iPod Gives Ashtray New Sense Of Purpose

[jyl]

Got tired of hot tea and Robitusson - yup, I'm among the ailing - and started a project.

For background, I am playing my iPod in the 911 using a wired FM modulator (thinks to Bell, see prior thread titled something like "How To Play iPod In Car?" for details). But the iPod keeps sliding off the passenger seat, the cable tangles around stuff, and unplugging and stowing the iPod at every stop is a bit of a chore.

So, here's my work-in-progress solution for a car mount for the iPod in a 911. Pics should be self-explanatory.





Steps so far - in case anyone wants to try.
- Slide ashtray out from holder.
- Remove two small (6mm?) bolts, remove metal surround that includes the cigarette holder.
- Dremel away the two ribs that are under the cigarette holder.
- Replace bolts (they also hold on the dash trim piece).
- Place iPod in ashtray. My 2G 20GB model fits perfectly, with enough room on the side to fit a right-angle stereo mini-plug. I'd think the thinner 3G iPods would even have room for a thin layer of foam padding.
- Slide ashtray back into holder.
- Slide ashtray out to normal open position. There's enough room to remove and replace the iPod and operate all but the left-most button.
- Reach under ashtray, depress spring, and slide ashtray out another 1/2". Now there's enough room to operate all the iPod controls.
- Of course, the iPod is sitting flat and sideways, but I can read the screen okay if I lean forward a bit. And I'd have to lean forward to reach a dash mounted iPod anyway.
- Not sure how to power the iPod in this location, but I run it off the battery anyway.

So, I need to extend the retaining spring, drill a wiring hole in the back of the ashtray and holder, run the cable up to the iPod and - voila - a stealth iPod car mount. Probably won't get back to work on this until next weekend, so any suggestions will be timely.

[Moses]

Very nice! Good work. (But it's not really off-topic, is it?)

[jbryant]

Slick, thanks!

[Adam]

I've been thinking I might buy myself an iPod for Christmas.

That's a neat place to put it. Good writeup!

[jyl]

Just to report, finished it up tonight. A $3 right-angle 1/8" stereo plug adapter from RadioShack, Dremeled down a bit, and some holes cut in the ashtray and ashtray holder. Works fine - not sure I'll even bother to extend the retaining spring - how often do I use the skip-back control while driving, anyway?

Total cost and time for this in-911 iPod solution, including FM modulator, is appx $55 and 1 hour.

[ronb]

FWIW - I use my Palm pilots SD expansion card to play mp3s - hooked up through the cassette player via a cheap cassette in adaptor from an audio supply place. palm runs off cig lighter or batteries. One less piece of stuff to cart around (had to hardwire the valentine though). Sound is quite good considering speakers and amp from 1979. 512mg expansion card holds a lot of mp3s (not as many though of course as an ipod, but easily moved around).

[bell]

looks perfect
now if I only had an ipod too

[jyl]

Bell, they work with Windows now . . .