Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: rpm on May 13, 2012, 11:51:44 PM
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Found a sweet deal on a 7" Flip Down Car DVD CD Player GPS HD PIP Ipod Bluetooth Touch Screen for a little over $200 on eBay. After looking at what they wanted for similar radios at CarToys, this was a helluva deal even if it was an off brand. Thought it would be a nice addition to my F350, it's been years since I've installed a new radio in anything but I used to be pretty good at it back in the day.
I picked up a wiring harness and dash adapter at Autozone then went to work. Pulling the old radio was a piece of cake, but getting the new one to line up right with the dash was a PITA. The adapter faceplate opening was about 1/4" too small so I had to bust out the Dremel and an X-acto knife to trim it up.
This radio is very cool for the price. Similar ones by name brands were $500 and up (and they're all made in China). Having a 7" touchscreen for GPS is nice and integrated phone is much better than the plug in hands free I had. One less wire to deal with. It has a ton of functions and interfaces and runs Windows CE 6 so you can add apps. Now I need to add XM and a back-up cam so I can see my trailer hitch when hooking up.
When everything was said and done, it don't look too shabby. My lines are straight, the tolerances are tight and I only cut a small part of my thumb off with the X-acto knife.
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Upon closer inspection, it might not be so easy to add apps. I confused Windows CE 6 "Yamazaki" for Windows Mobile 6 "Crossbow".
It can still be modified, just not as easily.
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Would it kill ya to post a friggin picture?
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A friend of mine has something similar made by Pioneer for $250, I'm thinking of getting it from him. i have seen it in his truck and it seems like a real nice unit.
here's a pic of it i googled.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s35/68zoom/pioneer.jpg)
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Would it kill ya to post a friggin picture?
(http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8994/img0961f.jpg)
(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/1333/img0959os.jpg)
(http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5753/img0971he.jpg)
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That's cool ! What is that to the left of it ?
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That's cool ! What is that to the left of it ?
That is a device that gives you different readings on the engine while your driving... airflow and such. Works on all vehicles with the newer plugs for the computer.
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That's cool ! What is that to the left of it ?
It's a Scangauge II (http://www.scangauge.com/products/scangaugeii/). Pretty neat tool. Ford gauges are notoriously crappy and it gives you digital readouts on everything your computer sees.
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Cool thanks
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Nice RPM, but I can see your dremel work! A fine file would smooth it out and leave a straight line.
Dont ya just hate when a socalled kit doesnt fit!!!! :furious
:salute
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Make sure you pick a real good movie to watch as you die.
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Make sure you pick a real good movie to watch as you die.
lol in most states you can't have a video monitor within eyesight of the driver.
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Nice RPM, but I can see your dremel work! A fine file would smooth it out and leave a straight line.
Dont ya just hate when a socalled kit doesnt fit!!!! :furious
:salute
Heh, guilty. I actually did just that after I took those pics. I used an emery board to even out the wobbles. Need to get some sandpaper and work on the corners a bit.
(http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/7364/img0973se.jpg)
Make sure you pick a real good movie to watch as you die.
I think They Were Expendable would be a good choice, but the DVD is disabled when the vehicle is in motion.
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How do you know if it would fit? I might get that for my truck. Would make my vacation to Texas a lot more enjoyable for me and my friend
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It's a 2-DIN head. If your car has a 1-DIN head then you would need one like 68zoom posted. As far as finding an exact fit, you can only rely on the aftermarket dash kit. Most of those are perfect on the O.D. but may require trimming on the I.D. like mine did.
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RPM,
That looks alot better,I just hate those kits! Did a few custom radio install way back when,casessets,remember.... :O Almost every kit needed some"extra" work,could be my imagination but I used to use a heatgun to soften the plastic to make it easier to work with. Although you had to be careful to not heat it too much.
:salute
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Thanks! Back in the day we used a hacksaw blade, a file and a pair of dikes to trim those metal dashes and faceplates. A Dremel makes it MUCH nicer. Back then the main problem was finding a rear support. Those old 8-Tracks were heavy and put a lot of stress on the knobs without it.
Wish I had a good workbench with the right tools and clamps instead of doing it freehand at the kitchen table.
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:rofl :rofl :rofl
All the best stuff is done at the kitchen table!! :D
:salute
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How do you know if it would fit? I might get that for my truck. Would make my vacation to Texas a lot more enjoyable for me and my friend
All you need to know is if it is single DIN or double DIN.
Firther on you may need some other attachments to plug it in to your vehicle. On my Chevy 2500HD I have a Bose System. If you get a non-Bose stereo you have to get a pigtail cable to plug it in.
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I honestly have no idea what my truck is on that note. Could I find it in the Manuel?
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I honestly have no idea what my truck is on that note. Could I find it in the Manuel?
I think Manuel would get pissed with someone trying to cut him open but you may find the answer in your car manual.
ack-ack
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I think Manuel would get pissed with someone trying to cut him open but you may find the answer in your car manual.
ack-ack
:rolleyes: My spelling is really down lately, No idea why :uhoh
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:rolleyes: My spelling is really down lately, No idea why :uhoh
lol If it is a large radio it is DBL DIN......
(http://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f58/33609d1294424645t-anyone-put-install-double-din-radio-dash-double-din.jpg)
If it is a small radio it is Single DIN......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/spitfire2332/truck%20pics/DSC00048.jpg)
Think of it as stacked..... single stack = small / DBL stacked = large
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(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/F35_LightningBravo/292120_352246308164294_1053710122_n.jpg) Double DIN, next I find one of those touch screens to put in and figure out how to remove the radio :lol
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Double DIN, next I find one of those touch screens to put in and figure out how to remove the radio :lol
You see the 4 holes (2 left edge. 2 right edge) on the face of the head unit? Go to Autozone and buy a removal tool.
(http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/blend_door_repair/radio_removal_tool.jpg)
Insert the tools in both sets of holes until they "click", then push them outward <-- --> and pull the radio out of the dash.
(http://www.fordthunderbird.net/page3/radio/clippullout.jpg)
Easy peasy. Bada Bing!
While your at it, grab a vehicle specific radio wiring harness. It will make life much easier. Hope that helps.
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You see the 4 holes (2 left edge. 2 right edge) on the face of the head unit? Go to Autozone and buy a removal tool.
(http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/blend_door_repair/radio_removal_tool.jpg)
Insert the tools in both sets of holes until they "click", then push them outward <-- --> and pull the radio out of the dash.
(http://www.fordthunderbird.net/page3/radio/clippullout.jpg)
Easy peasy. Bada Bing!
While your at it, grab a vehicle specific radio wiring harness. It will make life much easier. Hope that helps.
:rofl :rofl :rofl
Thats cheating!!!! wow they make it easy these days,you dont have to lay on your back upside down to put the radio! :devil
:salute
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Nice dude. :rock
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I'll go to autozone when I get my first pay check to get one of those. Any car buffs I can talk to about my engine, its 11 years old and I need to know what I can do to prep it for a 800 mile drive to Texas this summer
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If it's in good running order just do a good maintenance on it (oil change/fuel and air filters) check all your spark plug wires, hoses and belts. Just give everything a good once over and look for potential problems. Better to find a weak radiator hose and change it before it leaves you stranded 300 miles from home. Also carry a small tool kit, a flashlight and a roll of Gorilla Tape with you just in case something does go wrong.
Then kick back, crank up your new radio and enjoy your roadtrip!
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If it's in good running order just do a good maintenance on it (oil change/fuel and air filters) check all your spark plug wires, hoses and belts. Just give everything a good once over and look for potential problems. Better to find a weak radiator hose and change it before it leaves you stranded 300 miles from home. Also carry a small tool kit, a flashlight and a roll of Gorilla Tape with you just in case something does go wrong.
Then kick back, crank up your new radio and enjoy your roadtrip!
Only thing that I see wrong with it is all the grime over the center of the engine, also in the upper head cylinder case there's a tiny crack with a bit of oil seeping out slowly, I got a few pictures I can post if needed. But from what i've been told, clean off the grime, replace the filter and top off the other liquids, I figure i'll just take it over to the Akins down the street for that kind of service and clean it later myself.
As for good running order, its never broken down or stalled once in 11 years, thing is the most reliable heap of metal I have ever laid my eyes on, nothing is except the stuff that makes sense, tires, air filter, battery, oil, etc.
belts and Lines seem secure to me, I always have thing of duct take in the middle console and a moderately sized first aid kit that comes with a flash light so i believe i'm good on that bit.
Also, its 800 miles 1 way, to come back in addition to the driving i'll be doing in Houston its adding up to around 1700 miles round trip...
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You'll have a blast. :aok
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So that's how they come out ...
You see the 4 holes (2 left edge. 2 right edge) on the face of the head unit? Go to Autozone and buy a removal tool.
(http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/blend_door_repair/radio_removal_tool.jpg)
Insert the tools in both sets of holes until they "click", then push them outward <-- --> and pull the radio out of the dash.
(http://www.fordthunderbird.net/page3/radio/clippullout.jpg)
Easy peasy. Bada Bing!
While your at it, grab a vehicle specific radio wiring harness. It will make life much easier. Hope that helps.
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I'll go to autozone when I get my first pay check to get one of those. Any car buffs I can talk to about my engine, its 11 years old and I need to know what I can do to prep it for a 800 mile drive to Texas this summer
Change oil/filter, Check water in radiator, check tire condition and air, check air filter, check windshild wiper condition and water in washer. Leave with plenty of time and drive carefully.
Not much to do as most anything, even cars, want to come to Texas.
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One other thing.... if you have a BOSE system you need a a cable to install an aftermarket head unit. Even more so if you have the Premium system.
You'll have to determin if you want to keep OnStar (if you have it). In the GM vehicles the stereo controls a lot of things in the vehicle.
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Change oil/filter, Check water in radiator, check tire condition and air, check air filter, check windshild wiper condition and water in washer. Leave with plenty of time and drive carefully.
Not much to do as most anything, even cars, want to come to Texas.
One other thing.... if you have a BOSE system you need a a cable to install an aftermarket head unit. Even more so if you have the Premium system.
You'll have to determin if you want to keep OnStar (if you have it). In the GM vehicles the stereo controls a lot of things in the vehicle.
Tires are good, air filter needs to be replaced, wiper fluid is at the max level. We plan on leaving around 5 in the morning to get there before 10 so we can sign into the hotel.
oh and the audio is standard, when my dad got it way back when he didn't get any extra's so everything is low grade standard