BL4CKOUT'S 09 STX iPad Installation Thread
02-27-2012, 10:23 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
BL4CKOUT'S 09 STX iPad Installation Thread
Its been a while since I have posted on the site, but I figured I would share my upcoming project with you guys. 
I have been itching to put an iPad in my dash for some time now, the only problem was spending the $700 minimum for the iPad itself. Lol. However I was able to purchase a 32GB iPad 1 with 3G from craigslist for $275 so the project starts......
I haven't done anything to this nature before in any of my vehicles so bear with me. After research I'm going to go with an aftermarket HU which I am going to place where the trucks current screen is. I chose this route, because in doing so I will maximize my space in the dash and after you install an aftermarket radio the original display simply says "Build Ford Tough" which I could care less about. I was hoping for a perfect fit, but the current screen is much smaller than a single din unit. I will also be moving the A/C controls down just about an inch to give room for my iPad setup. Wanting it to be flushed into the dash without a simple slide in installation like 80% of these installs are I will be doing some sort of rail or track system with catch magnets for ejecting.
I was expecting to take a whole lot of pictures of my step to step process but I was so into the project I forgot. It is not completed though so tonight when I get home from work I am going to give more details and pictures of my steps.
Here is where I am now after 1 day. I had to cut, and sand the existing area to make this fit. Only thing missing from this picture is the frame around the actual HU to hide the tabs and minimal gap.
I have been itching to put an iPad in my dash for some time now, the only problem was spending the $700 minimum for the iPad itself. Lol. However I was able to purchase a 32GB iPad 1 with 3G from craigslist for $275 so the project starts......
I haven't done anything to this nature before in any of my vehicles so bear with me. After research I'm going to go with an aftermarket HU which I am going to place where the trucks current screen is. I chose this route, because in doing so I will maximize my space in the dash and after you install an aftermarket radio the original display simply says "Build Ford Tough" which I could care less about. I was hoping for a perfect fit, but the current screen is much smaller than a single din unit. I will also be moving the A/C controls down just about an inch to give room for my iPad setup. Wanting it to be flushed into the dash without a simple slide in installation like 80% of these installs are I will be doing some sort of rail or track system with catch magnets for ejecting.
I was expecting to take a whole lot of pictures of my step to step process but I was so into the project I forgot. It is not completed though so tonight when I get home from work I am going to give more details and pictures of my steps.
Here is where I am now after 1 day. I had to cut, and sand the existing area to make this fit. Only thing missing from this picture is the frame around the actual HU to hide the tabs and minimal gap.
02-27-2012, 10:30 AM
#2
FX4 Blackout
Very cool idea, interested to see how this turns out as I have also wanted to try something similar... I'll let you be the guinea pig though before I start ripping out my factory dash components!
02-27-2012, 12:09 PM
#3
Let the Fun Begin
um...why do you need an aftermarket radio installed at the same time you are installing an IPAD? the Ipad can do it all...and more then any head unit....the only hard part is getting the digital audio output....but it is possible with certain converters.
It was done a while ago...
It was done a while ago...
Last edited by TimelessR1; 02-27-2012 at 02:13 PM.
Trending Topics
02-27-2012, 05:07 PM
#10
Originally Posted by cpolito2
I did this in my last truck (2001 Chevy Z71). It's definitely a great replacement for a headunit.
Good luck!
Good luck!
OP that looks awesome. I'm sure the end product will be killer. I'm looking into a head unit but I'm probably just gonna go with a pioneer double din.