Argh. I'm facing a dilema. I got my 7" tv and dvd player in, and i've got them temporarily hooked up in my 86 Camaro. My original intention was to hide the dvd player somewhere, and have the tv swing down from a flush-mount underneath the center heater vents. But, when I place the tv there to watch, the image is washed out. It seems that the tv likes to be viewed from horizontal or below. For now, I set it right on the ledge above the heater controls, and it looks FANTASTIC!! The tv sits at the same angle as the radio trim ring, and the color is great. So, I've been thinking about building a custom stock-looking center console that extends up higher and contains the monitor. It'll look like stock, at least if GM ever put tvs in thirdgens. It'll still be pretty obvious it's not stock. But, this frees up the center vents for mounting the dvd player. Now I don't have to go to the back of the car every time I want to change the disk.

What do you guys think?

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"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

I wish I was sitting in your car right now to see it. My imagination isn't working tonight. Sounds like a great idea and also sounds like to get the tv to work how you want it to you have to do anyway. Building a new trim piece probably wouldn't be that bad. I wonder if there would be a better place to mount the DVD player. I wish I knew what it looked like. I keep eyeing the glove box looking thing by the power window switches. Something needs to go there. I also don't know how that tv works. I'm assuming it's motorized out of a din sized unit. I like the idea of putting it above the radio. Below might just cover the radio up when the tv is activated. I say go for it and start building a fiberglass trim panel. Good luck.

 

You're a mile off chief.

Nothing is motorized. The dvd player looks just like this only black:


And here's the tv:


When I get the car near a digital camera, I'll take some pics. My plan is to put the tv above the heater controls in a mount that would match the angle and texture of the rest of the radio bezel area. The dvd player would replace the center heater vents.

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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Instead of gutting the center vents, why don't you utilize the space directly under the vents? You can buy an underdash kit at an auto parts store, mount the DVD player in it, then just drill through the dasboard and run the wires up to the screen set up with the custom cover you will build. you can still use your center vents.

I've been dreaming about a similar setup, but when I decide to spend the money I will probably look for a screen that retracts into the head unit itself. But your idea definitely sounds interesting!

I wouldn't worry about stealth as much as theft deterring....a good alarm system is definitely a must with this investment

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92 Camaro RS, LO3, 5-spd, T-tops

Performance:
K&N Open Air Filter, Edelbrock performer TBI intake, Fastchip Prom, Timing +4 degrees, Centerforce clutch, Xact 8mm wires, SLP 1 3/4" Headers (coated), Flowmaster Catback Exhaust, Z28 Grille w/aftmkt fog lamps
Electronics:
Alpine 8030 Alarm System, Valentine One Radar Detector (How did I ever drive without one?), Pioneer DEH 7450 Head Unit w/6-pack CD changer, Pioneer DEQ 7600 Sound Processor, 2 Kenwood KAC-846 Amps powering 2 12" Pro Red subs, 2 Pioneer 6x9 and 2 MTX 4x6 speakers.
NEXT UP: TBI mods, 3.42 gears w/Torsen posi

 

Hanging the dvd player under the vents is way too cheesy for me. I want the installation to appear like GM made it, not like I made it. I appreciate the suggestion though.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Ok, mount the screen directly above the heater controls where you have it now. Make a new trim ring to encompass the radio, heater controls, and the screen. By doing this you can keep a continuous line and angle straight up to the vents. You won't have to mess with the rest of the console and you could always put it back to stock by removing the screen and replacing the stock trim. As far as the dvd goes, mount it either in the center console, under the armrest, or on the gas tank floor. You can mount on top and make a cover to blend it in to the rear, or flush mount it in to the gas tank wall. Either way face it fowards so you can reach it from the front, with the seat backs folded down. Now I have a question for you, other than the " Gee, look what I got " reason, why would you want a dvd player in a camaro. Are you going to be watching movies in your car? Are you going on long trips with a companion that wants to watch TV? I can understand this set-up in a caddy or a mini-van, cars that are actually comfortable enough to spend some time in, but not a camaro. To each his own, good luck with the install.

 

I think the non-stealth look would be cool. I am visualizing what you are doing and I don't think it would look too unstock since you are so good at doing that kinda stuff.

 

I looked into that, and that's probably what I'll do, but to do it i'm going to have to slightly modify my console. Not drastically though.

There's nowhere in the center console that it can fit. It won't fit under the arm rest. It's 1/2" too wide, plus even if I modified the console, there wouldn't be room to open the tray or operate the buttons. I also don't have any room above the gas tank because 2 Kicker amps, 2 crossovers, a 1 farad cap and 2 distribution blocks already reside there. I'd also like to be able to reach it from the driver seat. One idea was to put it in the center console with the face where the rear ash tray sits, but I may not have adequate room for the tray to open, plus changing disks will still be a pain in the ****.
Well, I won't lie. The "gee Whiz" effect had a lot to do with it, BUT, the DVD player plays MP3s, plus I've got a lot of concert DVDs that I'd like to listen to in the car. DVDs have a higher sampling rate and higher bit-size than CD, so the sound quality is much better. I will probably watch movies from time to time as well. I usually eat my lunch in my car when I'm at work, so I'll be able to watch some tv while I'm there.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah