my latest project

[belber095]

woah this is such a cool project. i've been thinking about getting a radar detector for a while. i'm just not sure i've got the kinda craftmanship i'd need to be doing all this cool stuff with the clock pod. can't wait to see what you do with it scott!

 

[ttocs]

thanks guys, I look forward to it as well.

 

[g36 monkey]

Go away Scott, you're too good for us

 

[ttocs]

thanks. I am certainly not the average DIYer but funny enough I didn't do much custom work when I installed full time. Funny enough I am too intimidated by the work done by the other people on a 12v forum to post pics there but that site has the best installers in the country on it...

Just went with a gloss black, still need to color sand and clear it. Can't help but think its too plain now. Might make the polished ring just to see how it looks yet on the other hand I kind of want to keep the radar detector and its parts on the DL....

 

[ttocs]

I hate rustoleum. That black above was an enamel paint from them that I had left over from painting something in the engine bay and I thought it would work well in this place. For some reason I could not get the clear to lay flat on it and ended up sanding it down 3 times to try again. Finally took the black off and went with duplicolor and then all was happy in the universe. Also bent up the piece in the back to hold it. It will rest on the ring the coin holder rested in so that when I push the bottons it will not seperate the two pieces that are epoxied together. Gives a nice flush look that blends in nicely. I am trying to keep everything about the radar on the DL but still wonder if I should not have put some kind of detail line on it....

Now I can finish the install! more pics to follow.

 

[g36 monkey]

I'm going to make a trip to you, and we are going to remake my clock radar lol. Jerk making me feel like crap about mine ;p

 

[ttocs]

that would be harder then this one. This one is made to do what I am doing to it yours would take alot more thought to execute.

 

[g36 monkey]

I'd be getting a remote system of sorts like you haha. I've got something in the works, it'll jsut be a little while. Converting to an actual black sn95 dash though, with a real spot for the clock pod.

 

[ttocs]

did I mention I hate rustoleum?

Installed the control panel and the display today. I am suprised to say that I didn't even need any double stick tape or adhesive, it fits tight enough to be rock solid and not move.

here you can also see the switch panel I made and installed in the ash tray. It allows me to turn on/off 8 accessories with the square touch-pads and the round part on the bottom is a remote for one of my plx designs gauges.

Also got to install the display and happy to say it came out exactly like I pictured. In person it looks like a black piece of plexi and the viewing window isn't as easily seen in person.

Also installed the passive alert/bi-colored led. I installed it in the top of the gauge shrowd so it shines down onto the gauges and reflects back at me. Will need to power it up to get a pic of it but hopefully that will be tomorrow.

Now back to my hatred for rustoleum. I got to the point that I needed to install the main module that all the pieces plug into. I think their idea was to just wire-tie it up under the dash but I have never been a fan of that, ends up too messy. Instead I made this bracket that I will mount to the passenger side of the consol under the dash, and then mount the module to it. The holes at the bottom are to tie up all the cables(12 of them) that plug into it so that they will not be in the way.

Went to cover the bracket in the rubberized undercoating spray to help prevent any rattles and rustoleum bit me again. For some reason there was a large section towards the top that would not dry. Left it alone for 2 hrs, came back and it would wipe right off. Cleaned it off 3 times and re-applied to find the same result just in one area. Finally scrubbed it with a wire brush and alcahol and then it was able to stick for some reason. Not sure what the problem was but never had these problems with duplicolor stuff.

 

[philly101]

Dang dude your the Shit when it come to this kind of stuff I need to make you my best friend. Haa

 

[ttocs]

well then sorry to tell you that I moved from pheonix back to the midwest in '09 but thanks for the kind words. Hopefully I will feel well enough to try and finish it up today and get the completed pics

 

[g36 monkey]

Lol, Scott, you da shit ;p

But really man, that's so awesome

 

[ttocs]

this system has the ability to hook up to my stereo to mute it when it alerts. That would be annoying as hell with as often as the old ones false alarmed but gonna hook it up on this one - need to get back to the stereo install when this is done. Realistically I have a few hours at the most left on the radar systembut just not been feeling that great this week.

I decided to make use of the mach tweeter location and mount the radars speaker up there. Perfect location for that right up at ear level a few feet away.

 

[OnyxCobra]

very trick dude, great install.

 

[belber095]

damn dude! you really thought this thing through! looks awesome!

 

[ttocs]

well that is one benifit of how slowly I work now is I have alot/too much time on my hands to think things through.

 

[whiplash473]

thats really slick.....great job ttocs

 

[belber095]

well that is one benifit of how slowly I work now is I have alot/too much time on my hands to think things through.

that's a real good trait to have scott. i tend to jump into things and get overexcited and mess some things up in the process. i gotta work on that haha. this little project really shows how careful planning can lead to a better outcome.

 

[ttocs]

I use to be like that but found that if you keep the car for a few years it get really hard to sort out what you have done, need to do and what the hell is the wire-mess in front of you. Now I am not so sure that spending more time thinking about it then doing it is the way to go but it does make for a cleaner install.

Got the bracket mounted today up under the dash on the passenger side of the consol.

Mounted the usb port today up in the corner of the glove compartment. Did anyone else know there is that elastic band up there? We have owned the car since it was new in 94 and I have pulled out countless glove boxes in my career but never saw that strap till tonight. Holds the stuff up out of the way nicely anyway look to the left and you will see the usb port. Escort keeps a data base of photo radar cameras locations that can be updated through this port as well as the firmware.

Now onto the speaker. The small square has a small chip-amp in it to power the speaker. I am going to mount the amp in the dash and connect it to the factory speaker wire to the drivers side tweeter. I will make a mount to hold the speaker to the enclosure and then it will bolt in as normal.

 

[KillNThrill24]

I love discreet custom installs of anything and everything. Very James Bond like lol but idk when I look into a car and see nothing, but then when riding in the car it show's itself, to me that's really unique. Scott I would guess that you have a very unique car just based off of this install. Well done I really like it!