Good friend of mine told me I should post my install here for you folks to see, so here it is.

I had the center console custom fabricated ... the website is temporary, but it'll be up long enough for everyone to get a look at.

Enjoy!

-B

http://www.agonyguild.com/nsx/audio/

Dizam!

Your install is excellent. Your car is excellent. Damn, where's $80,000 when you need it?

Could you give us more info on how the console was fabricated. It looks awesome!

The factory center console was removed... if you are not familiar with what it looks like, it has a 1 1/2 DIN size OEM radio, with a wierd mini-slot tape deck mounted above an 8 button controller.

A picture can be seen here: http://www.agonyguild.com/nsx/audio/olddash1.jpg

Needless to say, some work needed to be done.

The section of the console where the factory radio/tape deck is, was cut out, so now the console had a giant hole in it, which of course was bigger than the EMPEG's size.

Then, we took the pull out bracket off the front of the EMPEG, and removed the 4 screws out of the faceplate.

The faceplate was then pulled off as well. The screw holes were wet sanded down and then filled in with resin and bondo.

We installed the faceless EMPEG into the dash, and then put the console back on to align where the faceplate needed to "mesh" to.

We took the 4 faceplate bolts to a local hardware store and matched the thread size and got shorter bolts with a sloped head, instead of a cap head. This was necessary so that the bolts didn't make the console "bow" out because the screws were too long.

Using fiberglass, resin, and bondo the face plate was inserted into the hole of the console where the factory radio used to be. It was supported with wood clamps and the backside was filled in for support and only the "visable" pieces of the faceplate were left showing in the front.

Basically we took the faceplate, stuck it where the hole was, and filled in the remaining space with bondo and resin (used in fiberglass making).

More sanding and smoothing putty, some time, and a bunch of waiting for the chemicals to dry and we were left with an almost finished product.

The original piece was sent out for paint match, and after it was all sanded down and smooth as factory, it was then airbrushed back to the factory color and installed.

I have a few more pictures of the almost finished console I will post up tonight.

The whole process took about 3-4 days, a few hours each day as it had to go through different "drying" processes.

-B

Fantastic! Me am well impressed.

Rob

Yup, pretty darn cool looking.

But how hard is it to get the player out of the dash for software upgrades?

It doesn't come out

The serial cable was extended and mounted on a permanent plate under the passenger side dash. I use my laptop and just plug right in.

Also the RCA Input too was mounted in a permanent spot, so I can just plug any external audio source in when I want to.

If you look at the picture where the subwoofer is under the carpet.

Look slightly left and you will see the air vent duct. Now, underneath it you see a little black vinyl piece that was matched to the factory. On the backside of that mount (what you can't see) is the Serial and RCA plugs You can reach around the back and feel them, but you can't see them in plain view.

I have updated the site to show them:

http://www.agonyguild.com/nsx/audio/

If you want direct links try....

http://www.agonyguild.com/nsx/audio/rcaplate.jpg
and
http://www.agonyguild.com/nsx/audio/rcaplate2.jpg

(Yes, I know in the picture the vent was dirty .. but 3 weeks of cutting custom wood and what not creates a lot of saw dust :P... needless to say its clean now).

-B

Oh and one more thing... notice in the trunk the Linksys Wireless Access Point?

Its connected to the EMPEG as well... so I can wireless into the player from my laptop at home, or in the car.

-B

Forget Napster, forget XM. The future is driving around browsing everybodyelses' playlists over wireless ethernet.

Is that a Nitrous injection system bottle in your trunk? In an NSX?

What, are you a complete madman?

tanstaafl.

Yes thats a Nitrous setup

Would you think I was even more of a madman if I told you its also Supercharged?

If you want to see it...

http://www.agonyguild.com/nsx/charger1.jpg

-B

Yep. This fool let me drive it once before he put all this crazy stuff under the hood and in the trunk, and it was pretty friggin fast then..... I can only imagine it now.

So whaddya say, gonna let me drive it again next time I'm out there? ;-)

If you want to see it...

Omigod!

You are a total, out and out lunatic! Acurasquirrel, eat your heart out!

Please, never mind the (beautiful) stereo installation -- there are some real motorheads on this bbs who would be very interested in hearing more about your car.

Probably best would be to start a new thread in the off Topics forum. In addition to my ShoWagon (Taurus wagon with SHO powertrain and interior) I have a Porsche 930 Turbo which, until you came on the scene, I felt could run with just about anybody's car on this bbs.

I bow to the new master!

tanstaafl.

Up front base, VERY cool. Guess you had to with all that crap in back ("well, maybe just one or two modifications officer") .

Okay B., you are hereby forbidden to compete in any "best empeg install" contests. Sheesh.

*me sits down and rethinks my entire install*

Wow! That is an engine.

Oh, nice install too.

Some illuminated buttons would add just the right touch!

Just checked out your motor ..... respect man!

A man after my own heart, silly jap supercar on steroids!

Nice!

**Wipes drool from keyboard, picks up lower jaw**
Need I say more.
I bow down to the new Honda leader

Illuminated buttons hehe, funny you should mention that, because we actually thought about doing that during the install, however given the brightness of the display we came to the conclusion it really wasn't necessary.

I have thought about re-painting the buttons themselves though, as they are the only "grey" buttons in the car and kind of stand out... might color match them to the rest of the knobs/buttons in a black.

If I do paint them black, then button illumination may be a new idea to help them stand out.

Im currently working on converting the other center console devices, ie: clock and climate controller, to blue displays as well.

I'll post more pictures soon ...

-B

might color match them to the rest of the knobs/buttons in a black.

Currently, Brian's illuminated buttons look black when they're not lit...

It's funny how people alter a mega-buck car to match a (comparitively) low buck empeg. Pretty cool which one takes the dominant role in creating mods to the others! (I'm headed down that road too, and I know I'm not alone).

Hey, I don't care how expensive the car is. It's merely a mounting point for the empeg that also happens to move the player and me from point A to point B. If the car manufacturer is stupid enough to make the mounting process difficult, that's just a minor issue to be worked-around as quickly as possible.

Whassup Brent?

KungFuCow: And who might you be?

---

Tony: Are there pictures of these illuminated buttons anywhere to be seen? You've peaked my interest.

-B

Tony: Are there pictures of these illuminated buttons anywhere to be seen? You've peaked my interest.

Yes, I have a recent review posted here which includes a photo.

Also, Brian has photos at his page.

[grammar police] And that's piqued, by the way. [/grammar police]

Wow, I'm sure you're friends, but what a pain in the butt!

And I disagree: Frequently it's piqued, but what if you really did peak his interest? As oppose to lower it, or just raising it a little? Perhaps he's as interested as he could possibly get, and it has now peaked?

And I disagree: Frequently it's piqued, but what if you really did peak his interest? As oppose to lower it, or just raising it a little? Perhaps he's as interested as he could possibly get, and it has now peaked?

BURN!

Oh, be careful! I'm no grammar expert myself, I don't want anyone to get Tony fueled up!