In dash touch screen project, a/c relocation

[Seanz0rz]

heres pictures of what i want to do:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02011.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02012.jpg

the pencil line where the cup holder is, on the right side, will be the top right of the screen. im cutting that piece out, and molding the screen in there.

now, where do i put the ac controls? any suggestions...

[Seanz0rz]

no on knows anything about moving the ac controls in a early 3rd gen?

[Cebby]

I don't know about 3rd Gen systems, but I relocated the one in my 87 Celica GTS.

You've really got to take the mounting screws out and see how it actuates the air handling flaps. If it's cables, you are pretty limited in how far you can move it. If it is all electronic, it might be jjust a mater of extending some wires (obviously the best case scenario for what you want to do)

I'm guessing you want it below your new touchscreen?

[Seanz0rz]

its mechanical, with electrical lights (obviously) AC control, and fan position. as far as i can tell everything else is mechanical. not sure about temp control yet, guessing electrical as it feels that way.

i want them moved to where the cig lighter is now, so i can still use my headunit, which will be under the screen, basically the bottom din of the factory cut out, using factory mounting. everything else is going to have to be custom.

you dont happen to have pics or anything from the 87 do you?

[Cebby]

I'll have to look for those pics. It was pre-digitals back then, so hopefully something will turn up.

[Seanz0rz]

thanks.

how did you go about making the new cables?

[Seanz0rz]

so after about 45 minutes of yanking and figuring out the attachment system, i got the cables out. what a pain in the ass..... hopefully it will be easier getting them back in.

so im going to try to relocate the cables down to where i need them. it looks as if one might not cooperate, so ill have to build an extension some how.

any thoughts/ideas/words of encouragement? after dinner ill be back at it.

[Cebby]

Mine were just long enough after I shifted stuff around inside the dash to facilitate the new location (basically swapped places with my double DIN radio location, so it didn't have as far to go as yours does) It's been years since I messed with that and don't remember what the cables looked like - what about replacements via "bike" type cables? I remember fashioning something for my trunk release with a solenoid and bike cable/housing.

[91_4x4runner]

Thoughts: Seems like a pretty good idea. Mine is to relocate the cupholders from their stock (2nd gen) location and have an LCD flip up and out connected to a Carputer (mounted in glovebox most likely)

Ideas: Try to give it a little bit of an upward tilt so that you can see it without having to lower your head a ton. Flat from the dash would work fine for those in the back seat, but not too well for those in the front.

Words of Encouragement: Good luck, you can do it!

[Seanz0rz]

deathcougar was nice enough to sell me a new hvac controller with cables attached. i will just splice the cables in the dash somewhere, and then i can mount it anywhere i please, which will be in that useless cubby hole where the cig lighter and ash tray are now.

[MTL_4runner]

You might also try cables for a lawnmower throttle......bike cables pull well, but don't push well. With your AC cable setup you'll see that the cables are solid not stranded wire so look for similar when you replace if needed.

[Seanz0rz]

the problem with cables as opposed to the solid pushrods is there needs to be a return spring, the cables are not stiff enough to push properly, and would deflect.

my new unit is on the way, so that is something i will have to worry about when it gets here.

in the mean time, i have pictures!!! here is what ive gotten done so far:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02014.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02015.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02016.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02019.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02021.jpg

i cut out the bottom to recieve the ac controls, something ill have to work on when they get here. the screen is held in at the top and via those wings on each side. im unsure how im going to fill up all that voided space, but im thinking carefully crafted pieces of abs plastic, all epoxied together to provide structure, then maybe fiberglass over that to smooth everything out.

any bright ideas, things i might have forgot, etc? it helps to know now before i get too deep in. thanks guys.

[Seanz0rz]

today, between doing homework and class, is a day of rest and designing the extension connectors for my ac controls. i dont have exact measurements, but i can construct a basic idea of what i need to build, editing later for the measurements.

i might even fire up the ol aluminium melter in the back yard so i can cast the pieces i need, then machine them out to final specs. i will post much more on this next weekend, and this upcoming weekend is full of screen fabrication and mounting of the ac controls, plus a trip to peterson's automotive museum for a class project.

[DNAhilux]

I think fibreglass will be your friend on this one. It is somewhat easy to work with and form before hardening, once hard it is easily sanded to a smoooth finish and is very strong and you can even run a bolt though it providing you have some mesh in it for some more strength as opposed to just the bondo fibreglass with added short fibres. Many, including myself use the fibreglass for the satoshi to fill in cut out areas on the grille. and its impossible to tell where after paint.

[Seanz0rz]

i thought about fiberglass, but ive had so much more experience with bondo for forming stuff. i used to be big into custom cases for computers. im using the spray version of plastidip to paint this so the cracks wont show through to the paint. im hoping anyways... i might fiberglass if i develop alot of cracks in the coming days as i road test the piece extensively.

i received my new ac controls, but haven't even touched them. ill play with them next weekend, before i go off camping.

so i got alot accomplished, but no pics of the process. i filled in spots with abs, got the shape with expanding foam via a "great stuff" can, bondo over that, its going to crack on the edges, but i have a pretty good solution for that that will come in next week. so stay tuned!

now to the pics:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02022.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02024.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02025.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02026.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02027.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/DSC02028.jpg

i ran out of daylight, hence the rough appearance. im doing a road test with it tomorrow to make sure everything works and nothing falls apart.

[MTL_4runner]

Lookin' very good Seanz0rz, you might want to use a bit of epoxy around the edges on the back side to hold the screen in because I don't know how well the bondo will adhere to the ABS plastic dash bezel. Just a thought anyway. Can't wait to see that thing sanded and with paint. :thumbup:

[Seanz0rz]

oh, there is ALOT of epoxy and abs holding that screen in, the bondo is purely cosmetic.

[Bob98SR5]

sean,

i learned a ton from this guy's site. http://hzemall.com/ look like he sells the stuff that he used to use.

bob