Agreed.

I am doing a single PLX gauge mounted on the column as well. With Andy's recent integration of the PLX gauge with the Adaptronic ECU, it too can scroll metrics the ECU is reading.

I used to have an array of Defi gauges on my A-pillar and center speaker. With all the separate sensors and having to look all over the cabin to see what my engine was doing, it just became too much. With the single PLX gauge directly below my line of sight, I can glance down as I'm trying to keep her straight.

 

Thanks for the props buddy. We'll do yours better

As I'm learning and exploring it more, there are definitely more robust ways of doing the install.

 

Neat. I considered tablets before going the route of the car PC. The PC won out because I think that it is more versatile and that versatility, to me, justified the slightly higher cost and installation pains. Still, I have known others who went the way of the tablet and are happy with it, especially if tablet is removable.

Thanks for sharing.

 

You have a link to this install?


Edit: Never mind as it didn't take long to find that thread in the Adaptronic section.

 

Roger that. For others...

PLX setup

In the Adaptronic section as well...

https://www.rx7club.com/adaptronic-e...ation-1031595/

 

Nice, looks like something we might do to our shop car this winter...

 

Looks awesome!! Eventually I'm going to have to do this!! Subscribed!

 

nice work. instead of slotting the panel, have you thought about maybe making something like a bump tab? something that sticks out and you flick it up and it would hit the power switch. like a see saw motion. i think you would be able to make something that wouldnt be to in the way and wont bother with the install and removal of the tab.

 

I thought of this as well. In fact, a "see saw" type tab is what I imagined in my head. It would take some work to be both reliable and clean. I'll look into it more.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Installing a tablet in an FD isn't an act of passion, it is an act of boredom (or maybe compulsion). Before I begin, I have likely recorded far more hours at high speeds than you have. It changes you. It makes you realize that a car isn't an end in itself but a provider of an discrete experience unique to the individual chassis. If you have a reasonably well sorted car, head out to your favorite back-road in the middle of the night, turn the gauge illumination to naught and drive your heart out. You are welcome to come back here and tell me your car would have been perfect if only there had been a bloody tablet installed in the dash.

Look I get what you are saying about new technology, and the FD is dated. But you make it sound like the chassis is an unpleasant necessity you have to endure so you can strap your technology to something. If technology and notable performance is your answer go get a C6R, or a GTR or a 911. Go buy any of a laundry list of newer cars with better engineered systems. They will do exactly what you are looking for. What part of there not being any cars like the FD (or the MKIV supra, Z32, E30 M3, C4 S4, etc.) before or since do you not understand? It was a weird little period of automotive history when cars had maximum performance and minimum BULLSHIT. There was a raw honesty there. I like the chassis for it's natural character, not some act it in can be convinced into performing.

Unless you have some fetishistic attachment to the FD there is no ultimate point in modernizing it. If you want to go fast build it into a mid 90s style GT2 or GT1 car (Its where I want my FD to end up). But don't put in LCDs (or is the tablet in question OLED?) and computers that were never intended to be part of the driving experience. It is the best of the old school, keep it in the spirit of old school, or don't drive old school. You really want tuning to become part of the daily ownership experience? Really? There is a whole world out there the FD can allow you to experience in a unique way, but you rather be preoccupied by a 7" screen. You can't take your tuning parameters with you when you die.

Josh may have a versatile mind but it lacks consciousness, he reminds me of many brilliant computer programmers I worth with that don't get why anybody would EVER go out in the woods on a breezy day and enjoy the wind disturbing the branches. They ask what do you get from it? what is the point? If you like trees so much why not plant one in your yard and stare at it when you feel the need?

I'm sorry I am going to stick to my guns, there is a certain excellentness in the FD, adding a tablet to it only serves to marginalize this. This car is either one of the best drivers car's ever produced or it is just another sports car you happen to fancy. We all know which seats we sit in.

 

Again, thanks for your input. But lets keep this thread on track for those who are interested in an upgrade like this.

 

Agreed. I would think common courtesy on the club would suffice.


I have a small piece of input on the device Josh. Clearly none pertaining the Adaptronic tuning but the cool little possibilities with using an android.

Since it will be a while before I'm back up to see your install in person and hear the sound quality (which I am sure is pretty rockin) I wondered if you had considered a graphic equalizer App to get some depth. Since on my droid phone at least, I don't have the ability to adjust sound quality, I downloaded this:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...qualizer&hl=en

It makes a world of difference.

I'm also excited about tethering service from phone networks to the device to for GPS... for those who enjoy road tripping the 7's as much I want to road trip my FB.

 

Got ya. Yes! The MP3 playing App I am using is WinAmp. The full version is a few dollars on GooglePlay and has a complete built in equalizer that allows quite a bit of customization. Furthermore, it can sync with your computer's version of WinAmp to transfer songs and such. Overall, a cool App. Like you suggested, there are MANY Apps out there that can add to the flexibility of the Pad itself.

Loose your phone? No, I lost my car. Whether stolen, or in a large parking lot, there are many "device" locating Apps that use the GPS. Not quite LowJack, but nifty nonetheless.

Motion sensing Apps for security. Using Tasker, you could trigger the App to text your phone if it sensed vibration or camera movement in the interior upon a particular event.

7" Tablets only grow in power and capability. As the install ages, it can easily be swapped with a new design.

The possibilities get pretty ridiculous. Of course, these will all be side projects as I finally get my car off 4 jackstands.

 

This thread helped out a lot, I finally have sound again in my FD. I did things slightly different so I can have Bluetooth in the car and make it easier to remove my tablet. I'm still fabricating a bracket to hold the tablet and make it removable while still looking close to factory as possible...we'll see how that turns out lol. Thanks for creating this thread.

 

Little off-topic, but I saw this item last week, car pc. Looks pretty slick but need to have an internet dongle, kind of sucks. Also, I'm naturally assuming it draws a lot more power than a tablet.
2Din Car PC Mini ITX SE | Custom Gaming Computers | Gaming Desktops

 

I don't know about these new ones, but my old sound system was a drivesoft (pretty much the same thing as this) it was operating on windows xp. The concept is cool but it's just way too slow for me and the constant updates and needing seperate internet connections and the whole virus thing was getting a little irritating for me.

 

Who'd have thought mobile platforms would defeat the car pc? Makes sense now.

 

I don't get one thing how I'd you link your pad with the ecu..as the rx7 is an obd I. And could his be a replacement of defi or shadow gauges...thanks

 

He's not using a stock ecu, it's an Adaptronic ecu, which can link to your pad through an android app

 

Stopping in for some updates.

^Correct, I was using an Adaptronic ECU and the Android App "Adaptive Tuner".

Since going LS, I am using the Holley HP EFI. I am looking at either doing a Windows 8 tablet to run the full Holley software or Hollies new LCD dash.

I am glad this write-up has helped a few folks! Take care all.

 

josh, windows 8 tablet like mine. dell venue 8 pro.

DO IT.

 

So does your tablet fit perfectly inside the plastic frame, or is it behind it?

What galaxy tab did you use? I'm looking at a galaxy tab4 7" but the dimensions are 7.36x4.25. As far as I know, a double din opening is 7x4.

An 8" galaxy tab4 measures 6.9x4.87...how much room for play do we have here?

I appreciate any help, I'm far from my car right now so I can't just go out and measure.