Yet another GPS mount...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Yet another GPS mount...
I got a new GPS around Thanksgiving last year. I've been using one of the Garmin sticky mounts to place it on the dash in the CTS and the Vette. It works pretty well, but, I wanted something different for the Vette like I had on the old mount.
I made a little mount today in between other projects. It turned out pretty good. It is cheap and fairly solid when installed.
Using an old GPS mount, the unit can be moved up and down a great deal to suit your preferences. I kind of liked it lower than I did higher.
First I started with a piece of aluminum sheet from one of those Radio Shack project boxes. With the sheet flat, I stuck it in the slot above the center vent until it stopped and then backed it out a touch and marked it. I bent the sheet 90 degrees at the mark.
I then placed the short bend section under a one-by board and made another 90 degree bend.
I drilled a hole through the suction cup latch into the sheet.
I added a dab of black silicone to help secure the old GPS mount to the sheet.
I added a cut up piece of a mouse pad to protect the dash.
It is secured with black silicone too.
Added a little paint.
Viola -
Here is the old GPS.
I used a plastic electrical box for the mount.
It was eventually painted black after the test fittings...
I made a little mount today in between other projects. It turned out pretty good. It is cheap and fairly solid when installed.
Using an old GPS mount, the unit can be moved up and down a great deal to suit your preferences. I kind of liked it lower than I did higher.
First I started with a piece of aluminum sheet from one of those Radio Shack project boxes. With the sheet flat, I stuck it in the slot above the center vent until it stopped and then backed it out a touch and marked it. I bent the sheet 90 degrees at the mark.
I then placed the short bend section under a one-by board and made another 90 degree bend.
I drilled a hole through the suction cup latch into the sheet.
I added a dab of black silicone to help secure the old GPS mount to the sheet.
I added a cut up piece of a mouse pad to protect the dash.
It is secured with black silicone too.
Added a little paint.
Viola -
Here is the old GPS.
I used a plastic electrical box for the mount.
It was eventually painted black after the test fittings...
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: SW FL
Nice job! That's the perfect spot for a GPS, only issue I see is how to run the power cord to it and have it concealed. Have you tried that? I'm wondering if you could somehow run a power cord through the A/C vent inside the dash area and down to the power outlet. I'd like to do this perhaps instead of the cupholder area to have my iPhone up there when I want to use the GPS functionality of it 
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Nice job fabricating that mount - there have been some good ideas on here lately concerning GPS mounting options.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 635
Likes: 14
From: Huntington Beach / Fountain Valley California
Nice and creative too -
But doesn't wedging that piece of metal between the dash and vent tear up or wear on the dash & vent fixture eventually ? Possibly stretching or wearing on the vent fitment too ? Or eventually making the vent loose ?
I hate "forcing" or "wedging" any metal in places that aren't made to be there. Those areas are made to fit properly. I would think It just stretches and wears things out when you force something in those gaps..
But doesn't wedging that piece of metal between the dash and vent tear up or wear on the dash & vent fixture eventually ? Possibly stretching or wearing on the vent fitment too ? Or eventually making the vent loose ?
I hate "forcing" or "wedging" any metal in places that aren't made to be there. Those areas are made to fit properly. I would think It just stretches and wears things out when you force something in those gaps..
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Nice job! That's the perfect spot for a GPS, only issue I see is how to run the power cord to it and have it concealed. Have you tried that? I'm wondering if you could somehow run a power cord through the A/C vent inside the dash area and down to the power outlet. I'd like to do this perhaps instead of the cupholder area to have my iPhone up there when I want to use the GPS functionality of it
My GPS has the traffic mode and the device that tells you about traffic is built into the cord. Not a big deal and I am sure it can be concealed, but I do move this from car to car. Another cord would solve that problem.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Nice and creative too -
But doesn't wedging that piece of metal between the dash and vent tear up or wear on the dash & vent fixture eventually ? Possibly stretching or wearing on the vent fitment too ? Or eventually making the vent loose ?
I hate "forcing" or "wedging" any metal in places that aren't made to be there. Those areas are made to fit properly. I would think It just stretches and wears things out when you force something in those gaps..
But doesn't wedging that piece of metal between the dash and vent tear up or wear on the dash & vent fixture eventually ? Possibly stretching or wearing on the vent fitment too ? Or eventually making the vent loose ?
I hate "forcing" or "wedging" any metal in places that aren't made to be there. Those areas are made to fit properly. I would think It just stretches and wears things out when you force something in those gaps..
Good thoughts to consider though. I'm sure you would not want to make it out of .040" stainless, as wide as the area over the vent and repeatedly force it in. I'm sure something would give then.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Wow, that is great work, I too have a GPS but I just stick it with a window vaccum device as low to the center windshield, it's OK, but I have to clean the window of the circle marks when I remove it.. a small price to pay... I like what you did, but did you have to remove the center console to attach the plate to the underside of the vent?
Great job, so many garage engineers on this forum, it is nice to see different inventions..
Great job, so many garage engineers on this forum, it is nice to see different inventions..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
From: Gary IN
Man that is great! I've been on the fence about a GPS unit mainly because of the mounting options. You've just solved that problem big time! Now I just have to decide which unit to get.
Great Job!
Great Job!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: SW FL
It is easy enough to run the cord from the center armrest compartment, under and up the radio bezel. You could have the cord come out on the left upper side of the bezel where there is a *touch* of room to play with.
My GPS has the traffic mode and the device that tells you about traffic is built into the cord. Not a big deal and I am sure it can be concealed, but I do move this from car to car. Another cord would solve that problem.
My GPS has the traffic mode and the device that tells you about traffic is built into the cord. Not a big deal and I am sure it can be concealed, but I do move this from car to car. Another cord would solve that problem.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
We just got back from the Circle City Corvette Club, 30th Annual Beach Caravan. The unit worked very well on the trip. There is just enough tension on the the mount to hold it securely. Initially there was not, but I gave it an uncalibrated tweak and all was well. The mount worked very well and held the Garmin steady even during selections. You can push the unit around if you made a selection hard enough, but that would happen on any mount.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Wow, that is great work, I too have a GPS but I just stick it with a window vaccum device as low to the center windshield, it's OK, but I have to clean the window of the circle marks when I remove it.. a small price to pay... I like what you did, but did you have to remove the center console to attach the plate to the underside of the vent?
Great job, so many garage engineers on this forum, it is nice to see different inventions..
Great job, so many garage engineers on this forum, it is nice to see different inventions..
The lower section of sheet metal slides in between the top of the vent and the lower section of the dash pad. You don't need to access, cut, or drill anything on your car. Take a popsicle stick or something similar and check it out.
There are other members that have done something similar with way better mounts than I have developed. This was easily in my capabilities for a quick fix with "common" tools.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
We just got back from the Circle City Corvette Club, 30th Annual Beach Caravan. The unit worked very well on the trip. There is just enough tension on the the mount to hold it securely. Initially there was not, but I gave it an uncalibrated tweak and all was well. The mount worked very well and held the Garmin steady even during selections. You can push the unit around if you made a selection hard enough, but that would happen on any mount.
oh - are those the DEEP ones?
You might have to use a thicker piece of sheet metal or one that has been hardened to prevent the weight of the unit from causing it to "bob" up and down.
HTH.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Stickman81, great thanks, I am looking into making my own mount using your invention. I did a dry mockup and I don't have to bend over to reach the unit using your way. With the GPS just above the vent, it is within arms reach. Thank you for a great invention... If you were in California, I'd invite you over for a glass of wine, and a ride in the valleys of Napa with our vettes.. You would love the journey for sure.. Thanks again,..
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 328
Likes: 2
From: Placentia California
Nice job! That's the perfect spot for a GPS, only issue I see is how to run the power cord to it and have it concealed. Have you tried that? I'm wondering if you could somehow run a power cord through the A/C vent inside the dash area and down to the power outlet. I'd like to do this perhaps instead of the cupholder area to have my iPhone up there when I want to use the GPS functionality of it
