I've been working on a project to put a computer in my 88 and spending a lot of time over at the mp3car.com forum. I've found very few people putting them in corvettes? I haven't found many on this site either. So I'm wondering, how many of you have or are considering putting in a carputer?

I still have a long ways to go, but if you are curious here's a link to my worklog:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/work...-corvette.html

Ron

 

WOW!! Nice work. I would love to do this but honestly I don't have that much patience when it comes to electrial work and computers. Nice job though

 

I've been working on the carputer thing for 2 years now. Spent a year planning and researching then bought one last year. I've not spent another year piece mealing together the carputer/stereo/sound deadending/interior upgrading. Been a monster of a project that is coming very close to completion. Once the install is done, then I need to master the front end, will probably go with Ride Runner. My current car puter starting acting very funny with the power up and down signals and giving me fits so I'm ordering a new puter tomorrow.

Keep an eye out in the next couple of months, I'll start posting some info on my install here and at mp3car as well as DIYMobile audio.

Jay

 

Very cool.. so I was curious on how the PC runs, meaning turning it on and off or hibernating..

Also how much do you have invested so far?

How does the HD radio interface to the CarPC or does it not interface and run serparate?

Thanks

 

They make power supplies that will run off the 12v battery in the car and are ATX compliant so that you can use the ACC line to have the computer turn on and shut off. You can do standby or Hibernation or simply do a cold boot each time. However, some of the softwares and hardwares guys use have issues working properly coming out of hibernation so it's s choice you have to make once you have everything worked out. Personally, if I have hibernation issues, I'll just cold boot each time.

How much? Much more than I should have, it's not a cheap solution, it's complicated and if you are not a power PC user, probably not a good option. Nothing is plug and go and getting it setup takes time...lots of time. With that said, there are plenty of guys out there that have good solid working systems. Plus, you have to be extremely mindful of the power consumption of the PC. You can't just plop in a desktop unit and go, they are way too power hungry. You have to find motherboards and CPUs that draw very little power. This typically means finding combos that are made for mobile usage...which means they are more expensive since they are not in as high demand as desktop units. That's where the cost comes into play. Alot of the Mobos I looked at were only available from industrial computer makers and are expensive, 1.5-2x a high end desk board.

As for the stereo, I'm using a Mobo with a Tos-link out to an outboard DAC. The AM-FM is a Visteon HD radio module http://www.amazon.com/VISTEON-COMPON.../dp/B000XDFJQY and is hooked to the PC by a USB audio switcher from MJS Gadgets. I also have an XM module that uses another addon from MJS Gadgets as well. These go through the USB audio switcher back into the MB and then out the Tos-link.

Most of the above is why I spent close to a year reading about this stuff, I wanted to know if what I wanted to do was even possible. Turns out it was and then I ran out of excuses not to do it

Jay

 

Well said. The DC to DC power supplies are pretty cool. They can be set to turn the computer on or off based on the ignition wire with various delays. I have an M4-ATX from Mini-box that was working great until I got sloppy and shorted it against the metal case.

Since I'm completely replacing the radio I also needed an amplifier small enough to conceal and still have enough power to drive the speakers. The amps in my Bose speakers are all shot (squealing, popping, etc) So I figured my options were to repair the individual amps or just get one powerful enough. There are probably other options but I went with a kit from 41hz.com. It came in 4 baggies and I had to solder everything together! That was a great learning experience and very rewarding when I connected my mp3 player and blasted 4 speakers I stole off my wife's home stereos. I have the HD radio (Directed DM1000) connected to the PC via RCA jacks and controlled through a serial cable. I also have a stereo jack connected to the PC so I can plug my mp3 player into it. Everything runs from the computer to the amplifier and to the speakers. The volume is controlled by the computer using volume up/down touch buttons. I'm also putting together a volume **** (I just gotta have a ****) made from a wheel mouse that uses a program called volumouse and controls the master volume. Since the computer is controlling the volume the MP3s on the hard drive, the HD radio, and the MP3 player will all be controlled from the same spot.

One thing I am a bit concerned about though is cooling. The area behind the radio can get pretty warm. I'm planning on running a small duct from the floor area to the computer with a small fan run by the power supply to provide fresh air.

There are still a lot of to do's. I haven't even begun cutting on the dash yet. I need to replace a lot of the interior anyway so I figure if I mess it up I can always buy replacement parts.

I have all the receipts and I plan on adding them up some day. Right now I estimate I have around $600 invested. I know there are some commercial systems out there, but that wouldn't be as much fun and probably cost just as much.

Hopefully some other C4 owners will do this and post some pictures. I'd love to see what others are doing.

Ron

 

I've made a bit more progress on putting a computer in my car. It's been slow going because I work on it during the weekends between Honey-do chores. I started cutting on the dash which is the part most people like to see so here's a link to my worklog on mp3car.com picking up where I left off on my last post.

If you've done something similar I'd really like to see it.

Ron

 

I had a double din unit kit and messed in the bezel of my Lilliput and had a guy from mp3car do the fill in work. I've taken pictures but wanted to wait till I started my build thread...which I will probably start soon.

Jay

 

 

I'll be installing my Mac Mini, but won't be running everything from it. Still waiting on parts I ordered in December... amongst other things.

Not a True Purely carputer setup, but still a carputer. No touch screen interface. I'll be using my iPhone as a touchpad and keyboard, keeping a bluetooth keyboard in teh center console in case I need to type anything significant.

Why Mac? Besides the native Front Row application that will work just fone for media? Ultimately, all computers are the same, they all crash. Which OS you choose determines how bad and how often you burn in the end when the inevitable happens. The Mini was a nice powerful computer, nicely prepackaged with low power reqiurements. I wanted to Run Garmin Nav Software, and the Kenwood DNX-7140 does that just fine on its own. Granted the display may not be as nice as a Lilliput with a VGA in, but I don't intend to watch movies, just to use iTunes and select play lists. If push comes to shove and I decide that I want to run a Lilliput and go purely Carputer, then I have half the system set up anyway at that point.

Using a Carnetix 2140 power supply with an additional 5V board and Mac Pack as a power supply. I will detail the install when I get to it. If this project holds true to my luck, it will be awhile before any significant progress is made because parts will be on back order or simply have the shipping date continually pushed back.



- d

 

I've been wanting to do a Mac mini for YEARS. I should be getting a new vette within the month and I think it's finally time. I've also tossed around the idea of doing just an iPad with a custom bracket but that would probably suit the truck better.

Either way, subscribing

 

I finally got all my audio and car puter installed and everything is working. The sound system is amazing and the staging is incredible. I'm still fine tweaking the car puter and drivers and peripherals. Got a nice full proof anti thump solution that works great as well.

Currently waiting on my seats to get back from Caravaggio. I've redone the entire interior in leather while I was at it.

I can say the carputer was not simple to setup and I still have to configure a front end so by no means done. I will start a build thread here and on mp3car here very soon.

Jay

 

Pics please!

 

I've got a ton of them and need to sort through where they are and start a thread.

Here's a couple of teaser pics:









Anyways, there's a couple pics of the install. It's come along much further now and PC is in the car and working well. I decided to go with Windows 7, seems to be pretty good. Crap load better than Vista and I haven't run into any major issues with drivers and hardware.

Jay

 

Wow that looks pretty intense. It looks like the entire interior has been pulled out! I'm looking forward to seeing the final result.

Are there any C4 owners out there crazy enough to give this a go?

Ron

 

I did, I completely gutted the interior down to the dash pad and every other part you could think of removing. It was all out for several months while I did the sound deadening.

Jay

 

My Mac Mini Setup:

Citrix 1900 Inverter
Modified Mouse in cup holder
Keyboard Matt from glovebox
Feeding into Pioneer D1 Headunit.







Brian

 

I like that trackball in the cup holder! Now you've got my wheels turning. (I think one needs grease, I can smell it overheating)

Ron