800 pentium, 20 gig hard drive, FM radio, CD/RW, sound card, USB, OBD1 interface. It fits inside the console, I just need to make a little plate for everything like the switches and CD/RW to go in the hole where the radio used to be.

I just need to figure out where I'm mounting the LCD now.

 

Sweet, nice and small.. You'll be surprised how fast you're going to fill that 20 gig hard drive though What size LCD is that? Look's like a 10-10.4" from the pics, but pics can be deceiving.. Is it a Sharp panel? My 8.4" is mounted under the center air vents (camaro), I haven't quite finished it all up yet though it's been like that for a long time now..

 

it's a 12.1 inch toshiba. 600x800 18 bit color. I have a 10 inch lcd but it's only 640 x 480 and that's just not enough.

I thought about mounting it under the AC vents but I would have to relocate the AC controls. I was also thinking of putting it where the AC and radio are, then mounting it on a hinge so i could just swing it back to get to the AC controls and the cdrw.

 

Just 1 question. How are you going to wire it to the car speakers, to hook up to the sound card?

 

I'll just get a cheap line in amp with rca inputs. I don't need a lot of power. Maybe wire a potentiometer in between for a volume control.

 

Are you going to install games on it?

GPS Navigation?

Printer/Fax/Copier?

I'm just trying to figure out why all the hassel of putting all that in a camaro to listen to MP3s

btw, I run a 10GB iPod using RCA inputs on my Pioneer CD Player and its not even full yet.

 

Some mp3, maybe some divx, a little war driving and I can get on the web through my cellphone at 115 kbps. The real reason is engine management. The engine in this car has awesome performance potential, plus it's coupled with a flash programable PCM. The fuel, ignition, transmission, even the cooling fans, they all can be manipulated through some software to do whatever I want. When I'm done messing with the PCM program, I have another program that will log data and be able to tell me the performance. I can also set up a virtual pcm in the carputer and make adjustments on the fly.

I'll have one program for maximum performance with high octaine fuel, another for cruising with low octaine fuel, another for towing, it's pretty much unlimited. The virtual gauge program I have is pretty nice, I can call up a nice big 200 mph speedometer if I want.


making this thing wasn't really a hassle, I kind of enjoyed it. I'm the type of person who feels a little sad when a project is finished and perfected, then I have to find something else to do.


All this stuff will come in real handy when I add a turbocharger to the thing.

What are you going to do with your carputer StevenK?

 

Well I don't speak for anyone else, but I did it beacuse I hate flipping through CD's and often can't decide on what to listen to so problem solved. I have over 3000 MP3's on mine, something like 25-30 gigs and a couple more gigs waiting to go on.. I can also play DVD's or videos if I wanted, although I think I've done this once in all of 2+ years the carputer has been in.. I also have a GPS receiver and mapping software.. I just took the GPS out and put it in my other car though..

Serpent99, what software are you running for OBD? I've got OBD-II software in my GP and permenantly ran the scanner wire so I can scan it whenever I want etc. I'd like to do similar with the camaro but have not found any OBD-I software yet..

 

I use datamaster, freescan and tunercat. I use an interface made by AKM cables. I'm planning on doing the same, hard wiring the interface so it's there when I need it. The interface has DB25 connectors on each end so it's easy to hook it up. AKM has the schematic for the interface on his website. Word of caution- always flash the PCM in dos. if there's any interupption during the flash process you have to send the PCM out to get it repaired.

 

I don't have a 'carputer' mainly because I don't see a reason for me to have one. I've got my iPod for music, and my laptop for ODB scanning, and real time (TunerCat RT w/ PROMINATOR) something I really need.

Good luck w/ your install......ohh and you might want to invest in a guard rattlesnake or something.

 

guard rattlesnake? heh, the thieves will steal your laptop before they go ripping into my dashboard for a computer screen they know nothing about. I use a laptop now myself and it's a real pia with wires all over the place. Unlike a laptop, the carputer will not be in the way of anything, it will be easier to service, upgrade and repair, and this rig I built is a hell of a lot cheaper than a laptop with the same features and power. I don't have to worry about dropping it, or spilling coffee in it, or my kids asking to borrow it. It's cheap, I built it myself, and it will be way useful.

Why am I even explaining this to you?, you probably don't want to hear it anyway. If you don't like it, fine, but don't look for something wrong with it. Your smart-a** comments are unconstructive. I'm done with you.

Everyone else, if you need any advice or would like to exchange ideas, I'm in.

 

your explaining it because I asked why you were doing it in my initial post. and I agree with the fact a laptop is WAY easier to steal. Most of the time im stupid enough to leave it my car, but right now its in my apartment.....the thing is there is plenty of crap to steal in my car anyway.

I didn't mean to come off like a jerk, I was just wondering what you were gonna use all that for. I want to eventually get a DVD/Navigation system with screen, and if you can prove good results with your PC setup, that might be the direction I go.....so I am interested in seeing the final product.

Again, sorry if I came across as rude, and keep up the good work

 

no prob. I was in a bad mood, I dropped my printer/fax machine on my foot when i was trying to bolt it to my dashboard.

 

oooh! i know!

you could cut out the armrest, and stick a slim photo printer there!
be sure to let the armrest be functional by gluing a piece of foam to the top of the printer.


pimp.

 

haha

that was funny, he made fun of my all-in-one query from an earlier post.

Just be carefull putting in the joystick, make sure to take it out of the seat before you get in the car

 

here's a little secret- when I play unreal tournament, I use a mouse, a joystick, and a keyboard. Now you know how I do it with just 2 hands.

 

Sounds uncomfortable...

 

SERPENT99,
Where did you get that LCD? Also how is it interfaced with the computer, what type of video card are you running that supports a direct interface to a LCD (since it is not DVI or VGA).

 

The LCD came off a control for an industrial laser. These computers have a backplane instead of a motherboard. The backplane is just 8 ISA slots. The cpu is on one of the cards that plug into the backplane, this card also had an LCD controller built in. The interface isn't standardized.

 

where did you get all of the stuff for it??
i was think of doing the same thing but i dont want to spend to much.
also what program are you going to run for the proformance?

 

ISA slots? A blast from the past.

 

What did you use to run the computer's power supply off of the car?

 

I'm using a 400 watt 110 volt inverter. It's connected to a small 12 volt battery to isolate the system from the main battery. The small battery is charges through a relay hooked to the main battery, the relay is on when the engine is running.

 

How did all that cost $38 (not including the LCD)??

 

I salvaged it from some old industrial computers. I work in the feild servicing CNC equipment, i come by all kinds of stuff. Some factories will just replace a complete panel pc because one component failed. the rest of the parts are still good. or they'll upgrade and just throw the old stuff out. They have these nice 14 inch touchscreens now, a little big but nice

 

I've been thinking about using my old labtop for that...I have over 20 Divx movies burnt onto cd, 4 or 5 per CD, And well over 3000 mp3s...Couple questions...#1 how you you run the sound? RCA inputs on your deck? #2 It is possible to remove a screen from a labtop and mount it seperate from the rest of the system, and run cable to it?...or should I take my old desktop apart and rig up something with that? I know computers pretty well, Just not EVERYTHING! Thanks!

 

where are you planning on putting the screen SLOWFIVEOH? I have an 89 Z28 and I'm having trouble deciding.

If you want to butcher an old laptop that would make things easy, but the screen may be a little difficult. The wires that go from the screen to the controller should be kept as short as possible. Hooking a laptop screen up to a desktop isn't easy, it will take some research and it may require an expensive controller card.

For audio I'm planning on running from the phone jack to an amp with line level inputs.

 

I was thinking of either permanatly moungting it in the blank space on the passenger side. or my ultimate goal would be for it to flip down...I do have an older labtop to hack up..The modem and stuff is all in slots so I will just take those cards and sell them... I just want a cdrom drive and a nice video card so I can play those divx movies....So what is involved with mounting the screen seperate from the labtop itself? And Only amp I am running is to the subs, So how else can I hook up the sound to the whole stereo?

 

depends on your head unit. if it has RCA inputs then you would use stereo mini jack to RCA cables, if it doesnt then you have to use a FM transmitter or another amp.

 

An FM transistor wont work if you dont have any antenna hooked up will it? Doesnt it pick up a radio signal...I dont have an antenna on my car?

 

depends on how close the transmitter is to the radio.....even a small wire attacked the the antenna port will recieve the signal as long as its close enough.

I would seriously recommend you get another amp or a head unit with RCA inputs.

I've got a premier 930 with the RCA input adapter hooked up to my iPod and the sound quality is TONS better than when using a FM transmitter.

 

Well right now I am running a $200+ Xplod deck, SO I'll go and check for RCA inputs (Bought it used, never checked)

 

an xplode, im sorry to hear that.

 

I would never buy any other Xplod products. I absolutely despise their subs and amps with a passion...HATE EM! But I am really pleased with this deck, Its a good powered MP3 deck and havent had 1 problem out of it....I havent heard anything about how to mount the screen, seperate from the labtop yet, Anyone have ideas, suggestions, thoughts?

 

Check out this carputer set up in this Altima. I'd like to do something similiar.

Carputer

I am getting an old Compaq from my friend for free that I am going to gut and see what I can do with it. Any suggestion for a screen?

 

Check out www.Cartft.com www.Digitalww.com and www.dscustoms.com they all sell screens and are good sellers.. Cartft is in europe I beleive so shipping is prob gonna run 30-40 from them.

 

not bad...i have a slew of junk computer parts that I will eventually put together and pop into my camaro...someday...maybe...hopefully lol...

as for how to set up the sound....many headunits have a CD Changer input or an aux. input that can be used for this purpose and the Soundblaster sound card that I have works excellent with RCA's and my home stereo...so I dont see a problem with it interfacing with the amp and what not....

and why do it!? aww common...the uses are endless....
1) no need for a dvd player..you got it...
2)a firned jsut bought a new CD...you can copy it right then and there...same wiht being at car shows
3)download a ps1,ps2, x-box, nintendo, super nintendo, sega, atari, sega, sega genisis...etc ROMS and you can play and console game you want without having to mount in a console...
4)custome tuning for those ECM people
5)set it up with wireless internet and you can get on TGO for helpful advise while you work on the car wihtout haivng to run back inside...i know ive done this before...
6)music
7) music videos
8)****
9)download tv shows (simpsons, futurerama etc)


i mean common guys lol....once i get the body done on my car this will be part of my next project....as I will need to find 2 smaller amps (subs and factory location speakers) ....1 for spare tire area and one for the crack box....then i will have the spave to plop the computer....

 

I just use my laptops.

 

heh yes imma resurrect this post....I got a question...

I have a laptop sceen that i would like ot use with a regular computer....how would i go about doing such a thing? its a Compaq 1200 Series.....if I could do this then I would beable to go ahead and put a computer in my car....

 

couldnt i get one of those headunits with a screen in it that pops out. and hook the comp visual to that?

 

I'm not positive on this, but I think that a laptop screen uses a different type of video cable...rather than a serial port, it's flat ribbon style cable. I forget, however, what is at the end of said cable. Pop open your laptop and find out, and let us know! I'd be willing to bet that no matter what kind of connection it is, you'll be able to find either an adapter or someone who's done it before.

~Chris

 

But the adapters are very pricey so don't get your hopes up

 

Yeah I researched the idea acouple months back for a cheap 14 or 15" LCD laptop screen off ebay for my desktop computer. After around 2 hours of searching I find out people talking on a forum about an adapter that ran around 200 bucks or so. If you want a LCD screen you're pretty much better off just buying a new or used one.

 

ouch that sucks...mine is the flat ribbon kind...already taken it apart....just trying to make due wiht what i had without spending mroe cash...cuz i am BROKE!