Composite Materials Got bored on this 4 day weekend...

turboguy · 11-26-2005, 07:34 PM

Among other things, (changing the exhaust on the wifes car, and finishing up some other interior pieces), I decided it was time to hack into my factory stereo surround piece. I bought a HKS C.A.M.P. system a while back and have been thinking how I want to integrate this into my car. I'v thought about making a custom piece that replaces the map lights and putting a display there, but decided against it. I thought about using one of those double-din non foldout screen dvd players, but I relised I wouldn't be able to keep the screen on the camp and change stations, cd's etc. Not to mention, its not the over-the-top ideas that I normally have. I looked around and found that the biggest screen that anyone had integrated into their dash piece was a 7", while losing the stereo. I decided to challenge myself to do a semi-custom stereo surround that would let me keep my stereo in the lower din pocket and also have the room to integrate an 8" tft lcd screen into the piece.

Well, so far, so good. I've spent around 20 minutes total on this and its already looking good. I cut the center of the dash piece out with a close-quarters hack saw and trimmed the lcd bezel accordingly. I also trimmed the stereo surround piece and I'm integrating it into the piece as well. Here is everything trimmed and ready for bondo:

I used Bondo Ultimate mainly because its designed for plastics and cures FAST. (I was sanding 5 min after application) This is the first application of bondo and the first sanding. I need to do probably 2 more bondo coats, more sanding, glazing and spot putty, more sanding, a flat black base, and finally, wrapping in carbon fiber. After the first coat of bondo:

I know, some of you may be saying "That looks like shit!" Well, screw you.

After it is all said and done, it will be another masterpiece creation of mine that I will be very proud of. I figure another week of 1/2 an hour per night and it'll be ready for finishing. By the way, the hole for the climate control unit is being filled in as a custom housing for my Blitz SBC-iD boost controller and my PowerMeter-iD unit. The ashtray has already been filled and drilled for my alarm LED and 2 Switches for my aux fuse box. (7 circuit) I WILL have my car back together one day!!!

blazinmr2 · 11-27-2005, 02:28 PM

Looks good, I can't wait to see the finished product.

DrPaine · 11-30-2005, 07:21 PM

yea, I'm lookign forward to seeing more! Looks good so far.

SKYMR2 · 11-30-2005, 07:48 PM

"That looks like shit!"

Tyler · 11-30-2005, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKYMR2

"That looks like shit!"

"maybe it thinks you look like shit"

Weasy2k · 12-01-2005, 03:21 AM

wow dude awsome! i have been collecting parts for my mr2's carputer but the screen was my biggest fear....i build engines....not dash's....omg...
(my thread in sound off)

SKYMR2 · 12-01-2005, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler

"maybe it thinks you look like shit"

"you look like shit"

Mister-Twoster · 12-01-2005, 10:08 AM

why is that quoted? Looking good, keep it up

Weasy2k · 12-01-2005, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKYMR2

"you look like shit"

"your shit"

SKYMR2 · 12-01-2005, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasy2k

"your shit"

yup just like "my shit"

SKYMR2 · 12-01-2005, 09:28 PM

nice work either way...

SKYMR2 · 12-01-2005, 09:29 PM

turboguy.. you ever thought about the vinyl wrap thing ?

Mr2insane · 12-01-2005, 09:52 PM

hmm curious about vinyl wrap.. how would you do that.

Turboguy why do you need to paint a black base if you are going to wrap it. Just curious

SKYMR2 · 12-01-2005, 10:04 PM

Insane. i saw some one done it once. it almost like those heatshrink thingie. the outcome are pretty nice since it able to wrap around corner and stuff too.. i'll ask for you

Weasy2k · 12-02-2005, 02:26 AM

what is this wrap shiz....

turboguy · 12-02-2005, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr2insane

hmm curious about vinyl wrap.. how would you do that.

Turboguy why do you need to paint a black base if you are going to wrap it. Just curious

Its just so you can't see any of the other colors through the weave of the fabric.

And no, I like carbon fiber wrapping much more than vinyl.

turboguy · 12-02-2005, 07:52 PM

Well, here is piece after all the sanding and plastic work. I can't fill in the climate control hole until I have my SBC-iD and PowerMeter in hand. I plan on flush mounting those in the climate control spot. After that, I can paint and carbon wrap.

Finished plastic work:

I molded everything together so it is flush across the front. There are no dips, visible junctions, or raised spots to detract from its beauty. Too bad you can't see it in person. It looks absolutely amazing.

canadam · 12-02-2005, 08:27 PM

looks good man !

I may come to you for help when I do a little fiberglass over the holidays here (if I get around to it), if that's okay with you !

turboguy · 12-02-2005, 08:48 PM

Just fine by me. I'm here to help.

Weasy2k · 12-03-2005, 04:29 PM

yea ditto you did some good work there man

11-26-2005, 07:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
turboguy Resident Composites Guy Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 948 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Installing an LCD Screen in the dash Among other things, (changing the exhaust on the wifes car, and finishing up some other interior pieces), I decided it was time to hack into my factory stereo surround piece. I bought a HKS C.A.M.P. system a while back and have been thinking how I want to integrate this into my car. I'v thought about making a custom piece that replaces the map lights and putting a display there, but decided against it. I thought about using one of those double-din non foldout screen dvd players, but I relised I wouldn't be able to keep the screen on the camp and change stations, cd's etc. Not to mention, its not the over-the-top ideas that I normally have. I looked around and found that the biggest screen that anyone had integrated into their dash piece was a 7", while losing the stereo. I decided to challenge myself to do a semi-custom stereo surround that would let me keep my stereo in the lower din pocket and also have the room to integrate an 8" tft lcd screen into the piece. Well, so far, so good. I've spent around 20 minutes total on this and its already looking good. I cut the center of the dash piece out with a close-quarters hack saw and trimmed the lcd bezel accordingly. I also trimmed the stereo surround piece and I'm integrating it into the piece as well. Here is everything trimmed and ready for bondo: I used Bondo Ultimate mainly because its designed for plastics and cures FAST. (I was sanding 5 min after application) This is the first application of bondo and the first sanding. I need to do probably 2 more bondo coats, more sanding, glazing and spot putty, more sanding, a flat black base, and finally, wrapping in carbon fiber. After the first coat of bondo: I know, some of you may be saying "That looks like shit!" Well, screw you. After it is all said and done, it will be another masterpiece creation of mine that I will be very proud of. I figure another week of 1/2 an hour per night and it'll be ready for finishing. By the way, the hole for the climate control unit is being filled in as a custom housing for my Blitz SBC-iD boost controller and my PowerMeter-iD unit. The ashtray has already been filled and drilled for my alarm LED and 2 Switches for my aux fuse box. (7 circuit) I WILL have my car back together one day!!! Last edited by turboguy; 11-26-2005 at 09:14 PM..

12-02-2005, 08:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
canadam MidshipExpress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Posts: 10,399 Thanks: 120 Thanked 142 Times in 121 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (34/100% )	looks good man ! I may come to you for help when I do a little fiberglass over the holidays here (if I get around to it), if that's okay with you ! __________________

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11-27-2005, 02:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
blazinmr2 Resident guitar shredder Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pella, Ia Posts: 781 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Looks good, I can't wait to see the finished product.

11-30-2005, 07:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
DrPaine Boost Whore! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hershey, PA Posts: 319 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	yea, I'm lookign forward to seeing more! Looks good so far.

11-30-2005, 07:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
SKYMR2 Cac Of The Year Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 696 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	"That looks like shit!"

12-01-2005, 03:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	wow dude awsome! i have been collecting parts for my mr2's carputer but the screen was my biggest fear....i build engines....not dash's....omg... (my thread in sound off)

12-01-2005, 10:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mister-Twoster shhwWAAAAA PSSHHHHHhhh Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 371 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	why is that quoted? Looking good, keep it up

12-01-2005, 09:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
SKYMR2 Cac Of The Year Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 696 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	nice work either way...

12-01-2005, 09:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
SKYMR2 Cac Of The Year Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 696 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	turboguy.. you ever thought about the vinyl wrap thing ?

12-01-2005, 09:52 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mr2insane NOoB Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: ATL Posts: 233 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	hmm curious about vinyl wrap.. how would you do that. Turboguy why do you need to paint a black base if you are going to wrap it. Just curious

12-01-2005, 10:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
SKYMR2 Cac Of The Year Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 696 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Insane. i saw some one done it once. it almost like those heatshrink thingie. the outcome are pretty nice since it able to wrap around corner and stuff too.. i'll ask for you

12-02-2005, 02:26 AM	#15 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	what is this wrap shiz....

12-02-2005, 07:52 PM	#17 (permalink)
turboguy Resident Composites Guy Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 948 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Well, here is piece after all the sanding and plastic work. I can't fill in the climate control hole until I have my SBC-iD and PowerMeter in hand. I plan on flush mounting those in the climate control spot. After that, I can paint and carbon wrap. Finished plastic work: I molded everything together so it is flush across the front. There are no dips, visible junctions, or raised spots to detract from its beauty. Too bad you can't see it in person. It looks absolutely amazing.

12-02-2005, 08:48 PM	#19 (permalink)
turboguy Resident Composites Guy Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 948 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Just fine by me. I'm here to help.

12-03-2005, 04:29 PM	#20 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	yea ditto you did some good work there man