E-Van Moving Climate Controls for Touch Screen Head Unit

[pawilkes]

I've got a 2002 E-150 built out by GTRV. (It's pretty similar to your classic VW Westy or RB50 layout.) Has anyone tried moving their climate control knobs down on an E van? I'm thinking of updating the cockpit with a touch screen head unit. It'd be nice to have GPS maps on a big screen when I'm rolling down the road. However the location of the stereo is much lower compared to modern vehicles where screens are common. I think it would be much better if the screen were up higher where the climate control nobs are. I came across this video where a guy did something similar on a Tacoma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6g6E7Ae_Mc

If the nobs are purely electric and not mechanically controlling anything I'd think it'd be pretty easy.

Thoughts?

[carringb]

You could swap for an 08+ dash. But you'd have to somehow make the existing cluster fit, because the newer clusters are CAN-BUS based. The '09+ dash places the HVAC controls below the stereo, but the control panel itself is a carry over part.

[Twoxentrix]

Thinking a little outside the box... what about a heads up display?

I've been looking into options for my Van since I've become addicted to the one I have in my X5.
This one caught my eye, has the ability to operate with a back-up camera, side cameras, Calls & Texts, Navigation...an for a mere $1,499 more you can option for night vision (really like this feature for detecting animals late at night - assuming they're gracious enough to provide you time to react)

https://hudway.co/drive?gclid=CjwKCA...xoCQkEQAvD_BwE

https://store.hudway.co/?_ga=2.45314...xoCQkEQAvD_BwE

EDIT: Unfortunately not available till Dec 2020 (but that could change since the launch has already been delayed months)

[JWA]

The heads up displays would be GREAT if they come to market!

Just a FWIW the Function Control "pod" as used in the '08 and later dashes seems to be the exact same parts as those from previous years. This is what it looks like out of the dash:



That particular "pod" doesn't have the rear heater-A/C blower motor control but that inclusion wouldn't change the size or dimensions .

It would be quite a task to re-locate I I'm thinking.

The radio location isn't ideal for safe viewing of an integrated GPS type display in the entertainment head. I have a rear and side view display monitor mounted to my headliner which is far from ideal but its workable as I still rely on outside mirrors quite a bit while driving. I'd love to move that monitor but haven't yet thought where that might work best for me. Just rambling here........

HTH

[boywonder]

Is the 2002 E series dash not a Double-DIN head unit hole?


If it isn't..find a single DIN size radio that has a slide/pop out screen.....if anyone still makes them...I'm old......

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by carringb

You could swap for an 08+ dash. But you'd have to somehow make the existing cluster fit, because the newer clusters are CAN-BUS based. The '09+ dash places the HVAC controls below the stereo, but the control panel itself is a carry over part.

The 2008 still has the old style dash.....with new front end sheet metal. The above dash starts in 2009.

[JWA]

The 2008 and earlier E-Series have a DIN & 1/2 or so---can be made into a full double-DIN with a small bit of trimming of the existing mounting opening.

The '09's seem to have the larger opening.

I've seen a few larger touch screen entertainment units artfully installed in pre-'05 E-Series. I think doing a search for "double DIN" here on SMB might yield some older threads.

[AdventureRUSS]

On my 2011 - I installed a 10" Android "Atoto S8" stereo from Amazon and it didn't require changing anything. The screen 'floats' in front of the dash - works well for Netflix too.


There are some 1 Din 7-10 screens that float in front of the dash as well.

[pawilkes]

Originally Posted by AdventureRUSS

On my 2011 - I installed a 10" Android "Atoto S8" stereo from Amazon and it didn't require changing anything. The screen 'floats' in front of the dash - works well for Netflix too.


There are some 1 Din 7-10 screens that float in front of the dash as well.

Russ - yeah, it looks like it would fit well on the '09 and up dashes. The earler dashes, like on my van, are smaller and curved with the HVAC controls above the head unit. I want to the screen higher up, like it is on your van, which is the motivation for moving the HVAC controls down.

I went to a junkyard last week and took apart a dash to see what was back there. I also bought a HVAC control panel as shown in JWA's post. Based on my measurements and the dimensions for the unit on Amazon, I think I should be able to fit a custom HVAC panel (using all the stock controls but mounted to a custom panel to fit) with the head unit above. The upper area is ~6.5" deep so the stock head unit wouldn't fit but the 10" screen head unit would as it is only ~5" deep. Figuring out how to label and backlight the custom panel seems to be the biggest challenge. I'll post pictures if I ever get it done.

[JWA]

^^^Many of us here would L-O-V-E seeing such a custom fit in the flesh so to speak.

If you do go down that path best of luck---sounds a bit bit daunting to me and I ain't skered of nuttin'!