Custom Carplay for Early Interior

[chrsarcher]

I've been looking for a way to integrate Carplay into my early 85 but wasn't able to find anything as clean and seamless as I wanted; so I made my own. I wanted to make something small and light, so integrating a double din was out of the question, and I didn't want to give Porsche $2k for the smallest screen on the market. I also wanted to make sure any mods I made were easily reversible.





I decided to go with a raspberry Pi 4b based system as they're small, incredibly versatile, and draw barely any power (15-20W max, screen included). Most Carplay integrations on Pi use an android based system but I'm not really a fan of how those look so I decided to use React Carplay running on Pi OS by Rhys Morgan (https://github.com/rhysmorgan134/react-carplay). Its a really incredible integration and he has tons of good information on his Youtube.

For the build, I started by modeling the center grill that found on my early car, unfortunately I haven't made this for late cars. I added a cutout to fit the screen (Waveshare 8DP-CAPLCD, I think it will also fit the 10.4HP-CAPQLED, a 10 inch QLED screen as the PCBs look the same, but I'm not sure.) The Waveshare screen comes with all the hardware needed to mount a Raspberry Pi so that's super easy.



Next, in order to get Carplay working with React Carplay, you need one of those Usb dongles (Carlinkit CPC200-CCPA). I know you need a specific one that will work with the pi, and that one works great and is cheap. I added some standoffs and a case for the dongle so it doesn't move around. Other parts I'd recommend is a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse that you can throw in the glovebox, it makes using the pi outside of Carplay much easier.

I needed to find a switch 12v that would turn on with the rest of the accessories. At first I used the circuit for the fuel pump, but that's only on with the ignition. Eventually, I found the relay for the radio inside the drivers footwell (see images, its the red and blue wire). I decided to do a quick and dirty splice, but I'm sure there are more elegant solutions to tap into that power.





I grounded it on the nut behind the grill.



The Pi only accepts 5v power so to step it down, I got a cheap 12v-5v converter on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NALDSJ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). I powered it using a DC barrel plug so I can take it off and on easily. All I needed to do then was power the Pi and screen. You can technically power the screen from the Pi, but it leads to voltage issues to I powered them both separately. I also am using a cooler for the pi, as it can get pretty hot in the dash, and it allows for overclocking.

I have the Pi start React Carplay on startup, as well as connect to my phone and headunit through Bluetooth. I'm using a separate Bluetooth adapter as the one integrated into the Pi starts having problems when connected to more that one device. It takes around a minute to boot, which I'm fine with for now, but hope to upgrade in the future with a pi5 using Usb boot, which should get it down to around 20 seconds.

Other upgrades I have planned for the future are printing the case out of ABS, as the PLA one I have now warps in the sun so I have to cover it. I also hope to integrate a lap timer, and someday run digital gauges off the pi, once I swap to an engine with a newer harness.

Parts list:
Rasperry Pi 4B
Waveshare 8DP-CAPLCD
Carlinkit CPC200-CCPA
Drok 12v Converter
Geekworm Pi Heatsink (P165-A)
Cheap Bluetooth Adapter
2 Usb c cables for power
Wire to splice into the switched 12v
Round wire terminal for grounding
https://www.thingiverse.com/chrsarcher/designs (3d printed parts)

If anyone decides to make this I recommend getting these parts from AliExpress, they take longer to ship but are dirt cheap, and the same stuff you get on amazon. Also please ask me any questions you may have, thanks for reading!

Im also thinking about making a kit including all the parts and a video tutorial, I'd love to know if there's any interest for that.

[Wellwood]

Looks fantastic.

[Dano944]

Wow! Impressive! I’ve dreamt about doing something in my ‘83, but it’s so noisy I thought “Why”?

[BoxsterGT]

WELL DONE.....

Need this for my 89.

Len

[Wellwood]

^ what he said.

Not sure how that would be adapted for a later version with the rounded dash.

I'm loathe to try and squint at the Porsche solution for the later cars...and the price point makes my checkbook go

[chrsarcher]

I think the only way to integrate something like this into a late dash would be to replace the radio and little pocket with the screen, but I don't have a lot of time in a late dash car so I'm not too sure.

[Bulldog9]

Great Effort, but I took a much simpler approach.

No pictures, but in my 912, I have a Samsung Tab on a magnetic mount. It is bluetoothed to one of those BT transceivers for audio, and I use my phone as a wifihotspot to give the tablet boradband connection. Movies, Maps, Music, Audio Books, it is all good. I need to figure out the Mount on the 944 still.

Or I can just use my phone and bluetooth. The Tablet is larger though.

[Monkey Wrench]

I want to find a laptop holder to install my etch-a-sketch in my 88 ford van, Then when people look in they can have a giggle at my analogue mod ;-)

[924RACR]

Awesome work!

Would you be willing to share that CAD file for the replacement panel for the center speaker?

I have a plastic 2 gauge pod that goes there, but it completely lacks the pins to hold it in place; mine's just glued to the stock speaker base panel, and doesn't even fit that great.

I'd love to rework the design to have a 3D printed plastic base that fits properly, with a true carbon fiber outer face/mounting level (I do a lot of work in CF for my racecars)...

[chrsarcher]

I uploaded the .f3d files on my thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6434682/files If you need them in a different format let me know.

[924RACR]

Sweet, thanks!