- General Update: Finished my (final) co-op with General Motors and back in Georgia for my last semester of college. Meaning the 818 work resumes! I had a week off so I took time to start finishing the interior. Made some good progress and I’m pretty happy with how it’s turning out. I think the car will likely be on the road in the next couple weeks and I plan to drive it around as I finish the body and work through issues as they come up.
- Radio
- My radio setup:
- Pumpkin 7″ Android 9.0 Headunit
- wifi, gps, bluetooth, etc
- 6.5″ Rockford two-way speakers
- RCA backup camera
- USB Port
- Verizon LTE USB cellular modem
- The radio wiring was nothing crazy, but took a surprising amount of time. Just lots of little power wires to run and things to route. I added a lot to the install with the little additions like a backup camera, usb port, and usb modem, but I think all of those things really add to the usefulness of the system. This thing has better infotainment than my daily! I filmed myself using the radio and plan to upload the video at some point soon showing all the features once install is complete. The backup camera comes on automatically in reverse and the cellular usb modem is seemless just as if it was built in. The usb modems aren’t very common nowadays but it was required to get something that gave my headunit internet connection without relying on some sort of wifi hotspot that I would have to turn on/off myself. The setup works really nicely and I can use all sorts of android apps on the headunit so the features are nearly endless. I’m quite happy with how it’s turned out.
- Center console
- To house this radio, I had to completely redo the FFR center console. This involved shifting it towards the drive so the headunit can fit in front of the A?C unit and then making a custom faceplate. I had to cut and bend the side panels to fit like I wanted and there’s some cover panels I’m still working on creating. The cover panels should give me access to some wiring without having to completely disassemble the interior. The console looks pretty decent and I think it’ll look great once it’s covered in carpeting like I plan to. Only thing left to finish is the final trimming once I have the dash in and can see how everything is going to meet up.
- Dashboard
- I finished modifying my dash for all the A/C vents and dials. I relocated my A/C dials to the dash because the location in front of the shifter was not easy to access or see. I mounted them centered with the console and located the air vents around them. I used aluminum knobs from Vintage Air (a $10 option) that looks way better than the “vintage” looking plastic ones that come standard. I also installed the rear defrost vents. Just needs to be put in the car now one last time :).
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A/C controls installed in the dash
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Dash is complete!
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Defrost vents installed!
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Basic center console design done
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Pretty happy with this shape/layout of the console. Needs the window switches still
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My “CAD” for the center console
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CAD a ruler and a sharpie go pretty far it turns out
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Radio mounting solution
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Fitting up the center console
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My vanity plate is in!
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Tapping into the reverse switch for camera power and activation
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The radio works! Blasting tunes over the speakers. Sounds pretty good for no amp or subwoofer
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Fitting up the FFR console panels and modifying to fit
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USB and 12V sockets installed
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Wifi and GPS antenna placement
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Making my wiring a little more professional. Ground terminal bus bar
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Speaker installed. Seems to be the go-to 818 install location. It’s tight for 6.5″ but it works
