Quick Wash - New ABD Product, Ken Block cars, PC Switch

Off work today so gave the car a much needed wash. Car was really dirty but I only used Autobrite's new Purple Velvet shampoo.

Ken Block cars mounted on the passenger arm rest.

Also fitted a manual power switch for the car PC. So now it is auto and manual. This has been mounted in the existing stereo stalk.

Boot build now easily accessible, showing new Stinger leisure battery off the split charge relay. Shown from inside the car with rear seats down.

Car PC mk4 - New Motherboard, & Windows 7

Over the past couple of days I have finally got round to upgrading the XP Ice OS to Windows 7. The motherboard has also been changed to a Zotac, this thing would put most home PCs and laptops to same, quad core, 4Gb DDR3 RAM, dedicated graphics - all to run a simple .net front end, a media player, and Sat Nav software. Bit overkill especially when teamed with the SSD drive, but its a necessity to be very very fast. The new board has built in bluetooth and built in wi-fi.

I also had to change my Sat Nav software, I didn't know before I started, but Garmin have stopped accepting registrations for their MobilePC software, they have turned off their servers and the software will not start without registration. However...... I did a bit of research and found this!!
http://www.mapfactor.com/en/products/navigation-software-standard/navigator-11/
Its a FREE Sat Nav software that is open source and is primarily for Android but they have a Windows 7 version! I haven't done a lot of miles on it yet, but it looks a really well thought out program, more menu options than the Garmin and works with my Maplin GPS receiver!

The Board

Test Rig with Twin SSD

The Memory 

New Loom

The new board is a 24Pin power connector, however my car PSU output only a 20Pin. This loom converts 20-24Pin.  

The Screen (changed power to Molex so I run from the motherboard)

All the Parts - Ready to Fit 

Boot Tests on Touchscreen 

Fitted 

OBDii Removal & JBL Bass Controller

Bit of a "2 for price of 1" type of mod next.

The Focus ST (with key-less entry more-so) are "susceptible" to the BMW-style theft via the OBDii port. Therefore, I decided to move the port so it is a lot more difficult to steal the car via this method.

The panel holding the port it held on with one screw and then it just pulls off, once off the port is clearly visible and it is simply unclipped and moved further into the dash. It is probably best to use electrical tape and tape it up to stop any rattles.

Needless to say I am not going to detail exactly where my port now is, but I will say it isn't accessible without removing the stereo!

Once the port was out of the way, I have now mounted a JBL bass controller that runs to the boot and plugs into the monoblock amps for the subs.

LEGO Stig

Fun little mod next, I came across this little guy and placed him onto the dash with a spot of hot glue (as it won't mark if/when removed).

I see that this has since been copied by other ST owners.... GET YOUR OWN IDEAS!