 7" active matrix flip down its $399. At Costco: http://www.costco.com/frameset.asp?t...0&log=&NavTop=

Then checkout http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/categories.cfm?catid=18 for deals on whatever else you need. For example, I picked up a Compaq notebook from there 2 months back with DVD/CDRW, 1.3 GHZ and all the trimmings for $525 after rebate. There are laptop deals posted weekly. The laptop has video outs on it which could connect to this LCD. Combine it with a wireless keyboard, and some GPS software, and you have a nice little system for around $1000. I personally use Sony Skymap software on my laptop. Its from 2000, but uses voice commands and is incredibly accurate. But if I had an extra $400 lying around, I would buy this LCD.

 

Oh yeah, that is precisely what I am planning.. can you say laptop touchpad integrated into the cupholder cover??

 

did u get this idea from the infiniti G35 Navi that pops up vertically from the same spot your talking about?

 

Im the one who said it was screaming, tonight I will do a photoshop of my idea, Im thinking something stationary, but very stock looking. I think I might be about to get away with out cutting the dash.

Anthony C

 

If you changed that center panel and your clock over to the I35's you could probably retrofit the I35 pop-up nav LCD set up.

I've got a video of it here:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/metaor...5/videonav.mpg

 

For those of you interested in a cheap laptop I mentioned, here's a Gateway Solo remanufactured for $659. http://www.gateway.com/reman/hm_Note...olo_9550.shtml

Processor: Intel® 1.0GHz Pentium® III Processor
Display: 15.7" SXGA TFT Active Matrix
Memory: 256MB RAM
Drive: 30GB Hard Drive
Optical Drive: DVD Drive

Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional Edition
Application Software: Microsoft® Works Suite 2002

Keyboard: Keyboard
Pointing Device: EZ® Pad

Video Card: Integrated Video
Sound Card: Integrated Sound
Speakers: Integrated Speakers
Floppy: 1.44MB 3.5" Diskette Drive
Modem: 56k Integrated Modem²
Network Card: Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Battery: Included
Auto/Airline Adapter: Included

 

So yeah it looks like the G35/I35 navigation popups are a little too difficult, so I am going to forage on with the original idea..

I was talking with a friend last night about this and he said I'd need some sort of pnuematic pump or cylinder which will make it pop up.. it basically is air pressurized and spring loaded, so it will pop up open but will open slowly because of the air pressure and it will close slowly too, but then i'll need some sort of latch or clip to lock it down when I don't want to use it...



I've looked into these all day and I think it is easier if I just build my own with some PVC or something.. only part I don't know much about is the internal ballast - rubber washer or whatever it is.. don't know how that works, etc..

Any thoughts on this? Anyone done this before or know where to get a pnuematic pump in this size (4", 8" open) or so??

Also for those interested in going the computer route and will want a touchpad mouse, check this out - this one uses PS2, but you can find ones that work with USB as well:

http://www.eraline.com/data/0_7_3_0_...1_7_index.html




What do you all think??? Am I crazy for trying this, given the level of difficulty??

Kevin

 

I've thought about what you want to do...but I've thought about going the route of using a linear actuator instead.

Looks like it would be MUCH easier to use one of those over a pneumatic setup.

 

I'd be curious to know what actuator you are thinking about using.. I have looked at the linear actuators, and I believe they are all way too powerful for this application. An actuator is like solenoid - like they use in pinball machines or in your remote trunk lock mechanism.. this pops VERY quickly and it's pretty powerful.. you don't want to shoot your LCD out of the console, now do you?

 

Though I don't know if it will help, here's my idea. Take a piece of PVC. Heat up the ends, hammer a nut into each end. Make 2 of these. Now, get 2 threaded rods (longer than the PVC), and put it through. Make a mount that will sit at the very top of the PVCs, between them (that's for you're LCD). Take something like 2 cordless screwdrivers to power this system. I have created something like this before. Here's a pic I made that will hopefully make things clearer.

 

if you know someone with a IS300 and navi, they have the exact pop up lcd like you are talking...find someone like that and see if they will let you "examine" their dash...You may get a good idea of how it may actuall work

 

Just head over to a Lexus dealership and check one out.

 

just might have to do that..

 

What you are looking for is readily available to aftermarket audio installers. It will move out or in and lock in the same push, I will try to find it from one of my old suppliers if you are serious for one, they are only like $20.

 

What? Where?! :-)

I want!!!