Navigation System Hardwired/Intergrated Into Dash (VZ Calais)

[calais190]

Okay, so i'll start from the idea. I couldn't stand my vision being impaired by putting the portable navigation system on the windscreen. No matter where I put it, it blocked my vision of the gutters, of the road, of pedestrians and other cars. It got to the point where I felt uncomfortable to have it on the window. So I took matters into my own hands, I decided to integrate the GPS into an area easy to see, away from the window allowing the rest of the windscreen to be free and adding that extra class to my interior. I will explain what I did with poorly taken mobile photos to show the procedure.

First of all, I decided the best part of the car to hardwire this GPS in was right at the top in the flip top console directly above the Air Conditioning Unit. Imo, it's bloody useless if theres no gauges there anyway, so may as well make use of it.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo059.jpg

I pulled the rubber matt inside the console out, and undid the 4 screws. After this the aircon unit and lid console come loose. There are another 4 screws holding the console to the aircon facia, so i undid those to remove it.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo060.jpg

I then placed the GPS system I use (Navman S90) on top of the plastic console lid and used a pencil to draw a stencil around the unit.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo061.jpg

Stencil i roughly drew.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo062.jpg

My weapon of choice was a Soldering iron. I used the iron the cut the plastic, to form a hole where the navigation unit should be.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo063.jpg

The next two photos show the tip of the Soldering iron. I hammered it flat so i could cut the plastic like a warm knife through butter.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo064.jpg

It didnt quite work as easily as through butter as the 1970's soldering iron I had didn't generate quite enough heat.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo065.jpg

Straight after the solder it looked like this.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo066.jpg

Another view :)
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo067.jpg

I then pulled out the files and began to shape by hacking fair violently at the plastic (i left a few mm when cutting with the soldering iron on each side so i could achieve an exact fit via filing).

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo068.jpg

As i filed the top piece of the console (it split into two pieces), making sure it looked pretty, the underneath piece i brutally hacked, and it's truly brutal. But for this purpose, it cannot be seen so does not matter.

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo069.jpg

After this I used some Foam to create a base for the GPS to stand on.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo070.jpg

Sprayed it black with spray paint.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo071.jpg

Next was fitting the console back into the dash, the foam base, cutting and filing being complete.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo072.jpg

In the mean time i ran the cable for power to the navigation system from my centre console under the lights and under the auto shifter up the side of the dash finally to the top of the console lid. I filed a hole using a circular file at the back of the top flip console to accommodate the wire power source for the navigation unit.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo073.jpg

With that all done, I put everything back together, all the screws back in and put the GPS in for a look. This is the result:

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo074.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo075.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/Photo076.jpg

This was a really easy mod, it was time consuming, took around 4 hours to do today, and cost about 10 dollars (for foam) and the rest was just hard labour.

I will get some better pictures up using a DSLR because these are shocking. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the thread, feel free to leave your opinion!

Cheers,

Damo.

[Mad4Monaros]

Good effort. Just abit too tacky for me.

[calais190]

Good effort. Just abit too tacky for me.

Thanks mate. I agree though, It's far from the class of a built in GPS system, however it's much easier to read off then from placing it under the head unit. I bought an additional flip console for when i get over it (cost $22) haha.

[Mad4Monaros]

Did you also take into consideration that now you may have someone break into your car to take the GPS?

[Big_Valven]

I like it. GPS navigators on the windscreen should be banned... people plonk them right in the middle of the windscreen. Visibility much?

[calais190]

Did you also take into consideration that now you may have someone break into your car to take the GPS?

Yes I took that into consideration. The Gps is removable. The system works like an Ipod dock. Slides in and out with ease. So i can take it out whenever i don't feel comfortable leaving it sitting on the dash. The hole for it stays there obviously (thought about making a retractable lid that closes when the GPS is removed, but that's time consuming). It's as much a give away to having a GPS as the people who leave the GPS holder on the windscreen or when the suction cup leaves a circular impression on the glass. Its fairly unoticeable when the GPS is not in it.


I like it. GPS navigators on the windscreen should be banned... people plonk them right in the middle of the windscreen. Visibility much?

Thanks mate. And I agree completely, having it on the window annoyed me so much it made me cut up my dash haha. :)

[Goggles]

I like it. GPS navigators on the windscreen should be banned... people plonk them right in the middle of the windscreen. Visibility much?

I agree that gps units in the middle of the screen are ridiculous, but to have them low down in the dash is much worse.

FWIW - I have mine on the lower right part of my windscreen next to the A pillar and it is in my line of sight, but does not distract me too much.

[calais190]

I agree that gps units in the middle of the screen are ridiculous, but to have them low down in the dash is much worse.

FWIW - I have mine on the lower right part of my windscreen next to the A pillar and it is in my line of sight, but does not distract me too much.

I agree entirely. I had mine where you have yours next to the A-pillar, and it was okay, but i found it hard to see the gutters when going around roundabouts, and with 19" rims, i'm particular with seeing gutters. Hence i put it out of the way.

[vtman]

A good effort mate.

The other, far more expensive option is a double-DIN head unit with in-built GPS, and the bonus of a DVD player.

http://car-audio-video.info/wp-content/uploads/kenwood-dnx-7100-dvd-gps.jpg

[fishman88]

Nice work!!! although gauges would look so much better ther!! ahahaha

[calais190]

A good effort mate.

The other, far more expensive option is a double-DIN head unit with in-built GPS, and the bonus of a DVD player.

Yes that would be the way to go, if i had money haha. This way cost me 10dollars :)


Nice work!!! although gauges would look so much better ther!! ahahaha

Yeah i thought about gauges, but money was an issue. They're heaps expensive. So i decided to go down DYI path, do something a bit different.

I'll have to get some HQ pics up, my camera phone does no justice.

[calais190]

Ok, I took out a real camera and took some photos to show what the GPS really sits like in the car.

This is a close up to show how flush the hole fits with the GPS.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/IMG_2292.jpg

Another photo showing how it sits in with the interior. Imo, it definately adds to it.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/IMG_2285.jpg

And this one is to show just how out of the way it is, and the unobstructed view you get from the drivers seat.
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/calais190/IMG_2290.jpg