Who is a car stereo guru?

[DonkeyApple]

Actually, an idiot can probably answer this one.

I want to run the head unit divorced from the main body.

I have assumed that this is done all the time and that ribbon cables would be available as would frames to hold the head units in their new position. However, I've not found anything on the web after a few hours of googling.

Any ideas?

Also, has anyone ever stripped out the pop out mechanism from the flip top single dins and made that work independently?

[DonkeyApple]

Bump.

[jkh112]

This may not suit your requirements, but headunits are available with remote controls, presumably to allow rear seat passengers to select the music.
The remote control is in effect the same as you are trying to achieve and without the hassle of ribbon cables etc.

[DonkeyApple]

Thanks. I need to be able to see the facia on the dash but there is no room for the actual case so that must be installed elsewhere.

I had assumed that this was very common practice and that there would be businesses that sold the adaptor wiring to make this easy.

[Ozzie Osmond]

If you've ever seen Morgans with the stereo tucked so far under the dash it's useless you'll probably grasp that there isn't an easy solution.

Mind you, in a Morgan you wouldn't be able to hear it anyway....

[BigTom85]

It depends on the head unit, but as you say you would be able to mount the fascia remotely with the help of a long ribbon cable.

TalkAudio is a great car audio forum, lots of knowledgeable people there to help.

[hairyben]

Budget permitting, some in car computer based AV systems can be run off a remote touchscreen.

Unless your a sado-masochist avoid anything to do with infill

[DonkeyApple]

BigTom85 said:

It depends on the head unit, but as you say you would be able to mount the fascia remotely with the help of a long ribbon cable.

TalkAudio is a great car audio forum, lots of knowledgeable people there to help.

Posted on there. No one is talking.

[aka_kerrly]

I may have this completely wrong but you sound like you want to be able to remove the removable facia plate from a stereo mount that somewhere you can see but not with the rest of the unit attached.

[hairyben]

Is it control, display or both you need?

Some aftermarket stereos can (or did- been a couple years) interface with your cars main display via CAN adapters, and there were various remotes inc. stick-on-stalk thingys

[DonkeyApple]

aka_kerrly said:

I may have this completely wrong but you sound like you want to be able to remove the removable facia plate from a stereo mount that somewhere you can see but not with the rest of the unit attached.

Exactly.

I want the benefit of a double din sized screen with all the sat nav and music and phone functions set in the correct position on the dash but the actual body must be installed either in the glove box or the central cubby as the dash has no space even for a single din.

It's something that must have already been done, especially by people who run multiple screens etc.

[griffin dai]

What car is it?

[DonkeyApple]

griffin dai said:

What car is it?

Range rover classic. Never had a stereo and no spare room in the dash.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Well, it's easy ish.
You'll have splice the ribbon cable and extend it with wires
A neater option would be to unsolder the ribbon cable and replace it with longer wires.

I don't think there are any aftermarket solutions. You'll have to whip out your soldering iron.

[DonkeyApple]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Well, it's easy ish.
You'll have splice the ribbon cable and extend it with wires
A neater option would be to unsolder the ribbon cable and replace it with longer wires.

I don't think there are any aftermarket solutions. You'll have to whip out your soldering iron.

There isn't a cable to start with. The face units locate into the heads.

So what I need is to know where you can buy male and female connectors etc. but I'm sure it has been done before so I want to avoid reinventing the wheel.

Plus, some units may suffer from a current drop if an extension is used.

[aka_kerrly]

Is it fair to assume you already have the head unit you want to use?

Only I came across these a while back when I was looked for a el cheapo screen set up.





The faceplate is completely removable and can be used as a standalone item.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_530VR738NB/Soundstrea...

[leafspring]

DonkeyApple said:

Range rover classic. Never had a stereo and no spare room in the dash.

The head unit in Dads 1980 2 door Rangey was mounted in the bottom of the dash to the right of the steering column (buy your right knee)

Edited by leafspring on Friday 27th September 16:18

[DonkeyApple]

leafspring said:

DonkeyApple said:

Range rover classic. Never had a stereo and no spare room in the dash.

The head unit in Dads 1980 2 door Rangey was mounted in the bottom of the dash to the right of the steering column (buy your right knee)

Edited by leafspring on Friday 27th September 16:18

Yup. And it's useless there. It wasn't a factory fit. Owners retro fitted them into the tray. No good for modern use as you can't see the screen when driving etc.

[DonkeyApple]

aka_kerrly said:

Is it fair to assume you already have the head unit you want to use?

Only I came across these a while back when I was looked for a el cheapo screen set up.





The faceplate is completely removable and can be used as a standalone item.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_530VR738NB/Soundstrea...

Looks interesting but does the screen still function when removed? In other words is there a cable link?

[Spare tyre]

there is no back to that, thats just the frame to hold it in the conventional position