iPad mini in a 2nd gen?

One thing to consider that I forgot about; you won't be able to control the volume of the head unit once it's behind the iPad mini (unless Sony updates the iOS app to include volume control). My new speakers are running on an amp under my driver's seat so I ordered an Axxess AALC for like $10, connected it in between the RCA outputs of the head unit and input RCA wires running to the amp, removed the potentiometer from the housing of the AALC, and mounted it with the knob sticking out of the little triangular-ish panel that's on the opposite side of the dash from the passenger airbag on/off lock. Wasn't very hard to do at all, looks clean, and now I have an external volume knob when the mini is in place in front of the head unit.

 

Yeah that's pretty much the only option without going through a processor with a volume knob.....I ordered one for this project that's what I would suggest sounds like you read my mind

 

You can always use steering wheel controls for volume to if you get a PAC adapter.

 

Happy Now?


Here's where I'm at so far with the work on my iPad mini dash kit:


Still got a lot to get done but we'll see how it turns out...


@Domreis - Unfortunately, I don't have steering wheel controls on my base model Taco.

 

Awww... Makes since! Looks really good so far. How do you plan to attach the pan to the dash kit?

 

I updated the picture link in the previous post to show roughly where I'm going to attach it to the dash. I'm gonna build off the back of it a little and make it fit the contour of the dash. Also going to try to round some of the edges down a little to make it look less bulky.
If I don't like the overall outcome, I'll probably look more heavily at trying to recess the head unit and flush mount the pan in the dash.

 

Made some more progress on my dash mount.
Pan is pretty much finished. Just have to fab a few pieces to fill the gap between the top/middle of the pan and the dash and then wrap it all with felt....which, of course will hide the imperfections

 

^^Nice work!

 

So you just made the piece and slid it over the dash kit that's already there? No what? Bondo to the dash? So essentially it's going to stick out quite a bitmfurthernthan the air vent piece around it?

 

Either way looks nice what you have done so far

 

Yeah, I'm using the Metra dash kit that came with head unit from Crutchfield. The inner part that mounts the HU to the dash has the HU sticking out far enough that the volume knob of the HU wouldn't allow me to recess the pan at all unless I hacked up the ABS brackets and relocated them. Looked like it would be a bit of a pain to do that so I decided to try this approach first and see if I'm ok with the outcome. If not, I'll look more heavily at modifying the inner part and doing a flush mount. I do like the fact that the exposed mount makes the right side of the iPad mini slightly more within arms reach though.

The bottom of the pan is screwed directly onto the face of the outer dash kit and currently there is one screw on each side of the pan about a fourth of the way up from the bottom that also attach directly to the face of the dash kit. I'm going to try to make it so that the finished product is just screwed onto the outer dash piece instead of using bondo or any adhesive to attach it.
The width of the pan is the same as the width of the outer face of the dash kit (in between where it bevels down on the sides of the dash kit piece) and the depth of the pan itself is under a half inch.
I'll get some pictures of it from different angles in the daylight when I'm finished.

 

Yeah I can see what you did there...I've been trying my best not to go that route but its def the easiest!!

 

http://www.dipity.com/timeline/Car-Stereo/

 

Finally finished my build and I'm pleased with it:


I spray-painted the inside of it black to block any light (from the head unit behind it) from bleeding through the plexiglass and the felt.

 

Looks good man. It looks like you can still access the Deck when the iPad isn't in? Why did you opt to cover the tray in fabric rather than sanding it and painting it to match?

How do you get audio from the iPad? I am assuming bluetooth. Do you have a picture when the iPad isn't in?

 

Nice work other then going with the fabric

 

I actually like the fabric......a hell of a lot easier than bondo and paint......hides imperfections!!

 

Exactly - Would've been a big PITA to make it look perfect without covering it. Besides, I wanted to line the inside of the tray with felt to protect the ipad mini from scratches anyway.

 

Very nice work...but I gotta agree about the fabric. Still...great job on it!

Another hour or two with a light skim coat of bondo and some paint and it would look VERY nice. The fabric looks like it's there to hide the imperfections.