So the head unit I wanted to put in the vert doesn't seem to work anymore. I need to inspect my wiring and make sure it's ok. But before I invest in a head unit or anything else, I figured I'd get some out of the box ideas and see if anyone has any suggestions that'd be cool in the vert.

So... not really interested in sub boxes or anything that takes up a huge amount of room. I'm hoping to do something that has a really clean look (cleaner than the default adapter and standard size aftermarket head unit). It would be nice to have MP3/ipod options if possible. Not opposed to a little fabrication/modification on the dash/center council.

I've done a decent amount of audio work on cars before, but am by no means an expert. Lets see some ideas!

 

What about no radio or "head unit" at all? Let's face it, no one listens to radio anyway - it's all MP3's or CD's.

Instead, a permanently mounted small PC Tablet like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/M009-Google-Andr...item2a0fed4290

Touch screen for easy control. Only has 2GB capacity internal but expands with SD cards to 16GB (cheap storage), plus has USB port for additional flash drives, or seperate USB hard drives.

Has 1 stereo output jack for the sound.

Then, a 4 channel amp hidden away. Run the output from tablet to the 4 channel amp, to drive the sound to the speakers and up the wattage.

Since it's a computer, there's all kinds of sound software available to "equalize" with. Unlimited number of MP3's will fit onto any 16GB SD card (I have a 16GB Sansa View MP3 Player and I have 2500 songs on it, still haven't used 1/2 the space yet). You can seperate songs by any means you like, in file folders. You can create unlimited number of playlists (since it's a computer).

The 7" tablet ought to easily mount between the uper dash vents, and the A/C controls (if you put the A/C controls where the existing head unit is at).

If you make a removeable mount, take it with you - a set of headphones and your jamming at the park, in the mall, in the woods, whatever. Pay for the cellular service, and you have internet access - email, facebook, whatever.

Movie viewer, game player, audio playback, internet, email, all touchpad in the car as well as out of the car. No need for GPS - Mapquest is right there. Boggles the mind what you could do! Car-puters have been done in the past, but at $110, this sucker is cheap! And portable out of the car!

 

Thats a good idea! What would be the best way to hook it up and mount it but still make it portable?

 

This is actually just the sort of idea I'm looking for. So to sum up the idea, get power to this tablet PC, hook the audio into the amp, then connect the existing speakers to the amp. That about sum it up?

Gonna take me a bit to work up the money for this sort of thing... but seems like it could be pretty awesome. Not to mention I could also shave the antenna if done that way. Have to figure out how to mount it and if/what mods would need to take place on the dash. Any further suggestions are appreciated! Love this idea so far though.

 

have you seen the new subs by alpine? slim type r's only need 1/4 of a cubic foot for a 12.... not alot of room lol Im an audio installer and thats pretty much my first thought, with that pc you can mount in in the center console too, had that idea myself

as for the head unit thing, alpines IDAX305s is pretty awesome, no more cd drive, just usb sticks and ipod

 

That's the idea.

But you'll have to work out the particulars. Like power - I'm assuming these gadgets have battery power like a laptop, but also come with a A/C adapter/charger. But I also assume that, if you had the specs, you could plug a power supply from 12v into the tablet - most PC's use 12v and 5v DC anyway, and the A/C adapters convert the 120VAC to 12VDC.

You'd need (I assume) a sub-miniature headphone jack wire to a split RCA jack (to connect speaker out to the sub) - an easy find.

And of course fitment/placement/custom mounting.

But if it all can be made to work (determination completes any task), it would be cool - especially if you can afford the monthly cell service!

 

OK, I did some looking around. Looks like this could be easily done. I've found 12vDC to 9vDC adapters (those little tablets use 9vDC), I've found headphone to RCA adapters (to connect to an amp), and another option is these small 4 channel MP3 amps that have a headphone jack - so just need a male/male 3.5mm cable to use them.

Wish I had some extra cash lying around to try it! Looks like if you shop ebay, you could easily do this for under $100!

 

good tablet pc > 4 channel amp > speakers

over simplified, but that's about as simple as you can get while also having a lot of features

 

Or you could just use a stereo deck with a headphone jack and you would still have a radio and cd player plus you wouldn't have to do so much wiring and you can still plug a sub amp into it.

 

Camarolover- Amount of wiring is sort of a non-issue here. The factory harness is trashed and I'm not even sure the remaining wires are getting proper power. I've got a decent amount of wiring to figure out no matter what. My thinking is if I'm going to spend the time to work with all of this, why not try something totally different?

Camaronewbie- care to link me to the parts you described? I'd definitly like to see what your talking about. And another question- if I'm going through the single port audio jack on that tablet PC (essentially a headphone jack) and running it through adapters, will that have a negative effect on the final sound quality?

Also, my intention is probably going to be to leave it mounted in the car, rather than having it portable. With that in mind, any experience on if one of these tablets will be able to hold up to the temperature extremes that cars commonly face?

 

So just got another idea based off of this. I wonder if I could do exactly what has been discussed, but instead of using a tablet PC, getting an IPOD touch, and creating a "dock" for it in the dashboard. Exact same concept, just a different "head" unit. Or would an IPOD touch be too small?

 

This is what I've pretty much done myself except I use my smartphone. Has everything the tablet has but on a smaller scale. I just have a auxiliary 3.5 mm wire that plugs into my phone and stays in my lap. Very easy to do.

 

I have a 7in touch screen head unit....it has a set of RCA input .....I have a wire that has a male head phone jack at one end and a set of male RCA at the other ....I wanted to hear Pandora from my smart phone ( its a hero ) And I have to say the sound sucks monkey nuts ...you can hardly hear it when I turn the volume all the way up on my phone and turn the volume up on the radio ....Idk if its in the head unit or what all I do know is I don't like it...and its a jennsen flip out 7in touch screen

 

Do you have the jenson flip out directed immediatly to speakers, or have you connected an amp to it as well?

 

I don't have any amps hooked up, just speakers.....I have in the iroc now, pioneer front and back....After I get my notchback fixed, ill put 2 crunch amps in. One crunch is 1500w two channel in, one channel out....the other is 1000w 4 channel in 4 channel out .....speakers will be changed as well .....I have 6 volfenhag 2 12's. 2 4x6's and 2 6x9's

 

OK - might take more than $100 - I was looking at a tablet PC that was really low on the bidding (ebay), but the price shot up quick.

Here's the parts I was looking at:

Unit:
http://cgi.ebay.com/7-Epad-Android-2...item4cf69ce195

That has headphone out, plus 2 USB ports and a 2GB SD card. Note the op sys uses over 1GB of the 2GB - so a higher capacity card would be desired.

Could buy a 16GB SD card, and have a ton of space for op sys, MP3's, and everything else:
http://cgi.ebay.com/16GB-Secure-Digi...item4158e1131b

Audio Cable - headphone out to RCA in:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-3...fAudioQ5fVideo

Amp - any 4 channel amp:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SONY-...item4aaa5d47a5

Power for the tablet PC - it takes 9vDC, so need something like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Car-C...item4158144dae

Now - I was also looking at these el cheapo mini-amps - I've never used one before, so I don't know - but with this, you wouldn't need the headphone-to-RCA cable - just a male headphone to male headphone cable. I'm also assuming that with one of these, you could just plug in your existing MP3 player using the headphone jack, and not need a tablet PC at all. But my first thought was not just listening to tunes, but having on-the-road internet access (by paying for the cell service), thus you wouldn't need a GPS, or CD's, or camera, or anything else with you ever - because the tablet PC would do it all!

But here's the little amp:
http://cgi.ebay.com/4x100W-Audio-Ste...item563d899fa9

These little amps have a headphone MP3 player jack right in the front. Of course I don't like the "look" of the unit, and would set controls and tuck it away. It also appears to need a power cable as well - but just a standard 12v plug easy to find.

Then of course wiring to your speakers.

Again - I haven't tried any of this at all - might all be junk. I am a tighta$$, and so I was looking at very low bidding used stuff, refurbs, and overseas stuff because it's cheap. In my mind, I'd want to get rid of as many electronics as I could, and replace with one simple computerized system that does everything imaginable, but not spend more than the $200 that a decent head unit costs. That was my thoughts anyway.

 

Absolutely love the ideas. I got a little worried about what was said before about the system not getting loud enough, but I assume an amp would help fix that.

The tablet PC idea is awesome, but I'm not gonna be able to afford internet access, so it's not a neccisary item. So I think I could either use a tablet or an MP3 player, whatever fits the bill.

Anyone have any idea though if the volume control will allow it to get loud enough in the car, as long as I do use an amp?

 

A friend of mine looked at that tablet pc......said there junk...that you can't really fix them if something goes wrong with them.....there was a big going out of business sale hear....we have about 2 a year....where they sell computers clothes stereos and jewelry ......they rent out a hall and promote it has a liquidation sale....well they had them tablet pc for $75....my friend said save your money and buy something good

 

Yeah, I could see them as being junk given the low price. But I'm also amazed at what you can get for next to nothing from China/Hong Kong/etc. - sure, might not have the best quality, but if it does what you need. In this case, a simple method of easily filing through 1000's of MP3's in a format large enough to easily control and see while driving down the road.

It's kinda like Harbor Freight tools - they are crapola for most heavy use mechanics - You certainly couldn't work on cars for a living with them (although I seen alot of guys who do). But let's face it, most of us backyard Joe's don't need a $60 Snap-On wrench - we need anything cheap that fits that 13mm bolt so we can get done and have cash left over for more boxes from Summit!

I just received in the mail this week - a USB/card reader that transmits an FM signal. I saw them at Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc. for anywhere from $25 - $100. You can use SD cards up to 16GB, or USB flash drives (ie memory sticks) up to 8GB - the little gadget reads the MP3's off the card/drive, and transmits an FM signal for your radio to pick up. So, I headed to Ebay - and found a US shipper that had one for $10 shipped - figured I could waste $10 just to see.

That little sucker is awesome for $10! At first I was getting static, not alot, but enough to be distracting - I spent about 20 minutes going through many FM channels (it transmits on any FM freq), and found one that has no static at all. One of the kids had a 2GB mem stick left over from a school project that I stole, erased, and loaded with my MP3's - I got over 400 songs crammed on it. It's pocket sized, I can take it into any car! In my car with the amp/sub I have, it plays really nice - won't win any stereo competition, but it as good as any CD I ever burned. I listen to alot of old tunes (70's, 80's rock), and none of that was ever 'mixed' for today's sound technology anyway.

My only other issue was random play - it has no provision for random. All my MP3's are named as artist - title and the reader reads them alphabetically. So I went back to the PC, downloaded a utility program that will take an entire batch of files, and change the file names anyway I can imagine. I set it to add a random 3 digit number in front of each file name. So now, I have a random order. Granted, it's the same random order from start to finish - but the reader/transmitter has a remote, so I can just punch in for example "200" - and it will start at the number closest to 200 and play from there forward.

The ONLY thing I don't like is the fact that it plugs into the cig lighter. For $10 I have nothing to lose - I think I'm going to get the saw, hack off the cig lighter plug, and straight-wire it in, maybe mounting it on the dash. But it sure was cheaper and easier than buying another H/U with USB or MP3 port (that I've been drooling over for 2 years now). And cheap is great in my book - unemployment means a very limited budget right now!

 

There is one problem with that you are trying to use audio signal from stereo jack and make it push a four channel amp....... you will have signal noise interference and probably hurt your amp in the process. you have to match your voltage from what ever you are using for a head unit with your amp. Otherwise you will over work your amp and burn it up. If you want to do something similar to what everyone is talking about all you need is a head unit that supports usb and a portable external hard drive (size of your choice.) A good set of component speakers help keep things nice and neat still provide plenty or power. If you want subs or the sound of them, double up on the component system and amp the hell out of the rear component set just be sure not to install the tweeters or mid range they are the first to blow with too much power.

 

I'm not sure I understand this. The only thing an amp does is take what it's given, and amplify it. Now, I could understand if I fed the amp too much on the front end, but there's nothing too much coming out of a stereo jack.

Maybe you are stating that if the amp gets too little on the front end that it has to work too hard to amplify it? Isn't that why most all amps have solid state protection circuits built in, so they don't kill themselves trying to amplify what's not there?

And there certainly wouldn't be any issues with the small MP3 amp I linked to above, since it's specifically made to take a small signal from a MP3 player or USB/SD card and amplify it.

 

There are protection devices in all amps yes, but you are going to constantly trip it. You are talking about household amplifying devices and small personal mp3 players. You have stepped way too far outside the box. You have to have everything work together at the same strength or you burn something up. Head units are designed to put out a pre amp voltage that has to be met by the amp or you over work your amp and fry things. Not to mention the fact of how to boost the .5 volts you will get from any portable mp3 device and amp it to a minimum of 2 volts before your amp will even recognize there is a signal.

 

OK - I see. Too little means the amp overpowers itself trying to amplify the "little" bit it's getting from MP3 player. Gotcha! I'm certainly no electronics wiz, thus I asked. But the plan should still be good using an amp specifially designed for the low input, like my last posted link above, right?

 

Absolutely, your probably looking at a bigger price tag though. You can find a Kenwood deck with plenty of power to do what you want and it still had radio for about $150 new, you can find 4 ch apms all day for 100 new, you can get cables and wires from walmart for 40, and then all you need is the component sets which will run anywhere from 80 - 300 depending on how good you want it to sound. I would not suggest the walmart amp kit for anything other than a high ch amp though. So for around $500 you can install a very nice sounding stereo that will play digital devices such as thumb drives and mp3 players with plenty of power left to install subs if you choose to.

 

First, just as a note to keep things in perspective to those who have commented this above: This thread is not about getting a nice head unit, adding an amp and subs, and connecting it all together. I may end up doing all of that yes. But I have absolutely no questions on how to connect a typical head unit/amp/sub type of setup. Done it dozens of times before, not at all curious about it.

The purpose of this thread, is since I have to really start from scratch, I want some ideas on maybe something that's not typically found in these cars. Something different from the head unit? New speaker locations, types? Totally different system?

Now, onto what buel and camaronewbie were discussing:

Interesting ideas/debate. Completely understand the amp concern, although I never really thought of it. I would think if an amp were designed specificly for an MP3 player or similar device, it'd fair ok though? And would that amp still push through decent quality? Or are we going to sacrifice sound quality for volume? Understand I'm not the guy whose radio you hear 3 miles away (anymore). I just want clear sound with the vert. top down.

 

Also, would a device like this: http://www.myradiostore.com/noise-fi...iamwisufi.htmlhelp with this amplifier problem? Seems like this device is made for a similar situation to plug into typical amp...

 

You will lose quality for quantity that way, that sad truth is to get a good sounding car stereo you have to use a CAR STEREO.... I know that you are trying to do something totally different but there isn't anything else designed to work well for the application you want it used for. Now you can hide all that stuff and as I stated before about the portable hard drive you have 500 gigs of space for songs on on you can get for 80 bucks that powers it's self from the USB port. Take that and mount it under the dash where you are close to a head unit that accepts USB and you can have all the music you can download at your finger tips. NO CDS NO SD cards No more changing any device while you are trying to drive......

 

In theory yes it should work. How do you plan to power a personal mp3 player for long trips? Those signal processors are fairly highly priced also. It wouldn't make much sense to use something you don't have to just to avoid having a head unit visible in your car, when you can remote mount the head unit anywhere you want to. The only thing you would have to find then is a radio frequencied remote so you can control your head unit from anywhere in the car without pointing right at it. Or steering wheel buttons would work also.

 

Ok, let's change the direction of this a bit...

Let's say the goal is this: I want to be able to "dock" an iPOD or MP3 player or even a tablet PC into the car without the wires for both power and input hanging visibly.

I also want to avoid the rather ugly looking head unit ADAPTERS. I'm not against a hidden head unit, or a nice looking head unit, I just don't like those typical head unit adapters that usually cause the unit to poke out of the dash and scream "this wasn't meant to go here."

With that said, let's generate some ideas off that...

 

One answer really simple Alpine makes a deck that accepts your Ipod and has a tray that extends out to place the Ipod in then will retract inside the head unit so it isn't visible. Price will be around 300 for just the head unit though.

 

Took a minute to search for it. Neat product, but way outside the price range for a head alone. The honest truth here is that I paid $900 bucks for the Camaro, and its rehab is being funded by selling 3rd gen parts. Which btw, is not the best gig. Don't have the money to drop that much on just the stereo head before even getting any further.

 

Then best answer is still the Kenwood with front usb input and use thumb drives for cds. Cheapest most effective way to get a great sound without cds and all that stuff. I like the design of the head unit looks great in my car. They are very versatile also will play and control your Ipod but you will see the connection cable. I will send you an image of my head unit if you like.....

 

Eh, not too worried about it. Like I said, head units are easy. USB connections are commonplace. The whole idea here was to look outside the box as see about trying something different. But I guess that's no longer the interest here...

 

I'm dying to buy one of those $35 mini MP3 4 channel amps just to see what it's all about and how well/aweful it works. I've been really cautious with my cashflow ever since unemployment, but maybe I'll bite the bullet and call it an early birthday present to myself. I mean, $35 ain't gonna make or break the rent - I should learn to loosen up some!

 

If you do, you'll have to let me know how it works. I'm in the process of moving, so I've got plenty of time to evaluate ideas.

 

I have a Lanzar EQ (I know, not the best brand) that has a dedicate MP3 input with gain controls for it, a separate Volume dial, as well as a fader ****. Then, there's a sub gain, as well as a low pass frequency crossover dial.

There are other companies (better quality) that make a similar setup. Something like that may be what you're looking for. Just mount it somewhere discrete.

 

There is NO issue whatsoever, in splitting two channels into 4. Many 4 and 5 channel amplifiers have an input selection switch that will select between 2 an 4 channel input, most 5 channel amps will also allow 6 channel input. Set in 2 channel input mode it automatically takes the pair of channels an splits the signal to all 4 channels.
What if the amp doesn't have this input selection switch? Easy, get a pair of RCA Y-adapters. This splits the signal, just like the switch inside an amplifier does.
There will be no added noise, no danger to the amplifier, nor the source device.
99.9% of car audio amplifiers ever made and all that I have seen made from about 1994 to now have sensitivity input adjustment. The range is usually from 1/4 volt to 2 volts, some have switches that will multiply this input for higher voltage sources. I have yet to have a problem in matching source unit to the amplifier for adequate output.
There are devices called "Line drivers" that would also boost the low level signal if it's absolutely needed, though their purpose is more to reject radiated noise than to actually make a signal "louder."

That being said, I've done the "No head unit" stereo install, an have hated every minute of it. Currently my Datsun has gauges where the stereo should be, so I use an Ipod for the source. It's annoying, to need to use such a device all the time for audio. In my case, I don't have it permanently mounted, and no charger, since I plan to put a proper stereo in the car, so if the battery runs low I have no tunes. I'm stuck with only what I have on my Ipod, so if someone comes for a ride an they want to listen to something else, they either need to bring an Ipod or MP3 or listen to my music. No radio. No radio, uhg, there's no radio. I find that I listen to the radio a LOT, when I have it. There are traffic updates, listen to the latest songs, or morning/drive home shows, etc. Radio is definitely nice to have.

The last thing is about laws. Some places, like where I live it's actually illegal to use a device, like a cell phone, MP3, or tablet while driving. The way around that is to use a car stereo that has Ipod/MP3 player controls built in. This is yet another reason I'm going back to a proper stereo in my car. It's not worth the potential fine.

I've also installed laptops and other "no head unit" type sources and devices for other people, and they pretty much all end up going back to a conventional source unit, the only exception has been full out show cars, where the "oooh aaaahh factor" is the most important part.

FWIW, I've been working in car audio for almost 2 decades, I've done and seen a lot over the years.

 

Thanks for the input Six Shooter. Nice to hear the idea is something that can and has been done. I didn't really think it was as far outside the box as was being portrayed.

A lot of the reason I like the idea of an iPod or MP3 player in the vert is that I honestly don't drive it much, and when I do, I don't have the radio on all that often. My vert isn't a daily driver, or anything close to it. It's more of a weekend cruiser when it's together. I've even debated an all out radio delete. So I figured it'd be kinda cool to delete it for the most part, but drop an MP3 player in when I do happen to want music, especially since it's already got the music I want anyways.

The legal bit is good advice. I know there are laws here about not having a TV screen facing the driver, but I'm not sure to what extent that goes.

My other thought is about power as you'd stated. I'd want it to be able to "dock" not just have power cords sticking out. Would it be too hard to fabricate and wire a setup where you plug the device into the car and it gets power? My thought was actually to delete the ash tray, and have that flip open as an iPod dock.

 

The dock can and has been done. It seems in practice though that they can break easily, since it's a very small connection and to have it just slide into a dock, but still be able to manipulate the menus doesn't allow for something real solid. There are ways to make it work though.

Just as an FYI, my Datsun is pretty far from a daily driver right now, though, due to gas prices and the efficiency of the Datsun it may become my daily driver. I think this needing to tote an MP3 player to the toy makes it even more annoying, since you have to remember every time, or get back out of the car and go find the MP3 player when you sit in the car and realize you don't have it with you. I did drive around for a bit today, and didn't have my Ipod with me, I probably would have been out longer, had I brought the tunes along. I can't to find the time to get the stereo back into it. At least having a conventional radio would allow you to have some tunes even without the MP3 player.

Give the radioless thing a try, but if you're anything like me, you'll be regretting it very quickly.

If you're worried about aesthetics, there are ways to modify kits to look better, or the dash bezels to look more integrated. In extreme cases modifying the face of the radio can be done as well.

 

Hmm, care to share/link me to modifying those kits to look better?

You do make a good point about remembering to take things with me. Although unlike your Datsun, my Camaro sucks gas down. Too much more and the thing might be benched for a while, especially when the DD gets 35mpg and the Camaro gets about 8, lol.

 

On the legal thing ... F'em! Until the day that they take all cell phones out of the hands of all drivers, I'll watch any freakin' monitor I desire while I drive! It's gotten to the point here in NC, where daily (yes, at least 5 times a day, every stinking day), I see people blatently running redlights because they are too busy yacking or texting to drive. This past week alone, I would have been potentially killed at least twice if I hadn't looked both ways before crossing MY green light. I don't have a cell phone, never will.

I even was sitting at a redlight, it turned green, and before I started I looked, a car was coming full blast, running 50+ in a 35 zone, and texting - they never slowed at all - nbever even looked up. The car behind me beeped the horn because I didn't move, so I got out of the car, went behind, and explained to that driver why I hadn't moved. They did notice the car running the light across us, and the lady thanked me for paying attention. Thank me hell, I was trying to save my own a$$! She said she never seen anything like it before, and I told her she must not drive much then, cause I see it everyday, all day. She agreed that she needs to start paying as much attentyion as I do.

I've just gotten to the point where I totally despise cell phones, and their users. Folks standing around in the grocery store telling someone that's NOT listening about their mother's daughter's brother's girlfriend's baby-daddy - who the F cares? Get out of my way!

I guess I got into the habit of always looking because I'm motorcyclist. Us 2-wheelers have to ALWAYS assume that anything with more than 2 wheels is trying intentionally to kill us (which really anymore they are). So folks - have respect and patience for motorcyclists - they don't always pull out from a stop like folks in crash-proof cages (ie cars) do.

{ok, I'll crawl down off my soapbox now }

 

So you'd rather be part of the problem than part of the solution?

I don't get what you're trying to say, because at first you were all about watching monitors, and then go onto complain about people who do, while they drive.

Whether you agree with a law or not, it's still a law in some places that personal electronic devices are not to be used or monitors mounted in sight of the driver, while playing a video.



Sorry I don't have any links to show to modify kits to look better. In my experience is a case by case basis, and comes down to what the customer wants to see. You can use many materials to modify or make your own mounting kit and/or bezel, like MDF, fibreglass, plastics, metals, etc. Let your imagination go and you can come up with something.

I had an '84 Cavalier Hatchback a long time ago, that I actually moved the heater controls to where the radio was originally, and then using a second OEM bezel cut parts out it to glue to the original bezel to close in the heater controls. A little bit of putty and looked pretty much like factory, since it had the factory edge, donated by the second bezel.

I've used plastics and putty often to create my own trim panels or mounting kits.

 

No, not trying to be part of the problem. I'm just saying that if they are going to let idiots (in my state) drive around and text, then they can't say anything about me having a touchscreen MP3 controller. I'm pretty sure that's a court battle I could easily win.

And here's another thing - even in states where it's illegal - the police themselves still have full keyboards they type on while they drive! Isn't that kind of a "do as I say not as I do" scenerio? There's no cop no where no how no time that can drive 'better' than myself - I'm 30+ driving years with no accidents!

So rain cancelled my car show for today - that's 2 weekends in a row - means my budget has that extra $35 for one of those little amps - think I'm gonna get one just to see - curiosity is killing me! When it comes in, I'll let ya know what I get and how it works.

 

I have to admit I just skimmed through your thread but I didn't see anyone mention a carputer. There are people who have done them right here on TGO and the possibilities are endless radio, climate control, engine mangement, GPS you name it and it has been done.
I think if you're looking outside the box this is the way to go and there are many different systems out there. There is also a website that I can't remember right off but if you want more info let me know.

 

MP3car.com they have a lot of carputer stuff ...and there is a thread " carputer dash " that goes into some detail about this.....ACCLR8N has done a lot of work with his carputer.....