I've been working on an idea for computer engine management... This is what i've gotten so far.

I mounted a P4 computer where my spare tire usually is, added venting, shock absorbing material and ran power to a power converter under my driver's seat.

Took apart the converter, and ran switch and LED wires to convenient spot by steering column (by fuse box). Ran power thru firewall to battery with fuse interrupt. POWER!! Whoohoo! :banana:

I already had a Panasonic slide out/tilt monitor in-dash setup, so i ran s-video out into the Panasonic brain. VIDEO!! Whoohoo!

Have sound coming out of computer into brain as well. SOUND!! Whoohoo!

THEN i took apart a USB Keyboard and re-wired it, so it only had 7 keys. Up, down, left, right, tab, alt and enter. Plugged USB into computer, and bought custom pushbutton switches from Radio-Shack. Dremel-ed holes by shift boot, and ran wires from keyboard chip to the switches. BAM! Custom Keyboard. :banana: <--- Little played out eh? hehe

Here's pics of the keyboard setup. Black Shrink wrapped thing is Keyboard chip. Wires running out of that under floor. Mounted under rear seat bar. So no fatties will squish it. hehe :D

Have a trackball mouse controlling right now, but ordered custom touch pad mouse that mounts by e-brake and swivels up for sexy factor. Yup.

Right now i run all my music library (20 G) with sweet visuals all controlled by my 7 button keyboard.. Mwhaha! And engine management with Link U-Tec software. Boost baby.

Anyways, posting ideas for the sharing. Any questions on anything be glad to answer!

You're the truth...



WOW so that one computer runs everything? Do you watch DVDs and get internet too? How bout playing compuer games? That would be tight! GOOD JOB!

Can't wait to see the finished product... thats soo awesome!!

You might be able to simplify the entire power setup because PC's normaly run off 12V dc current. It sounds like you are making TWO conversions here (from dc to ac back to dc) from what you said about hooking up an inverter. You should look into just running a fuesed 12V source directly from your battery to your motherboard and persiples. With some rigging this should work.

3677/MII Vehicle Kit link= http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=11#vk3677

Mini-ITX's with a DC-DC converter would do the trick for sure.

I happen to have (3) VIA 800 mhz mini-itx's that I would like to get rid of, if interested PM me.

They are currently in super geeky (3) node cluster setup using compact flash for solid state booting. I have not completed it, but everything is mounted in a small aluminum stand and wired. The CF/IDE and mother boards have all been power-on tested. It's only missing the DC/DC converters. I will sell this bad-mofo also. :) PM if anyone is interested.

Uh....are you guys using english or some other language? I don't understand any of those last posts.



8P

Ahhh right on, that would make sense....

You're the truth...

WOW so that one computer runs everything? Do you watch DVDs and get internet too? How bout playing compuer games? That would be tight! GOOD JOB!

Yeah, the panasonic monitor plays DVD's, i have wireless lan hooked up in my comp, so i pull up to any hot spot... And wireless Net. Bam! hehe :banana:

more pics- i'm intrigued






aloha from the summit of *-^-Mauna kea-^-*

K i'll get those as soon as i can, right now im working on a 6 speed swap! :D

This is still the coolest thing I've seen.

Dammit! You beat me to it! I had this idea for about a year now, and I was just shopping around for the parts to make it happen a couple days ago. Only difference was, I intend on using a mini-ATX (probably a tore up Shuttle XPC system) board mounted in a modified glove box on aircraft circuitboard shock absorbers (If you need some, PM me). Thanks to the reading here, I can probably cut out the power inverter. Glad to see its ok to be a Subaru enthusiast and a closet computer nerd at the same time. Definitely post more pics when you are done!

Nice setup, I'm using a touchscreen instead of all the buttons.

My setup is an old 600E IBM laptop, direct DC power in at 16v, no power worries since if the voltage dips, the laptop battery has me covered, no worries about the HD since its a laptop HD rated for extreme hot/cold/shock, an 8" touchscreen LCD, does 1024x768 resolution, no need for a keyboard or mouse, dvd drive, usb camera to record whatever, thinking of adding another camera for a backup camera, usb to 7100t blackberry phone cable for unlimited free internet wherever I have reception, Destinator GPS software, (neat features like 3d view and routing by quickest or shortest route etc. full US maps,) Winamp with 12 gb of music, and I can hook up an external portable usb hard drive to view all my divx movies.

The only things left that I want are a obdII scanner hookup cable so I can do virtual gauges.

The only thing visible is the touch screen.

Mp3car.com has awesome suggestions for how to hook all this up, great resource if you're into this stuff.

Sorry for the bad grammar and spelling, I'm typing one handed while holding a sick kid.