DOUBLE DIN custom job

[sylencer]

hey guys. need a new deck and i was looking at the Alpine IVA W200. its a doube din dvd player with screen. basicly its just a touch screen that doesn't need to fold out because its double din. anyways. i'm wondering how hard it is to customize my dash to fit it. its a 94 grand am dash.

[Mac00GT]

if you aren't use to doing custom jobs on things like this man, I really have to suggest you go to a shop for this one.. they will charge you a bit for the install.. but it will look great. This can be tricky and very hard if you have no previous experience on it.. I give it maybe 6 out of 10.. then again a remote start is like a 7 lol and a system install is like a 1 or 1.5 lol

[nineteen88ga]

Originally posted by Mac00GT
if you aren't use to doing custom jobs on things like this man, I really have to suggest you go to a shop for this one.. they will charge you a bit for the install.. but it will look great. This can be tricky and very hard if you have no previous experience on it.. I give it maybe 6 out of 10.. then again a remote start is like a 7 lol and a system install is like a 1 or 1.5 lol

I disagree to some extent. I'd say a double din in a 94 GA would be more like a 10-15 on a difficulty scale. Your not just talking a little trtimmingto make it look professional. Break out the fiberglass and body filler. Then depending on how your going to finish the radio bezel raises the scale even more...not to mention the modifications that will be needed to the dash itself.
Your best bet will be to do a single din fold out screen.

[PCracer51]

It can be done, but don't expect a dremel to do all the work. As stated, this is going to be difficult and possiable dropping down into the ac controls so you would need to build trim peices for it and modify the AC control. Plus cutting the old supports out for the DIN and a half radio thats stock and building a new mounting setup. I would agree on a flip out 7" LCD.

[sylencer]

ok i have ripped out the dash and everything like that and come to the conclusion that all i will have to do is build my own spacer (shouldn't be too hard) then modify the bottom of my dash plate. As for the AC. there is a good 6" of space from the top to bottom, so i have more then enough room for the double din to fit in. Now As for the modifying the front dash cover. if anyone has any suggestions how to do this let me know. And also i have come to realize everything is alot cheaper in the states. If anyone has any good websites for in dash dvd players. By all means let me know

[Mac00GT]

Originally posted by nineteen88ga
I disagree to some extent. I'd say a double din in a 94 GA would be more like a 10-15 on a difficulty scale. Your not just talking a little trtimmingto make it look professional. Break out the fiberglass and body filler. Then depending on how your going to finish the radio bezel raises the scale even more...not to mention the modifications that will be needed to the dash itself.
Your best bet will be to do a single din fold out screen. I guess it depends on your level of experience.. I say about 6 because I have been installing since I was 14 and 18 I had my first class installer certification. I am currently working on my masters ;)

[sylencer]

ok guys another solution i was going to do was the single din flip open. my only problem is i dont like the flip open because the screen looks thin and breakable. Is there any single din dvd screens that is always open and is flush with ur dash? just like the double din only for a single?

[nineteen88ga]

Originally posted by sylencer
ok guys another solution i was going to do was the single din flip open. my only problem is i dont like the flip open because the screen looks thin and breakable. Is there any single din dvd screens that is always open and is flush with ur dash? just like the double din only for a single?

I don't believe is any such thing exists. I too agree that fold outs sometimes look like they can break easily...especially if its a touch screen and the scren itself moves every time you touch it to operate a certain function.

btw Mac00GT I'm also MECP certified and Im an installer. Such a job like this is definately not for a novice, but I'm sure you know that. ;) Glad to know some one else here has some experience in the field.

[sylencer]

alright started the work on it i changed my mind i am now buying a PIONEER AVH-P6800DVD . still a double din. i've doen everything in needed too inside, now i am just working on the outside dash plate. all i have to do is shave an inch from the bottom half. anyone have any solutions how is the fast way to go about this? if you have no idea what i'm talking about its probably because i am not very good at explaining this. basicly i want to know how to work with this hard plastic dash.

[red98grandamse]

dremel it down to where you want it? theres gotta be a good attachment for that tfor shaving plastic.

[sylencer]

if u can find that attachment or thread that would be greatly appreciated.

[nineteen88ga]

How about a cut off wheel for the dremel? something like that wold probably melt the plastic as you cut it basically melting it backtogether behind the cut, but if you take your time it can be made to look nice. I'd definately consider some sort of "body work" to give it an OEM appearance.

[sylencer]

i've done alot of custom work but nothing that revolved around this kind of problem. how much would u think it would cost to get a shop to do it, ball park range?

[nineteen88ga]

Depends what exactly would need to be done. If they'd get away with just trimming the dash piece or if they'd have to glass it. if they had to glass it (andfinish i of course) I'd say your looking close to $200 maybe more.

[sylencer]

ok well i can do everything except i'm scared of the dash peice. everything else mounting the deck and the spacer and everything i'll do, its just the front dash peice needs to be trimmed down sum and thats all there is too it. but i want it too look nice after words. i was told that i can shave it down then just repaint the whole dash peice. any other ideas rather then painting?/

[red98grandamse]

if you dont want to cut into your dash piece, get one from a junkyard to play with... atleast that way, if you screw up or whatever, then you still have your good one.

[Hodge]

get an alpine D310 and touch it all you want. You shouldn't have any problems... unless u decide to accidently have a 2x4 in your car and you try to hit it like a baseball.

[RickHigginsHtbr]

:mike:


Like Paul said, get another one to play around with... it's really not as hard as it seems, i just redid my dash piece, and i'm happy with it considering it was my first time playing with bondo.

[sylencer]

Alright guys. i just ordered the dvd player. i ended up with the AVH-P6800DVD. Earlier i thought the dash would be a problem. my only problem. however i was wrong. now that i have customize in the dash (took a skill saw to make a big hole) now my problem is no longer the dash plate. But instead. how to have the deck in securely. I need to make sum kind of custom rack or mount so the deck just sitting on all the wires for my AC. so if anyone has any ideas how to go about doing this. by all means.....

[RickHigginsHtbr]

:mike:

you know, i've actually used (not k'nex, not legos, the metal one) to secure radio's in. the way i had it rigged in my old horizon, you had to get behind the radio while it was in the dash to unbolt 4 screws to get the HU out. PITA, i know, but when your windows didnt go all the way up, and your doors didnt lock, it was the only way i could secure the HU that was worth more than the car. :lol: I actually also used those to make a custom bracket for the front spearkers in my T/A.

I would say, first, make a plate that goes over the HVAC so all the wires don't get mixed up. Then, figure out a way to bolt to HU down so that it won't bounce around.

[sylencer]

any ideas what kind of material to use for this? i'm not sure what "the metal one" is referring too lol

[RickHigginsHtbr]

lol, sorry, i'm havin a brain fart on what they're called. but i would say make the mounting brackets out of metal.... any pre-install pics of everything taken apart?

[sylencer]

as soon as i find a digital camera i can get sum up.

[cruzking88]

your thinking of meccano. stuff was awesome. never thought about it for mounting brackets before, but thats spiffy. i like that!

[sylencer]

i've looked this stuff on the internet and it looks really awsome. and easy too use. however it looks like its also for kids as well. so my questions is where would i find it locally? a home depot or a toys R us?

[RickHigginsHtbr]

I would think toys r us, since it's a kids toy :)