Custom Dashboard set up --> Help needed to remove dash??

[munkynpunky]

Hi All,

Firstly I'm a newbie so sorry if there is somewhere better to list this but as this is a suzuki issue i felt best to stick it here

Now,

I have a 91 Suzuki Vitara SWB Soft top 1600. I need to remove the dash, what kind of job is it to do? i need to get to the wiring behind it and redo the stereo loom and check the rest of the wiring as my electric mirrors have packed up and i know the motors are ok

I am custom building a dash / audio / visual system.

One touch Screen 7" Monitor in the dash centre console, 2 x 7" Screens in the headrests of the front seats.

2 x 4" Speakers in the front and 2 x 6" in the side almost rear.

1 x 12" 1000w Sub in the boot with a 400w Amp.

1 x Windows XP Media PC in the boot with an inverter to power it. Graphics Card, Surround Sound Card, taking the audio feeds to the speakers and amp.

Dual Screen Graphics card feeding 1 screen in the front on one channel and the other 2 screens with a different input this is so i can have SAT NAV or Reversing Camera instead of the mirror on the front screen and then have DVD's in the rear for the little-luns...

Its gonna be so so easy, the hardest part is going to be the custom dash, as I am changing the layout completely. 7" screen mounted in the dash at the top and then, a keyboard draw for my wireless kit. then the temperature settings, and Grimace lighter and clock at the bottom with an extra voltage digital display for the battery

No headunit / stereo etc etc....

So, long statement for an easy question... How do i remove the centre console of the dash? is it very easy? how long does it take? Has anyone done anything like this?

All replies and ideas gratefully recieved...

Thanks
Drew

(visit Munky 'n Punky New Site Launched!!!

[nicbeer]

Very Bling for here. I take it does not go offroad?

Usually the centre console holds on by clips or a couple screws near the stereo hole and ashtray.

cheers

[munkynpunky]

Hi,

It is about as far from off road as you can get lol... It gets a blast on green lanes sometimes lol, couple of dirt tracks but nothing major...

It is just an idea to keep the passengers amused on long trips to holiday destinations pulling the caravan lol.... and keep me amused with a cab full of new gadgets..

plus i can add a camera to the rear and by fitting a switch ti the gear selector as soon as i select reverse the cam will power on and override the display on the dash screen.....

just gotta get a fibreglass kit (guess this is what i need to rebuild the centre console? ) and get going on it.. lol

And a new battery i think... Gonna be using a lot of juice powering the pc too.... may ne a second battery behind the rear seats.... Making a false floor to cover over most of the ice install, everything except the Sub and the second battery by the look of it lol

I am going to remove the section where the headunit stereo would normally be, any suggestions as to what gauges i can put in? Voltage is one.... need 2 more lol

Thanks for the response

Drew

[nicbeer]

haha

This a manual or auto? If ur towing and an auto maybe get a tranny temp gauge and a oil press gauge. another is a amps gauge to see when the batterys flat from pounding the ice.

cheers

[munkynpunky]

Hey Again,

Its a manual..

I like the idea of digital gauges so i was thinking, oil temp, water temp and voltage? or oil temp, oil pressure and voltage?

Never thought about the Amp one.. that would be better suited as i am concerned about the power aspect on the vit....

Hmmmm, too many ideas, not enough time lol...

Cheers
Drew

[Whitey]

Not sure if if we're talking about the same thing here, but by centre console, do you mean everything like the stereo unit, ash tray, and the air vent controlls, or something else? If you do mean all this it can be a bit of a job. After unscrewing a complete dash from a zuk I was surprised to find that it was still being held in place by the cables that controll warm/cool air and the fan(some go thru the fire wall to the engine) So the hardest part is removing these cables. The only way I found to do this with out destroying them is by trying to reach up and under the dash.... not easy. However, if you are replacing them with something else, then I'd get a recipro saw and cut yourself a hole and then cut the cables...heaps easier.

[ed oorklep]

hehe, I like it, it's something different. Take pic's and post them here. I'd get a manual of some sort to see how to get the dash out. I'm not at home so can't look it up for you right away. And if you're going to replace it I'd say sawzall too

[Bentzook]

you want something different, try a Vit pod plastic welded onto a 1tr dash

[Damo]

...Grimace lighter...

Hehe, he said "Grimace"

[smileysmoke]

IMHO that a HDD may not last too long in a car, regardless of it going offroad or not. i have noticed a lot of Ipods going arse up because they have a laptop hdd, and when running and just general bumping off the device tends to create bad sectors.
i had an idea like yours buy i am going to go with solid state memory like whats used in flash drives and small portable mp3 players.

my 2c anyways.

still i want photos of the finished product!

[Mudsierra]

That sounds awesome.

I was thinking of putting in a different dash in my 85 Sierra as I don't like the one I have - its a bloody plain Jane.

Would a dash from either Jimny or Vitara fit?

[chris72]

dont be deterred by what people say about HDD's too much, I have heard the same thing.. and i run an olympus M-robe(similar HDD mp3 to an ipod) as my car stereo fulltime.. Commute ~10 hours a week to work in a leaf sprung zook, + a fair bit of weekend offroading, and i can tell you it takes a battering. I have the standard dock it came with mounted to the dash which it sits on firm, has never fallen from.. and i have not had a single problem caused by it yet. Its been running since March. The HDD particularly hand helds and in car are designed to take shock.. provided its not TOO HARSh(ie. dropping it.). Look after it and i dont think you should be too put of by that fear. The in car specific ones should/may have it in their warranty so just check that before you buy, thats the most important thing.