3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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Don't know what size your working with but I can offer some ideas.
My in-laws bought us a 8GB MP3 player made by Phillips, I believe, as a Christmas gift one year. The wife has a stereo in the 98 that has a AUX jack (like normal headphone jack) to plug a MP3 player into.
Now most people seem content with just laying this on the dash or in the cubby holes. I don't like that. I want to be able to fiddle with it without looking at, or for it. I made up about 3 or 4 different mounting ideas for the MP3 player. None really worked good. Main problem was, it has a screen, and buttons covering 90% of the front of it, and all need to be visible and accessible.
I will try to get pictures, but for now I'll just explain what I did.
I'm a gun nut. I lived in the country. I had a .38 special that I didn't really use, but one year we had alot of snakes. ALOT. I bought a thing of these http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/64453-5.html To deal with that. That was years before the MP3 thing...
Heres another picture
But I was hunting for ways to mount the thing. The case that came with them shells was clear on the front. And the thickness was right, as well as the width. It had 2 problems, the height was too tall, and it had little dividers in it to keep the rounds separated. However with a couple hours with a dremel tool, I removed the dividers, cut down to size, and cut a hole in the clear cover. Then I stuck it to the center console with 2 sided tape. I can see the screen (though I only do this when parked or in the passenger seat) and I can also use all the buttons without looking at it. Lastly, the clear cover pops off to remove the MP3 player.
Now I must say, it isn't pretty. I don't have a very steady hand. My work on the clear part looks really bad. However, it could be made to look very, very professional. I plan to buy another pack of them shells JUST for this purpose - to try again and make it look good too. I don't even own a 38 anymore, so I'd be giving the shells away, haha. Now I aint saying to go out and buy this and it'll work for you, but think outside the box!! As a side note, most of CCI ammo comes in plastic cases with clear covers.
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82 Toyota Pickup, 22r, 5spd 4wd, Detroit locker, Warn 8274
1998 Toyota Camry - 5S-FE, Auto - 205k
82 Toyota pickup - 20r, 5spd, 4wd - SOLD
The Following User Says Thank You to bolink654 For This Useful Post:
I live in the country myself and am PRO-gun it looks like we have the same generation of the Toyota Camry, so you can better understand the places I can mount my UltraGauge.
I was thinking on top of the steering column right below the instrument cluster, but not sure how I would make it stay or what I would use. I do like your ammo idea, that's very clever and unique....I tried looking for mobile phone/MP3 player device mounts for vehicle interiors but no such luck, plus many felt cheap and were overpriced.
I need to brainstorm with someone about this, I'm usually very good at being creative but I am having "inventor's block" for some reason, lol.
Maybe we can think of something together...?
Thank you again so much!
-LSS
Quote:
Originally Posted by bolink654
Don't know what size your working with but I can offer some ideas.
My in-laws bought us a 8GB MP3 player made by Phillips, I believe, as a Christmas gift one year. The wife has a stereo in the 98 that has a AUX jack (like normal headphone jack) to plug a MP3 player into.
Now most people seem content with just laying this on the dash or in the cubby holes. I don't like that. I want to be able to fiddle with it without looking at, or for it. I made up about 3 or 4 different mounting ideas for the MP3 player. None really worked good. Main problem was, it has a screen, and buttons covering 90% of the front of it, and all need to be visible and accessible.
I will try to get pictures, but for now I'll just explain what I did.
I'm a gun nut. I lived in the country. I had a .38 special that I didn't really use, but one year we had alot of snakes. ALOT. I bought a thing of these http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/64453-5.html To deal with that. That was years before the MP3 thing...
Heres another picture
But I was hunting for ways to mount the thing. The case that came with them shells was clear on the front. And the thickness was right, as well as the width. It had 2 problems, the height was too tall, and it had little dividers in it to keep the rounds separated. However with a couple hours with a dremel tool, I removed the dividers, cut down to size, and cut a hole in the clear cover. Then I stuck it to the center console with 2 sided tape. I can see the screen (though I only do this when parked or in the passenger seat) and I can also use all the buttons without looking at it. Lastly, the clear cover pops off to remove the MP3 player.
Now I must say, it isn't pretty. I don't have a very steady hand. My work on the clear part looks really bad. However, it could be made to look very, very professional. I plan to buy another pack of them shells JUST for this purpose - to try again and make it look good too. I don't even own a 38 anymore, so I'd be giving the shells away, haha. Now I aint saying to go out and buy this and it'll work for you, but think outside the box!! As a side note, most of CCI ammo comes in plastic cases with clear covers.
__________________
2001 Toyota Camry 2.2L-I4, automatic transmission with 157,000 miles.
Got pictures and dimensions of what your trying to mount?
__________________
82 Toyota Pickup, 22r, 5spd 4wd, Detroit locker, Warn 8274
1998 Toyota Camry - 5S-FE, Auto - 205k
82 Toyota pickup - 20r, 5spd, 4wd - SOLD
The Following User Says Thank You to bolink654 For This Useful Post:
Well here is the website for the UltraGauge to give you an idea...now since we have the same Camry, it should be easy for us to find a decent spot to place it.
That clip thing on the back comes off right? So it'd be .456 thick, 3.429 wide, and 2.138 tall?
You only have the one wire right? My MP3 player has 2, a USB cable that I plug into a cig lighter adapter, and the headphone type wire. Are there any buttons you need to use on it? How often would you be removing it? (MP3 player needs removed all the time to add songs).
As far as WERE to mount... I have an aftermarket stereo, and that cubby hole below it. I have it mounted in such a way that it covers 1/3rd of that cubby hole. But I think some camrys don't have that cubby hole?
Anywho, I'd think that being a gauge type thing, your prolly gonna want it were you can see it easily huh?
Oh and you know them 3M strips that go on the back of them hooks? That you can remove without messing up paint and stuff? That's what I used, just trimmed it down. Worked for 2 or 3 years then one hot day I came out to the car and it had fallen off. I re-mounted it with body molding tape.
__________________
82 Toyota Pickup, 22r, 5spd 4wd, Detroit locker, Warn 8274
1998 Toyota Camry - 5S-FE, Auto - 205k
82 Toyota pickup - 20r, 5spd, 4wd - SOLD
The Following User Says Thank You to bolink654 For This Useful Post:
That clip thing on the back comes off right? So it'd be .456 thick, 3.429 wide, and 2.138 tall?
Yes it is detachable.
You only have the one wire right? My MP3 player has 2, a USB cable that I plug into a cig lighter adapter, and the headphone type wire. Are there any buttons you need to use on it? How often would you be removing it? (MP3 player needs removed all the time to add songs).
I would only remove it whem I'm at work as I park in a public parking lot, so I wouldn't want anyone to steal it or the sun to destroy it. It is just like a ScanGauage but much lower priced.
As far as WERE to mount... I have an aftermarket stereo, and that cubby hole below it. I have it mounted in such a way that it covers 1/3rd of that cubby hole. But I think some camrys don't have that cubby hole?
Awesome! Unfortunately, the console was updated a bit in 2000, so they removed that cubby hole.
Anywho, I'd think that being a gauge type thing, your prolly gonna want it were you can see it easily huh?
Yes sir, I would like to be able to view at a quick glance while not distracting me nor stick out to passerbys walking near by.
Oh and you know them 3M strips that go on the back of them hooks? That you can remove without messing up paint and stuff? That's what I used, just trimmed it down. Worked for 2 or 3 years then one hot day I came out to the car and it had fallen off. I re-mounted it with body molding tape.
You know, I almost purchased some of those 3M hooks but thought the heat would melt the sticky glue too quickly.
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2001 Toyota Camry 2.2L-I4, automatic transmission with 157,000 miles.
Ok so here's what I'm thinking. You need a swivel type thing. Like the one on the mount that comes with it. Or like the ones on the end of a camera tripod. Like a ball joint. Something like this (the first one) http://www.mcmaster.com/#bolt-down-s...mounts/=dwbdup
Only those are FAR too big, and they don't look like they'd hold tight at the ball... But im going to use them in a very crude MSpaint drawing! Might have to pilfer the swivel part from something else and modify it. I see alot of GPS mounts have them too. Hopefully you get the idea.
I dunno what you could use to get the 90 degree bend though. I'm sure there is something out there. If all else failed you could use a hunk of plastic, a drill bit, and some glue (or thread it with a tap if your really fancy). Also if you used TWO elbows, you could mount it anywere, even sideways.
I'll keep an eye out for things that would work. I'm going on vacation day after tomorow and wont be on here for a week though. Do you have an Ace Hardware near you? Go to the section with the special screws and such. They have TONs of threaded plastic bits, metal bits, ect ect. They might even have a ball swivel type thing. Only thing I hate about the place is they always ask me "do you need help"... I'm beyond help, haha. All I wanna do is look, dig through their stuff, and think... not be bugged by the employees.
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82 Toyota Pickup, 22r, 5spd 4wd, Detroit locker, Warn 8274
1998 Toyota Camry - 5S-FE, Auto - 205k
82 Toyota pickup - 20r, 5spd, 4wd - SOLD
The Following User Says Thank You to bolink654 For This Useful Post:
Another option is to lop off the flexible part of the Ultragauge windshield mount and attach that to a flat bar and then mount it to the dash screws. This will allow you to keep the original bracket setup.
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1998 T-100 SR5 2WD auto, Roadmaster Active Suspension, 6½" dropped front air dam, 4½" drop full belly pan, 4° rear diffuser, 11" side skirts, oil catch jar, AC mod, aero cap, 67% grill block = 26mpg highway!
Quote:
Originally Posted by n c t t o r a
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The Following User Says Thank You to BamZipPow For This Useful Post:
Amazon has some reasonably priced universal vent/dash mounts. But since your always roasting down there in TX,...your UG would be subjected to the constant AC/Heat change thing. Not sure if that would affect the unit or not. Having access to the buttons on the back isn't really necessary while driving so that shouldn't be an issue. Besides,...once you set it up as you like,...you really don't have to fool with the units buttons. Camrys are kinda tough with finding a nice spot to put this gauge with the dash being laid out as it is. I for one don't want to have to screw anything into my dash or stick anything on there either,....just looks ghetto.
The Following User Says Thank You to garytho For This Useful Post:
Amazon has some reasonably priced universal vent/dash mounts. But since your always roasting down there in TX,...your UG would be subjected to the constant AC/Heat change thing. Not sure if that would affect the unit or not. Having access to the buttons on the back isn't really necessary while driving so that shouldn't be an issue. Besides,...once you set it up as you like,...you really don't have to fool with the units buttons. Camrys are kinda tough with finding a nice spot to put this gauge with the dash being laid out as it is. I for one don't want to have to screw anything into my dash or stick anything on there either,....just looks ghetto.
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2001 Toyota Camry 2.2L-I4, automatic transmission with 157,000 miles.
I'm not really sure to be honest,....I'm using the original mount that was with the unit.
Thats because here in New England,...I have to use both heat & a/c and I'm afraid it will mess with the units internal temp too much if mounted in front of the vent.
I'd just look them over and check out the reviews to see who's had good luck with them.
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Need help!
it looks like we have the same generation of the Toyota Camry, so you can better understand the places I can mount my UltraGauge. 
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