EpicenterDesigns

As the title states, gonna fab an iPad2 into the dash bezel of a Hummer H2. To do this, I will be deleting the row of 12v plugs at the bottom of the bezel. I will be deleteing the On-Star. I will be moving the HVAC controls to the very bottom. Fabricating a single DIN Alpine HU mount right above the HVAC controls and below the iPad. Relocating the 4 wheel drive controls and the load managment controls to the underside of the steering column panel. And then of course making a motorized mount for the iPad2. Sounds like such fun doesn't it?

Installed. Done. Finished. Dude just needs to put his HU in when he gets it and connect the line for the audio (Thats the cable hanging out)

And then there was the body work to smooth it out. No pics needed of that, we should all know what that looks like by now. So jump to the primer.

So when I left off, I made a filler template outa 1/4" MDF. But I knew that wasn't gonna be strong enough for my liking so I made a fiberglass copy. Some plate glass, Turtle wax, tape and a roller and you get a flat piece of fiberglass to work with. This one is 8 layers and it was 1/4" thick. I made a copy on the router and then used some plastic epoxy and molded it into the bezel.

Just follow the pics and you can figure it out.

Thank you sir. And the speakers will just mount to the panels from what I understand. The guy lives a few hours away and I only had the panels to work with. I mentioned supports but thats probally as far as it went. Well, there is a lack of quality sound knowledge these days. But I think that can be for many places. But there is a horrible rash of cramming all the pro audio you can into a car to get loud. No matter how aweful it sounds. There are vehicles around here with 40+ pro audio mids and horn and not a single sub in it. I tried a few times to talk him outta the monitors. But he is keeping it real. Real 2001. And then he swore he needed the insert up there cause it was gonna be plain.

I even got a silver mettalic vinyl that damn near matches the cars paint.

And he wants plexi inserts....

Back to the main doors.

The center arm rest section was wrapped in suede, blue suede when I got them. They were in bad shape. Faded, dirty and peeling. So to keep the blue he wanted, I went for the more bling like shine.

And for the hell of it, here is my template I made outta 1/4" MDF to make the filler pieces for the bezel. I will make a flat fiberglass panel on my plate glass then transfer the shape via a router table and mold that in. Monday or Tuesday when I have the time.

Here is a vid of it in action. Excuse the noises. It was still loose and just roughed in..... It has since been tightened up and works silently.

So I got plenty done today. At least I think so. Actuator mounted, Bell Crank mounted, made linkages and got alot of holes drilled. Here are some pics.....

For power and listening, it will dock inside the cradle. It will charge and play just like an iPod would, on a larger scale. It slides into the cradle and connects to a 90* connecter....... Then it will have an adapter that has the mini USB for charging via a lighter plug (hidden) and a standard 3.5mm plug for sound that will connect to the aux input of the HU.....

I spent 4 freakin hours making a bracket today. This is the 4th bracket design. Not because the others didn't work, but because everyone that came over had a different idea....lol This is a combo of my original idea and a buddies idea. It is basically a bell crank to change the motion of the acuator to swivel the iPad for removal. Oh, did I not mention all this will be motorized? I really shouldn't show this as I have not cleaned it up yet, so don't go thinking it will be installed like this......

All 3 pieces sitting in place. Notice I had to notch the lower iPad bracket to fit the HU?