2004 INFINITI FX45 CARPUTER INSTALLATION

[chemao]

Hey guys, I just bought a [not really] new 2004 Infiniti FX45 for a long-term project. It's being delivered in two weeks and I wanted to get started picking your brains for ideas. Eventually, this will be a loud, bass-booming, fire-breathing turbocharged FX45 packed with goodies. I decided to start with installation of a custom carputer setup. Here are the features I plan to implement on a high level. I need some advise on good ways to accomplish some of them.

The computer will have a 3 core AMD phenom processor, 2GB of RAM, and 2x1 terabyte hard drives set up in a RAID 1 mirror (in case one fails). There will be 2 standard USB ports mounted somewhere on the front dash, which will serve as a charging outlet for my cell phone or any other USB device I may need (such as transfering pictures/music/videos. There will be a bluetooth receiver so I can use my cell phone's Internet via bluetooth without wires (6MBps T-Mobile 3G/HSPA; suck it AT&T!!). I will mount a GPS receiver on the roof right next to the roof rack for stealth. I'll be using Garmin's navigation software. I plan to mount a sealed plastic box (similar to a battery box) in the rear, with a cutout for a quiet 9 inch fan for ventilation. The carputer will be housed inside it, with rubber pads keeping it snug and hopefully limiting road jitter. I plan to install an nLite (custom tiny) version of Microsoft Windows XP, which I may also dualboot with Fedora Linux just for the hell of it.

1. This FX45 hasn't navigation, so out goes the ugly a** orange/black display panel. I think I will need it so I want to relocate it elsewhere in the truck. Any ideas where to put it, and if any caveats come to mind? Also, if you know of any way to redirect the vehicle's information to the touchscreen that would be perfect.

2. I plan to install an SVGA touchscreen where the factory display panel sits, after having relocated or removed it. Any suggestions on good panels, or ways to make the installation seem fairly seamless? I don't want any empty space on either side of the screen, as I have seen in a couple of other's carputer setups. Suggestions?

3. I need ideas on where to mount a DVDROM drive. This will be used for watching movies, installing programs, or whatever else. I plan to use a slimline DVDROM typically found in laptops, with a slimline to USB adapter, which will plug directly into the computer.

4. I need ideas on how to have the computer automatically shutdown when i kill the engine. Clearly I don't want it to continue running and eventually killing the battery, leaving me stranded. Remembering to shutdown every time would be a real PITA.

5. I think outputing from the carputer's sound card directly into the factory stereo would be much less complicated, plus keeping the factory stereo allows me to use the steering wheel buttons, and keep all those fancy knobs they installed in the dash actually DOING something. Does anyone know if the factory BOSE system has available auxiliary inputs hidden behind the dash somewhere? If so, how many sets are there? One? Two?

6. I was CONSIDERING putting a satellite radio receiver in the computer, but since I'll have 6MBps+ Internet pretty much everywhere I drive I figure streaming radio might be a better alternative. Please share your thoughts.

Thanks for all your advise guys I can't want to get started!!

Justin Chandler

[jayhawk]

You might have better luck posting this in an FX35/45 forum. While there are many similarities in the audio and electronics between Muranos and FX35/45s, you will probably have better luck with the FX crowd.

The G37 seems to have a number of folks into modifying their cars like this, try myg37.com.

Good luck --jayhawk

[chemao]

You might have better luck posting this in an FX35/45 forum. While there are many similarities in the audio and electronics between Muranos and FX35/45s, you will probably have better luck with the FX crowd.

The G37 seems to have a number of folks into modifying their cars like this, try myg37.com.

Good luck --jayhawk

I thought I did post it in the FX forum... MODS please can you move this to the FX35/FX45 forum?

[chemao]

I've started putting together the plans for the upgrade of the audio components. Obviously, I'll be starting with replacing the factory speakers. If anyone has experience with these cars and can provide any information such as the correct speaker size, fitment issues, brand/model recomendations, or caveats related to opening the interior panels, let me know.

Justin