My Custom Car PC and Vinyl interior build thread (56K Go Away)

[rbaksi]

UPDATED 2010 Build Restarted go to last post


Here is a worklog from what I've been doing with my car interior. I've posted it on LS1tech but I thought the local NJ people would like to see it too:

So I've had a car PC in my car for some time now but when I first set it in the dash my fabrication job was half assed. So I decided to redo it this summer while I'm back from college and of course one thing led to another and I'm redoing a good part of my interior.

For anyone who doesn't know what a Car PC is, its basically just what it sounds like. I have a 9.2" screen that's going into the dash and connected to it is a PC with itunes, internet, bluetooth, gps, pretty much anything I would want. On top of that I'm gonna do the vinyl/leatheretteish recovering of the dash and doors and such. When all said and done it will be awesome

First I've relocated the HVAC controls to the center console. I have a 95 TA so I got a console out of a 99 since it'll allow me the space to put it up.

Cutting up the controls.



Sanding down the top part of the console with 80/120/220 grit



I used a piece of cardboard behind (just as a mold) and short strand fiberglass bondo for the basic structure of this part. After a lot of work with the dremel I got this




Then came the regular bondo filler and tons of sanding. 220/400 grit to get this



Which got shot with 2 coats filler primer and sanded down with 800 afterwards



and this is close to the finished product. Painted with silver. I haven't securely mounted the controls but the spots are there



MUCH MORE to Come!

[rbaksi]

Here's the vinyl wrapping. I'm using some stretchy vinyl that I got for $11.50 a yard and 3M 80 adhesive. Just need to spray it on, let it get tacky after 5 min, and stick the pieces together. I thought I'd try the tailgate button panel first since it should be easier. The panel and material look like they're almost the same color in pics, but it is definitely a nice black


I did half of it first



And the final product:

[rbaksi]

Here's my interior from before. One thing leads to another and when one piece is out its easier to do another mod as well. I've fell victim to the mod addiction.



SILVER GAUGES



The center console is basically done. Here is a pic of half done, this side was easy



The other side is tricky of course because of the cigarette lighter swooping area. I did glued small sections at a time, and the glue actually makes the vinyl stretcher. Then clamped until dry and then the next section. It worked out pretty well and I plan on doing the gauge surround and the dash in a similar way.




and here's the almost final product, I have to finish the rear cupholder, do some trimming and I'm waiting on redline shift and e-brake boots




Comments suggestions always welcome

[rbaksi]

Here's an update, I got a bit more stuff done, a lot of it is sort of in progress

Glovebox





Dash Pad. Man I never realized this thing was so big, and it takes a LOT of glue





A Pillar



I'm covering the gauge surround in one piece of vinyl. Its going well but has to be glued small parts at a time so that it stretches properly



Inside of cluster done



Outside/back done. The trickier part to come



Some Painted pieces to match the vinyl




LCD Screen 9.2 inches!



and my Redline boots arrived! They look great and are high quality, but they were kinda expensive.



I think its coming out well so far

[rbaksi]

Here's some more progress guys, I'm almost done







I couldn't really stretch the vinyl far enough so I made into separate pieces as best I could. Gauge cluster is done!









Now the DASH - the hard part. I put some fiberglass bondo on it first to create a base. Then I put a few small screws into it towards the plastic so it would hold strong to the dash.



Then I put some regular bondo and went all over it with the dremel. I put on one more layer and finished it with some hand sanding.





Test fit, I know the edges look rough but this isnt the final pic

[rbaksi]

More updates. This is getting close to finished!



Got the center console and cluster in. A word of advice: pay extremely close attention to the edges when you wrap pieces or they will stick out like a sore thumb, or maybe I just notice it more.
I also shortened the shifter by 3/4 of an inch using this how to: http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/4692757-post1.html
and I put a MBA adapter and MBA knob with a firebird engraved in it

[sweetbmxrider]

wow. so ****in awesome! nice work man. i really like that center console. can't wait to see it completed. deff pimp ass work!

[Tru2Chevy]

Looks great! Sounded kinda cheesy at first, but from the pics it looks like the finished product will be very nice.

- Justin

[PlanDefeat]

that is one dedicated project, definitely a masterpiece in the making. I've sprayed my door handle covers and as far from what I can tell the spray paint never looks right on any car and begins to fade over time, not including any scratches that may occur and look horrendous so fast. Wish I could redo it like the factory your leather wrap was a great idea, where did you find the 3M glueing?

[btownws6]

yea wow looks amazing good job

[The Fixer]

Looks friggin' sick so far, awesome work!!!!!!!!!

[procamaroz28]

BRILLIANT!!!!

[rbaksi]

Originally Posted by PlanDefeat

that is one dedicated project, definitely a masterpiece in the making. I've sprayed my door handle covers and as far from what I can tell the spray paint never looks right on any car and begins to fade over time, not including any scratches that may occur and look horrendous so fast. Wish I could redo it like the factory your leather wrap was a great idea, where did you find the 3M glueing?

The 3M 80 glue I got from home depot. The one near me is out of stock now (because of me)

[LTb1ow]

Damn!

Nice work, did you have to extend any of the lines to the relocated control knobs?

[NastyEllEssWon]

haha i see a home depot paint mixer in the dash used




nice work

[Mike]

i planned to come in and joke about rice.......but that looks pretty badass, and the fab work is quality.

[rbaksi]

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

Damn!

Nice work, did you have to extend any of the lines to the relocated control knobs?

Yeah I have to extend all of them and they're a kinda a pain to do, especially the bicycle type wire connected one. I'm gonna do them some other time though since my A/C has a small leak and the car doesnt get driven during the school year so no need for heat either. I do know how to do them though, the writeup is here: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/fabr...body-cars.html

[Teds89IROC]

looks great! Nice work

[01SS]

Lookin good! keep up the good work.

[mtg6486]

very kool cant wait to see it done

[rbaksi]

Worked on the dash this afternoon Got the center stack mostly finished, just need to cut out the HVAC vents. I first put a vinyl piece on the side of the stack by first making a template out of paper.



Trimmed a bit, only the top half is glued



I used a lot of masking tape and garbage bags when I applied the glue to prevent overspray



I'm gonna cut out the vent holes when I have replacement ones from the junkyard. I broke em when I took em out



Now I've just got to finish up the A-Pillars and I will be doing the passenger airbag area in similar way with the stitching. These crappy camera phone pictures don't show how black the vinyl is; my digital camera broke

Comments/Suggestions always welcome

[Knipps]

wow, that looks really good. keep it up man

[DevilDougWS6]

ive always wanted to put a car pc in my T/A. but dont really have the know-how to set up the computer to fit in my car.

[sweetbmxrider]

reverse camera?

[rbaksi]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

reverse camera?

future project, it'll be a simple retrofit in the keyhole maybe. Next summer.