CarPC with JDM nav... work in progress
 

I am starting this thread for many reasons:
1. To give props to the people that gave me the inspiration for my setup:

N rider89 - His setup with the JDM nav tray is really what got me convinced to do this in the first place since I always wanted the navigation option, but didn't want to go with something like a modular (GPS) unit:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/pics-my-touchscreen-w-jdm-nav-tray-101791/
(BTW, I just got the nav tray, and the instructions are all in Japanese! The pictures help to a degree, but is there anyone out there that has already installed it and can advise me on how not to royally screw this up?)

Rotorgeek - He built his PC hardware to go into the glovebox. I will be doing the same thing, however mounting the stuff in there is not going to be easy for me: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/rotorgeek-carputer-rearview-cam-78367/

Chamberlin - The new owner of Rotorgeek's hardware. He made a few changes to how he put the hardware into the glovebox. Granted, I do not want to be cutting up the glovebox, I am thankful for his pictures provided in his post: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/rotorgeeks-carpcs-new-home-w-i-p-98069/


2. I will need some help on figuring out the dash and integrating power to the carPC. I haven't been able to find a DIY on taking the dash apart; can anyone direct me to a DIY or give me some pointers? I have taken the head unit out to swap in a 6-disc changer and add an audiolink adapter before.


3. Hopefully after all is said and done, I will have something to brag about. =D (followed with gratuitous pictures, of course). For now, I will post all the goodies am putting together:

VIA Epia MII-10000
512MB PC2700 DDR
Opus 120W DC-DC converter from www.mp3car.com
40GB Western Digital 3.5" HDD (I may opt for a 2.5")
FX5200 low profile video card from www.newegg.com
PCI flexible riser adapter from www.logicsupply.com
motherboard USB header adapter from www.logicsupply.com
Verizon EV-DO PCcard
USB Wi-Fi adapter
AudioLink iPod adapter + minijack adapter
Garmin GPS18 USB device from www.amazon.com
JDM nav tray from www.mazdaparts.com
Hymee sCANalyzer also from www.mazdaparts.com
Lilliput transflective 7" LCD touchscreen from www.mp3car.com


I will edit this post later as things progress. Unfortunately, this project is on hold until i get the LCD which is on backorder til mid/late April (I have already ordered it). Suggestions and feedback on my setup are greatly appreciated!

nice setup! Sounds good so far. I have an HP E-PC custom fitted with a 7" touch screen and the Hymee sCANalyser as well.

Reguarding question #2; what part of the dash are you looking to remove? If you already know how to remove the radio, then you have a pretty good grasp on it. To remove the top dash part (where it looks like you are mounting your screen) there are two screen right under the AC vents in the center stack, covered by the radio; you'll have to slide out the radio slightly to access these screws. Once removed, the top dash part pops out.

as he said it really easy to work in there once the headunit is out. there are 2 screws holding in the vents and then the top pops out

Yea; it's just the center dash I need removed; however, I will also have to do a lot of wire routing, I imagine:
--OBDII from under the steering wheel through the center console and to the glovebox
--wire extension from audiolink to glovebox
--VGA & USB from LCD to glovebox
--power wires to DC-DC converter in glovebox

Are there enough holes inside there to easily push these through? Is there a recommended spot to route the wires? I'd hate to push the head unit back in only to find out I pinched and sliced/shorted something. I may have to get creative, if anything.

Figuring out how to tap the electrical system alone is going to be... interesting. I am currently searching here and at mp3car.com for any useful posts on how to get this Opus wired up. From the glovebox, are there ground/positive/ignition wires that can be safely tapped?

oh yeah i forgot to tell you. heres some instructions from mazda that should help:

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...8/RX8_iPod.pdf

there is plenty of room from the nav are into the glovebox to run wires. probably enough to slide an ipod through, so its not congested at all

perfect!
 

You are awesome!

UPDATE:
Transflective screen finally in stock at mp3car.com! It's been shipped already, so I should get it in a few days.

In the meantime, I do have a question for those of you that have already set up a carPC; Where did you run your power lines to? Since my hardware is going to be in the glovebox, I am looking for the easiest place to tap a 12V line and the ignition line. I may make another thread for this question to get better visibility.

You do have both available at the interior fuse block. Here is a possible solution: https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...42&postcount=7

Thanks for starting this thread! I'm in the process of making a list of parts to do this too. I'll be following this closely.

For power (12V constant and 12V switched) you can go to the fuse box in the driver's footwell. Both green wires, the 12V constant is the thickest wire you will find ;)

As for pics and instructions, I have lots, but alas I cannot post most of them here, since the pics are too large....

nice!, good luck with the project. Check out my set up and let me know if you have any questions.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/add-me-car-pc-list-94311/

The touchscreen is in and mounted! Here are some quick and dirty pictures for now; I am T-minus 10 hours until a DiffEQ exam, but I wanted to post some progress with the setup.

too cool! cant wait to see it in the car!

word, i'll be following this also

Very Nice! So what do you think of the transflective screen? Have you tried it in sunlight any to see if it looks ok? What did you say you were using for the nav software?

Once I get home, I'll take a picture with flash and an LED flashlight pointed straight at it to get the message clear as to how effective the screen is (ultimate test of course is in the sun, but that won't happen until i have it in the car installed).

I am using a Garmin GPS 18 running nRoute.

EDIT: Added pics. I used the camera flash and an LED flashlight shined straight onto the screens, and took the pictures head-on as much as I could. For comparison, I also took pictures in the same manner on a 17" desktop screen and my laptop. The transflective screen attracts smudges something fierce, but it is very effective against glare... the flashlight alone will reflect its lightsource with hardly any dispersion. I will have pics of it in the sun when I get everything installed.

Finally; progress! I met up with some of the local guys here in StL, and managed to get the time to install the difficult stuff; wire routing behind the dash, GPS receiver, and LCD mount. I will post more pictures in the next day assuming I get up at a reasonable hour before work.

Oh, and I've also started another thread to nag Guino about how he installed a switch in his car:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/mounting-wiring-switch-into-panels-dsc-off-button-guino-i-need-your-help-118046/#post1901422
Seeing his motorized display open and close on command of turning the key sometimes makes me wish I would have thrown money to the wind to get it... :(

pictures!
 

Okay, first off I have pictures of the core PC hardware; next will be the parts in the glove box, and then the installed LCD mount and GPS in the dash. For the extra USB header adapter, I had to file off one side of the PCB far enough so it would clear the heatsink. I may opt to get a better adapter for for laptop HDD to save on space.

more pictures!
 

This is going to be the tricky part: getting everything securely mounted in the glovebox. I know about 3 of you people out there have done this. I am trying to follow how Rotorgeek did his, although I have the extra video card to deal with, I hope I have the clearance behind the wall of the glovebox for the DC-DC converter. Any suggestions on how to mount the stuff to the walls? I was thinking the smaller things like the HDD, video card, and USB hub can all be velcroed to the walls. The motherboard and DC-DC converter on the other hand may need more permanent solutions. I was thinking drilled holes and some zip ties near the top edge of the glovebox like twisted8 did (best that I can tell at least):

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=94311

Those of you that have successfully mounted your stuff in there, please chime with details on how you did it. Nice closeup pictures would be a plus! :)

I am open to suggestions on how I should arrange the stuff in the box, but these pictures show my proposed idea:

and yet even more pictures!
 

Here's what's in the car so far. The dash mount is installed as well as the GPS receiver. I filed away a small hole into the speaker grille to feed the wire for the receiver through.

Most of the wire routing has been done with the exception of the power lines from the battery. And boy is all that cabling a mess! I'm going to have one hell of a time figuring out how to cleanly stow it all away; that OBDII cable especially... it's so long! BTW, I tapped the cigarette lighter's 12V wire for the ignition to the Opus. The LCD will be powered from a spare molex connector from the Opus.

I know Tamas suggested the fuse box for power, but I am preferring to go to the battery instead for an easier cleaner connection. Does anyone know of a pre-existing hole in the firewall that I can route through, or will I need to punch a hole somewhere?

One thing I noticed when trying to put the dash mount in; there's this tab that sticks out of the underside of the tray on the passenger side of the mount (sorry, forgot to take pictures of it). Terretsboy helped me with installing the mount and we were having problems getting all the snaps to go in. We realized all of a sudden that this being JDM, it was probably designed for a RHD car; as much as it wouldn't seem to make a difference, there is actually a bump at the bottom of all that space in the dash that is only on the passenger side (thus blocking the aforementioned tab which on a RHD car would be on the opposite side). Long story short; I cut the tab off, and everything snapped in nicely. Anyway... PICTURES!:

Onrails, here are some better pictures showing how well the transflective screen works. Granted, it's a bit of overcast today, it holds up a lot better than my laptop does! The screen is currently set at 70% brightness and 55% contrast, running off my laptop at 1024x768 resolution. In the pictures you see a spot of glare, that is the flash from the camera. I for one am VERY impressed with this. Once the weather clears up, I will try to get pictures in the brightest lighting possible.

I am impressed too. That is really looking good.

Hi

Looks good I using the same JDM nav tray and monitor as you. I went with a Aopen MB and core 2 duo processor. Is that your GPS receiver on the dash? Im Using the BU-353 receiver under the under the Nav tray and getting good signal.

Ohh what front-end and Car2PC adapter are you using?

Good luck on the rest of the install, having a CarPC makes your car feel new again :)

Really nice job. I've actually started on mine as well but so far I am not completly happy with my cabling. I elected to go under the seat (I know, I know) rather than in the glovebox. How is the GPS working for you? I had a copy of S&T already so I used that but it really doesn't intergrate with Roadrunner all that well.