Heads Up Display and CF Center Console Install.
07-23-2010, 12:15 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
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Heads Up Display and CF Center Console Install.
Spending time or money on something other than performance is very unlike me, but as I run out of performance related things to do to my car, I figured I'd devote a little bit to the place I spend my time in: the interior...
My C5 Z06 had a HUD and that was one of the things I missed about it when I got my C6. I was adamant about getting a Z51 spec car, in black, and at least 2LT (because of the side airbags), but I didn't find one with a HUD...
Fear not: Parts Taxi now offers a complete retrofit kit for about 370 bucks. And it is a simple retrofit...
The install requires the center console to come out... I figured it'd be a good time to swap out that god aweful grey plastic thing for something a little more fitting... This one is faux carbon fiber and stitched leather with chrome surrounds for the cupholders and the shift ****; it is for the 2010 C6 and also came from parts taxi. You can see it next to the stock one that cam out of my car:
We begin by removing the center console. First the lid on the storage compartment is removed; this allows it to come out. It is held by two torx screws under the handbrake boot, and two inside little storage compartment. The shift **** also has to come out; that is held by a slightly larger torx; I believe the small torx bolts are all 15 and the shift **** is a 20 or 25.
With the bolts off it pulls out with a little prying (it is held by multiple snap tabs against the dash).
You can see I have also remove the piece of plastic covering the knee bolster, and the one under the steering wheel. Those are held on by 2 Torx bolts and also snap off with some gentle prying. Here is the knee bolster; the sensor on the right screws off and detects the temperature inside the car for the proper functioning of the HVAC system:
At that point, the gauge cluster surround with the buttons for controlling the HUD and the DIC pulls out with some gentle prying (start at the bottom). I found it easier to remove the start button as opposed to removing the plug from it btw:
Four torx screws and the gauge cluster slides out very easily. It has two plugs at the back; these are where the HUD harness will tap into.
The HUD kit itself consists of the following:
-HUD Unit
-HUD interface (buttons) for the cluster surround
-2 nuts, 1 screw and a clip to bolt the HUD in place
-Wire Harness
-Vampire taps
-Instructions.
Everything is GM genuine; I will point out that the HUD is remanufactured though (so that's how it can be so cheap
), and the harness is not stock. The instructions are clear enough but they want you to find a friend, a special steering wheel puller tool, and remove your dash and steering wheel. Forget that. There is an easier way.
Minus cluster, here is what you see:
You will see a black plastic tube on the back/center, and a big wide flat plastic tube on top. Both are part of the HVAC system. They both attach at the door side vent via a push pin and two screws.
The smaller tube just pulls out. That's easy enough:
The dummy HUD cover also just slides towards the windshield and then pops off. There is a trim for the HUD that pops in the same way:
The HUD can't clear the wide tube though... If you don't want to remove your dash, you have to cut it... I used a little saw:
You can see it pops right in after that. It is held by two nuts and a screw.
Re-assembling is easy. Both tubes are bolted on the door side, so it stays in very tight and snug. I used duct tape to seal the sawed off section and it formed a strong airtight seal since the gap was less than a mm once it was all re-assembled.
My C5 Z06 had a HUD and that was one of the things I missed about it when I got my C6. I was adamant about getting a Z51 spec car, in black, and at least 2LT (because of the side airbags), but I didn't find one with a HUD...
Fear not: Parts Taxi now offers a complete retrofit kit for about 370 bucks. And it is a simple retrofit...
The install requires the center console to come out... I figured it'd be a good time to swap out that god aweful grey plastic thing for something a little more fitting... This one is faux carbon fiber and stitched leather with chrome surrounds for the cupholders and the shift ****; it is for the 2010 C6 and also came from parts taxi. You can see it next to the stock one that cam out of my car:
We begin by removing the center console. First the lid on the storage compartment is removed; this allows it to come out. It is held by two torx screws under the handbrake boot, and two inside little storage compartment. The shift **** also has to come out; that is held by a slightly larger torx; I believe the small torx bolts are all 15 and the shift **** is a 20 or 25.
With the bolts off it pulls out with a little prying (it is held by multiple snap tabs against the dash).
You can see I have also remove the piece of plastic covering the knee bolster, and the one under the steering wheel. Those are held on by 2 Torx bolts and also snap off with some gentle prying. Here is the knee bolster; the sensor on the right screws off and detects the temperature inside the car for the proper functioning of the HVAC system:
At that point, the gauge cluster surround with the buttons for controlling the HUD and the DIC pulls out with some gentle prying (start at the bottom). I found it easier to remove the start button as opposed to removing the plug from it btw:
Four torx screws and the gauge cluster slides out very easily. It has two plugs at the back; these are where the HUD harness will tap into.
The HUD kit itself consists of the following:
-HUD Unit
-HUD interface (buttons) for the cluster surround
-2 nuts, 1 screw and a clip to bolt the HUD in place
-Wire Harness
-Vampire taps
-Instructions.
Everything is GM genuine; I will point out that the HUD is remanufactured though (so that's how it can be so cheap
), and the harness is not stock. The instructions are clear enough but they want you to find a friend, a special steering wheel puller tool, and remove your dash and steering wheel. Forget that. There is an easier way.Minus cluster, here is what you see:
You will see a black plastic tube on the back/center, and a big wide flat plastic tube on top. Both are part of the HVAC system. They both attach at the door side vent via a push pin and two screws.
The smaller tube just pulls out. That's easy enough:
The dummy HUD cover also just slides towards the windshield and then pops off. There is a trim for the HUD that pops in the same way:
The HUD can't clear the wide tube though... If you don't want to remove your dash, you have to cut it... I used a little saw:
You can see it pops right in after that. It is held by two nuts and a screw.
Re-assembling is easy. Both tubes are bolted on the door side, so it stays in very tight and snug. I used duct tape to seal the sawed off section and it formed a strong airtight seal since the gap was less than a mm once it was all re-assembled.
07-23-2010, 12:15 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
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Results!
That is it... The new center piece looks a lot better:
And the HUD is fantastic!
It has a lot of new features compared to the one on the C5, such as track mode, which displays real time lateral acceleration.
This was money well spent. One of VERY few mods I think can actually pay for itself when you sell the car...
And the HUD is fantastic!
It has a lot of new features compared to the one on the C5, such as track mode, which displays real time lateral acceleration.
This was money well spent. One of VERY few mods I think can actually pay for itself when you sell the car...
07-24-2010, 03:05 PM
#8
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Good job, Sam
07-24-2010, 05:36 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
Well, I installed the HUD today in my GS 2LT. It was one thing I missed when I purchased this car. I was SO used to it in my Z06's. The install was time consuming but relatively straight forward and easy. And it look/works great.
07-25-2010, 01:31 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '12
Great job documenting the install and directions....if ya could add some arrows on the pics of the items your pointing out that would greatly help non-mechanical kinda guys like myself.....then post it on DIY on Corvette Action Centers website and this one if it has it.....you did that good....thanks allot for post
07-26-2010, 02:46 PM
#11
Racer
Great job documenting the install and directions....if ya could add some arrows on the pics of the items your pointing out that would greatly help non-mechanical kinda guys like myself.....then post it on DIY on Corvette Action Centers website and this one if it has it.....you did that good....thanks allot for post
10-11-2010, 09:51 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
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Location: Farmington CT
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Cruise-In VII Veteran
This should be a sticky
Removing the dash as stated in other posts is foolish
Outstanding pics and writeup
2 hour job, max done the "cut duct" way
Thanks very much
Removing the dash as stated in other posts is foolish
Outstanding pics and writeup
2 hour job, max done the "cut duct" way
Thanks very much
10-12-2010, 08:16 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Cape May, NJ; Guntersville, AL; Orange Beach, AL
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I'm in love with that console. I have the exact interior and I think I am going to add the HUD as well. I looked on partstaxi but not sure I could find the console. You don't happen to know the part # do you? I have to have that console now. Looks 100x better than the factory grey.
10-14-2010, 05:32 PM
#17
Race Director
I'm in love with that console. I have the exact interior and I think I am going to add the HUD as well. I looked on partstaxi but not sure I could find the console. You don't happen to know the part # do you? I have to have that console now. Looks 100x better than the factory grey.
I'd like to have that console as well.
10-14-2010, 05:50 PM
#18
Former Vendor
Here are the 4 configurations and pricing.
2008 Carbon Fiber Center Consoles
Heated Seats with no F55 = 20807154 = $457.16
Heated Seats With F55 = 25972645 = $598.61
No Heated Seats No F55 = 25972656 = $419.45
With F55 no Heated Seats = 15939772 = $389.34
2008 Carbon Fiber Center Consoles
Heated Seats with no F55 = 20807154 = $457.16
Heated Seats With F55 = 25972645 = $598.61
No Heated Seats No F55 = 25972656 = $419.45
With F55 no Heated Seats = 15939772 = $389.34
10-14-2010, 10:30 PM
#19
Race Director
Since PowerLabs installed it in a 2006 (I think) I'm assuming that console will fit a 2005 as well. It's just a matter of doing away with the pass airbag light. Right?
