Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

For starters, I'm not wanting to put an MFD in my dash to monitor my RB25DE. However, the cover is an intriguing concept for the housing to a front/rear camera display I'd like to install. The covers are still available from Amayama, it seems, and the power/video switching of my project is fairly straightforward.

I have an ENR34, which came with the RB25DE. This means that the dash is solid, and does not have the removable insert the GT-R, GT-t, or GT-X have. Likewise, my dash would have to be cut in order to install the MFD cover. A search on this topic hasn't yielded any actual experience from those who seem to have done it, so would anyone here care to offer anything up? I can buy a GT-t dash here in the US, but with additional $500ish it would add to what's effectively a camera project, it's difficult to justify so far.

Open to ideas.

Edited by JarrettL
Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/481939-mfd-install-in-non-turbo-r34-dash/
Share on other sites

  • JarrettL changed the title to MFD Install In Non-Turbo R34 Dash
  • 1 year later...

Alright, so a year and half later I've finally done this to my car successfully! It really is nearly as straightforward as it sounds, but necessary to keep some considerations in mind when doing so. Pictures are in the process of uploading now, and I'll start writing out a step-by-step for others who want to attempt this. The purpose of this installation for myself was not to run the OEM MFD, but I do want to use the OEM cover to adapt a monitor of some sort inside. Back-up camera is the primary reason, but I'd like to think of more things to add, as well. The cluster is being replaced with an AIM display, so I'm not too concerned with any motorsport data, or critical systems monitoring, but suggestions are welcome!

Instructions incoming!

Alright, so here's how you're going to put an OEM MFD cover (and potentially the aftermarket enclosures that utilize factory provisions) into your non-turbo dashboard. Some NA cars had the pop-up navi display and are treated just like GTT cars. But if your dash just has a blank spot, read on.

Set the enclosure roughly into place on the dash see where the outside edges will fall on the vinyl surface of the dash. Make some marks on either side about 10mm in from that imaginary line. 10mm isn't gospel, and we'll be adjusting as we go, but it will give you a decent starting point. Cut full depth through the foam along these lines making sure the cuts in the back corners touch, and then remove all vinyl and padding within this boundary.

PXL_20220806_012416433.jpg

PXL_20220806_014507135.jpg

PXL_20220806_015341247.jpg

 

As you can see on the different edges of the MFD cover, there is a vertical surface that will help to tuck the vinyl down so that your cut line cannot be seen. When we purposely cut 10mm in from the true outside edge in the last step, we did that so that we could take advantage of some extra material, and not have our cut exposed.

PXL_20220806_021002898.jpg

PXL_20220806_021031715.jpg

PXL_20220806_021008519.jpg

PXL_20220806_021022891.jpg

 

To make this work well, we'll need to "undermine" the foam layer from underneath the vinyl surface around the perimeter. With the MFD cover in hand, repeatedly try to fit it and then adjust the cut line until you think you have it perfect.

PXL_20220806_015828966.jpg

PXL_20220806_020120564.jpg

 

The brown tape in the back is covering two slots that the MFD cover will slide into. Stick a flathead screwdriver through those to expose the slots. Continue with the test-fitting process. The side I found that gives you the most grief is the side closest to the gauge cluster. You really need to make sure that your cuts have the foam undermined there as that's the side of the MFD cover with the tallest vertical edge.

PXL_20220806_022528730.jpg

PXL_20220806_022503012.jpg

PXL_20220806_022635332.jpg

PXL_20220806_022648077.jpg

PXL_20220806_022727464.jpg

PXL_20220806_022739116.jpg

PXL_20220806_022945793.jpg

 

Lastly, one small relief area that I needed was at this point where there's a dimple in the vinyl. I took a 6mm drill bit and drilled a hole into the plastic surface where the plastic protrusion on the MFD cover wants to sit. Don't drill into the vinyl, but next to it. You'll see it when you're test-fitting. I thought my picture was much more self-explanatory when I was taking it, but looking at it now, that's certainly not the case!

PXL_20220806_044744951.jpg

 

Obviously at this point you can cut through the entire plastic panel, or you can cut just what you'll need for whatever your application is. I suppose you could even just upholster it with some felt carpet and store your sunglasses in there!

 

I hope this was helpful to someone! It made me nervous to attempt, but in all honesty I was finished in about 25-30 minutes.

PXL_20220806_014507135.jpg

PXL_20220806_015341247.jpg

Edited by JarrettL
Photos
  • Like 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Sorry, are coilovers ACTUALLY ILLEGAL in NSW? They aren't in Vic, as long as they retain 70% of stock travel and the car is above 100mm off the ground. Does NSW actually have a law making coilovers actually illegal? RWC/Blue Slip/Engineering people not knowing the actual f**king laws boils my blood. Demand them to point to the documentation that states a coilover is illegal. (it may exist in NSW )
    • But seriously, can we ask for the results of the "tip a bottle of metho into a nearly empty tank" experiment?
    • Hang on. Let me get this straight. The desire is to have coilovers, BC in particular, to be MORE comfortable on Sydney roads than stock suspension? Well, that's obviously not right. BCs have crude damping design at the very best, and typically hard spring rates. BC stands for Billy Cart. And then, the desire is to put in some shitty old worn out stockers, to get it blue slipped and then put the BCs back in? And then.....what? Not worry about getting pulled up by the Plod? Because you seem to have raised a worry about paying for engineering (which actually does solve all your legality problems) and still getting pulled up.... but the only problem there is that if/when that happens you have to show your paperwork at the inspection station. Whereas, if you just swap in borrowed shitty old stockers to get it slipped now, and then you get defected in the future, you have to go find more shitty old stockers then too. You course of action looks like this set of options: Buy brand new stock type dampers, and springs. probably cost a bit more than $1k all up, but will last for the remaining life of the car. Put them in, pass inspection, drive on them forever more. Hell, they could even be really nice Bilsteins and Kings or other lower&stiffer springs if you wanted. Get the car engineered as is. ~$1k. Buy new Shockworks coilvers (or MCA) and also pay for engineering. You're spending a lot more here. But these will be the best things that you could drive around on.
    • Might be worthwhile hitting up Facebook's groups, I know most of them contain terrible people and scammers - however you might be able to find someone that's in Sydney with factory suspension you could purchase and/or hire. Just do not send any form of money anywhere, in person cash only.
×
×
  • Create New...