Interest in RX-8 Aftermarket Dash Kit and Wires
 

I am just trying to guage some interest to see if this idea is worth doing.

The kit would include a double DIN dash kit (unpainted, probably just primered or something), wire extensions w/ harnesses and of course instructions. I am currently doing it to my car and know some people that can make a mold and reproduce a couple of the dash pieces as well as harnesses needed for installation.

Some parts from your factory radio will be used, but they are easy to access and put onto the new kit. Mainly the AC controls and a circuit board or two.

It would be perfect fitment because its a mold from my double DIN that I'm doing and there would be single DIN applications as well.

Total install time for a project like this would be in the 2 to 3 hour range with this kit and basic electronics knowledge (mainly how to solder) is all you need.

I just want to see if there are enough people interested before I go calling in favors and getting stuff done and what a reasonable price would be. Just fill out the poll real quick and post what you think is a good price. Thanks.

If you think you can do it, go for it!

I've been waiting for Corksport's kit to finally come out, but they haven't been able to get it right for over a year now. :lol2:

oh yeah do it! especially if the price it at least reasonable i'd be one of the first to buy from you..

Yes I'd be interested. :fingersx:

After I get the rundown and pricing of all the materials I'll probably start up a preorder system or something and then ask the mods if its okay to do a group buy.

I'll probably do 10 or 12 at a time and will give a price pretty soon. Hopefully in a few weeks.

As far as pricing would be, don't hold me to this just yet, but around 350 or so. Maybe a little less depending on costs of materials and what not.

One more thing I forgot to add that this will not work with Bose systems. Bose systems will require some extra wiring and bypassing of the factory amp.

All PM's replied to.

A lot of people are asking about the price of it. The price given is not a definite and can go up or down depending on costs of the materials put into the kit.

The costs incurred are 1) find a place here that will make a mold and duplicate quality dash kits, 2) finding a place that will make harnesses for our stock AC controls that include male and female ends so that there will be no cutting needed and the extentions of the wires will be long enough to properly attach to the hardware without interferring with anything, 3) possible painting of the kits to match Piano Black (other colors may be available depending on the success of this) and 4) shipping.

This kit might be a little pricey, but if you compare it to the $450+ price tag Corksport has, it's a deal and it actually works.

will the steering wheel audio controls still work with the aftermarket head unit? If so I could be very interested!

Damn it!

Steering wheel controls will not work this particular set up. There is an extra part you can buy that will allow it to work on certain headunits.

The PAC Audio makes several different interfaces that work with aftermarket radios and factory stereo controls. As a matter of fact, I will be using one with my D3. You can purchase them directly from the site or you can get them of eBay for a cheaper price (but PAC will not honor any warranty if they are bought through eBay). They are very simple to hook up if you headunit has the option for a wired remote. The website is www.pac-audio.com.

Sorry. I don't know of any BOSE intergration harnesses as of yet. For the most part, you can get this kit and go to a audio shop and have them rewire the car so that the factory amp is bypassed. Its fairly easy to do if you have any car audio experience and most places don't charge too too much. I know our shop starts out at $120 for a rewire and goes up from there depending on the difficulty of the rewire.

Would it make a difference that I dont even use the bose amp? I have replaced everything in the car... (kinda, still working on the install)

If you have a 4 channel amp then you can use this kit. The 4 channel amp should have already bypassed the amp depending on who did the install and how they did it.

I am doing the install as we speak. I am running all the factory signals into a LC8 converter, then from there to my 4ch amp...

UPDATE.

I have contacted a few companies here in Richmond trying to get bits and pieces made. I found a shop in Ashland that will be making the harnesses. So far they are in the process of making a prototype extension harness for the AC controls, radio and hazard switch.

The hard part is finding a place to make a mold and replicate the dash piece I have made. They said that normal plastic places around here won't do it because they don't have the equipment. The process needed for this kit is called injection molding and is really pricey. A mold goes for about 500-800 bucks. I don't know if thats just for the initial mold to be made or for each dash piece. Just letting you guys know whats up. If anybody has the hookup with injection molds, let me know. Thanks.

How about rotomolding? The molds don't have to withstand the pressures of injection molding so they are typically cheaper.

http://www.rotomolding.org/i4a/pages...fm?pageid=3283

My guess would be that 500-800 would be for the initial cost of making the mold....

Thanks for the info, I'll check into it.

As of right now I have sent out my dash kit that I made to a company in Greensboro, NC by the name of American Injection Molding (AIM). There website looked good and I really didn't have much to go by. I called them up and they seemed professional and friendly enough. I just sent it out a few days ago and now its just a matter of time. They are going to look at what I have, make suggestions on what needs to be done, what can be done better and what I can do to save costs (splitting into parts and assembly once you get it in the package). So, I'll let you guys know whats up.

Dude, you F'in rock!:ylsuper:

I have to say, I'm a machinist and I do quite a bit of injection mold work (I work on them, don't design or anything) and if you can get a mold that big with that kind of odd shape for 800 bucks it would be a bargain.

Actually, thinking about it a little more, I'd have to say there's no way in hell you'd get an injection mold built for 800 bucks :( I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

Well, I'm crossing my fingers and waiting to hear what AIM has to say.

When I talked to somebody about getting the mold, thats what they said it cost them, it wasn't the actual company quoting this price, just somebody familiar with the process.

some is selling a whole nav sys in ebay for 1000

Okay. I don't know exactly how that relates to my thread. Care to elaborate?

Any word back from that AIM place? This has kinda piqued my interest since I have some kind of knowledge about what you're trying to get done.