I'm sick of the cheezy NAV system I have suction cupped to my window and it looks terrible. I know someone on here has an indash NAV system. Looking for it to be in-the-dash and I'd prefer one that didn't have a pop-up screen that covers the climate *****, but if that's my only option, I'll go that route. What size will fit in there? Who makes it? What do I need to install it? And what mods do I need to do? I like to keep the classic look of my Formula but I'm so damn used to driving my gf's fulled loaded frign Kia and using the NAV on that thing! If you put one in your 3rd Gen could you please post pics/videos? I'll go get the same one this weekend. Thank you.

 

Well, you have a few options here, but none are "perfect" solutions.

There aren't any quality companies making 1.5DIN head units anymore. You can find a few of the "cheapo" brands, but I don't think I've seen any with NAV systems.

This leaves you with three options:
1) Getting a double-din unit and cutting your console to fit it. This can produce decent looking results, but requires some cuts that you may or may not want to do.

2) Single Din Slide flip out and slide-able screens.

3) Single Din with a really small screen.

There are a few of option 2 and 3 around, but you have to search. They don't seem to be very popular, and when they are made, they don't stick around very long. A good example would have been the JVC KD-NXD505 (Discontinued), you can find them at a few online stores still, but they demand a premium price compared to the double din's, and good luck finding a brand new one. JVC

Honestly, if you're dying for Nav in your car, I'd just modify the center console to fit a double din unit, here's a link to a thread where a guy did just that, and it turned out decent: In another thread...

 

We have a Clarion pop out Nav/DVD in our 2000, it works decently

 

Right now im waiting for proper mounts to come in. But ive been using a tablet.

Samsung galaxy tab 10.1, It has 3g internet access, So google maps are available on the fly, and about 10times better than ANY OEM navigation system ive seen.

I also get all the other android functions, music player, web browser, gps tracking, etc...

I know it doesnt look very asthetically pleasing right now, But im working on a plan of perhaps installing a digital dash GTA heater box (electronic controls) and controlling them with an android app for full climate control. Then i can replace the radio and the HVAC with the tablet (perfect size) and try and make it look OEMish..

 

I've thought of going CarPC for a while, but never considered setting it up to run the HVAC. That is an interesting idea I shall have to ponder.

I had a design for my old '79 Sunbird that would have used the CarPC for starting the car, controlling all lights, and entertainment, but being that the HVAC mixer (hot/cold) was cable controlled, I never considered rigging that in. I guess it wouldn't be too hard to set up servo motors to run the controls.

If you remove the HVAC controls, you have a lot of space to work with, I'm liking where this train of thought is going.

 

I emailed Double D mods http://www.doubledmods.com/ and got a really quick email back saying they can make a 3rd gen Firebird & Camaro Bezel no problem for $99.00 and that they had done it before and sent me a photo of which I posted (see below)

Now the question is will it fit? Or will a Double Din NAV "Bottom out" and be sticking out an inch?

 

I would just drill a hole or 2 in the suction cup part and remove the dash pad screws, rescrew the screws through the 2 holes in the suction cup part and you now have a NAV system that is not suction cupped to the windshield but still relatively high enough to see without looking as far down as a stereo nav system.(this is just a theory though, try it and let me know if it works!)

 

Yeah, it is kinda low. I think if a Double Din went in there and it was done right, it would look real nice. I'm just trying to figure out if I could stuff one in there.

 

I stole these photos from Ringo234, I think it looks awesome....

 

I think Mudd746 did the best double din job.

 

84ws689bird did it too, his looks like it sticks out a bit. But looks good, I like it.

 

I was thinking about getting a blank out of mold knight rider roof console and install a 7 inch tablet or touch screen display, I think it would look nice if done right. The consoles are all over eBay.

 

I know this thread is a tad old, but I wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

It seems that a lot of the solutions going around for gps involve mounting the unit in the radio area. This seems very unsafe to me. Gps units are meant to be visible while you are driving so that you don't take your eyes off the road. Our radio area is in the worst possible place for such a device.

The best solution to me would be to get a cigarette lighter mount for your gps. We are lucky enough to have a lighter socket in the perfect place for a gps or mp3 player, so why not take advantage of it?

 

This is true. Its honestly a terrible place for a radio too. I have to reach to change a channel and I'm not a short dude. '80's GM engineering, gotta love it!

 

I personally don't think it is so bad for a radio, but you've got to remember that 80s/90s radios had tactile switches. I don't have to look at the unit to find the volume control, it's a big ****.... I don't have to look down to tune the stations, I have my preset buttons...ect.

You are right though... it's damn far away. I guess they figured we would be fiddling with the heat/ac more than the stereo.

I know touchscreen radios are very trendy, but they aren't very safe for cars... you need actual buttons. That's why I'm trying to retro-fit my spare Delco unit with some added features.

 

HowardC - if I wanted a safe car I'd be driving a Volvo! LOL! You're right, but unlike most people I normally know where I'm going (I learned the importantce of map reading by fire in the middle east!) , I'll use the indash NAV as a reference. Its more for the stereo and sat radio capablities. I really don't drive the Bird on long distance trips. I just want to do my best to bring it into the 21st century.

 

Us pontiac guys have the Sig lighter below the radio, so that won't help. When I'm using nav, I'm listening to it, not looking at it, but I'm gonna give the roof console a try in the future.

 

A roof console NAV unit is a great idea. Might take some fairly indepth fabrication and you couldn't use a wiring harness since it would be to bulky to hide under the roof. All custom wiring. Real cool. I'd like to see that mod.

 

I think there should be plenty of room behind the headliner and the a pillar panels beven a big gap behind them too. Should be possible.

 

Agreed^^^ I'd like to see it done.

 

has anyone considered getting one of those A pillar gauge clusters and modifying it to fit a GPS? or just make one fully custom,

it would put it out of the way in a spot not used much but still make it more visible while driving

 

Well I'm going old school, and putting in the place of the OEM stereo. People have it done that way on here and it looks good. Another item that's being fab'd up is the Double Din Bezel. Waiting on that to come in the mail.

 

That would probably be an ideal location.

 

Personally I rarely need to see my nav system. Usually when I'm using nav in my camaro right now, it's my phone sitting in the passenger seat. I just listen to the directions and might take a quick glance at an upcoming turn if there is more than one option to make sure I turn down the correct road.

The only problem with a nav system being where the radio is now, or a touch screen radio there, is the people that don't know how to drive and are stupid enough to sit there and play with the radio for more than 1 or 2 seconds while driving in the middle of traffic. These are the same people that will text on their phones while driving, and I even have one idiotic friend that will set his phone up and watch movies on netflix while driving *boggle*.

The safety of the cars aren't the issues, it's the safety of the other drivers on the road.

That said, I am working on a carputer to go in my camaro. The screen is going to be in the normal radio location. Although I haven't decided yet I may be doing the idea mentioned above and integrating my HVAC controls into it in order to give me more room to play with. I was going to use a 7" LCD but if I eliminated the HVAC I might go with a 10" LCD. I haven't been able to get a good enough look at the HVAC controls to see if they are fully electronic yet or still have cables to open and close the vents, that is one thing I'll have to figure out, but it's all doable with some hobby arduino skills

Also that fabbed double din trim piece would be nice, but $99 dollars for it is a bit ridiculous for a small piece of plastic like that. I might would pay 40 or 50 for it, no way I'd pay 100. Not when I can pik up a stardard trim piece for 10 dollars and cut it to make it look nearly as good.

 

I'm getting the 2Din Bezel for between $40-$50 shipped, I can't remember the exact price. I just need to take pictures and a video of it for them, which I normally do for you guys anyway if its a good product. I never pay full price, I'm a big fan of finding my next car project by whatever deal I find on craigslist/eBay that week.

 

Where did you find a double din bezel for $50? I've seen the one that's been posted a couple times, but it's $100. Once you get it, post pics and also where you got it.

 

You know I'm with Steven on this... the stock bezel for our cars is only around 10 bucks. You could modify one yourself (with fiberglass, ect) screw up two or three times and still come out to the good.

I'm not trying to knock people that are willing to make nice products for our cars or anything, but once they've made a mold for the vacu-forming process they literally can make them for the cost of the sheet of plastic.

 

Before I knew someone was making these, I thought about making my own.

but by the time you buy the resin, then the fiberglass, texture paint and other materials you're almost at $50, plus your time with sanding and other trial and error work.

If there is someone that has these already made for $50 and they look OEM, I think it's worth it.

 

Capitalism is a wonderful thing!

 

I just reread this, you're buying it from the one you link to earlier. They are just asking to send them pictures of it installed for their profile.

You should mention to them that there is some interest here. Maybe they would do a group buy?

 

I'll tell you guys all about it as soon as it comes in. They said a couple weeks.

 

I promise I'll get the word out to you guys if its worth it. Apparently its their 82-92 prototype. They're real cool, they'd do a group buy in a heart beat. I have the cash set aside for the head unit, so the day it comes in, I'll take pics for you guys pre-install, go buy the Pioneer stereo I'm going to use and get some post-install shots for everyone.

 

I agree with that 100% We'll have to wait to install pics, but from what I've seen they don't look oem, rather they look handmade. They don't look bad by any stretch of the imagination.... it's a nice product, but if it's going to look like I made it myself I'd rather just make it myself.

About the materials thing.... Your telling me you don't have fiberglass and black paint lying around and you own a thirdgen.

 

Can't wait to see it.

 

My Double Din Bezel came in today! I'm going to do a full aftermarket review for you guys. I started another thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/afte...ml#post5289606

 

marked

 

check out this one it;s had good feedback from ebay buyers and comes backup camera and ipod control runs windows CE.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251114822770...84.m1423.l2649

 

I am putting in a Pioneer DD into my 87 TA GTA...I am currently modifying a smoked acrylic panel to make my own bezel that will fit around the stk console opening.