G
Guest
Guest
After taking a look at the various mounts for the Liberty and deciding I didn't like any of them I took a crack at making an overhead mount for my XM Roady receiver.
Tools/Items Needed:
- Sheet of Aluminum, wide enough to mount the Roady/receiver bracket and about 2' long - not too thick since you are going to bend it into a bracket.
- Tin Cutter/Dremel to cut the sheet into a long strip
- Sandpaper/metal file to smooth the cut edge
- Drill to drill out holes to mount the receiver bracket
- (For the Roady bracket) 4 1/2" 8-32 machine bolts, nuts and washers
- Pair of pliers to help bend the aluminum bracket to shape
- some strips of double sided adhesive (or you could drill and bolt this to the frame above the headliner if you want)
1. First cut the aluminum sheet into a long strip, wide enough to take the receiver bracket with a little extra width.
2. Sand/file the cut edge to make it nice, straight and remove the sharp edge.
3. Pull down the overhead maplight assembly, I carefully insert a flathead screwdriver and work the clip on one side out then pull the other clip on the opposite side out.
4. Take the strip and insert it into the area between the headliner and the metal frame (watch out for the cabling in the area, make sure to put the strip below the cables), take note of how far the strip goes in - usually about 8-9". With the strip fully inserted, put a U bend into the strip where the maplight hole is, then carefully, PARTIALLY reinsert the maplight assembly - no need to fully reengage the clips right now since you are going to have to pull it out again. Bend the strip where it comes out from under the maplight. You will have a shape similar to this:
_________________
________________|
|
|
(note the second bend will be shorter than the 1st but my ASCII drawing just isn\'t working out)
Ok, pull out the bracket and break out the drill, get the Roady/receiver mounting bracket and line it up to drill the holes to mount it to along the last segment. After you drill the holes remove any excess aluminum strip below that point and file it smooth so the edge isn\'t sharp.
Mount the receiver mounting bracket to the aluminum bracket using the appropriate nuts, washers and bolts, then fit the aluminum bracket inbetween the headliner and the metal and make sure the bends are what you want and fit well. Mount the receiver to the bracket and adjust to your preference. Remember not to go too low since it might interfere with your rear view mirror!
Once you get a good fit, remove the bracket again - place 2 strips of double sided tape on the end that is going to be between the headliner and the metal frame. Attach the tape to the metal frame to help brace the aluminum bracket (this is just to relieve some of the weight so it doesn't all rest against your headliner and maplight mount).
Run the receiver wiring up the A pillar and under the headliner and drop it through the maplight hole, replace the maplight mount and mount the receiver on the bracket.
Your done!
Cost - about $5 (or less) for an aluminum sheet and about an hour
Photos coming soon - need to run my wires (and find a way to extend my power cord so its long enough to run from my power outlet under the passenger side/glovebox, up the A pillar and across the headliner).
George
Tools/Items Needed:
- Sheet of Aluminum, wide enough to mount the Roady/receiver bracket and about 2' long - not too thick since you are going to bend it into a bracket.
- Tin Cutter/Dremel to cut the sheet into a long strip
- Sandpaper/metal file to smooth the cut edge
- Drill to drill out holes to mount the receiver bracket
- (For the Roady bracket) 4 1/2" 8-32 machine bolts, nuts and washers
- Pair of pliers to help bend the aluminum bracket to shape
- some strips of double sided adhesive (or you could drill and bolt this to the frame above the headliner if you want)
1. First cut the aluminum sheet into a long strip, wide enough to take the receiver bracket with a little extra width.
2. Sand/file the cut edge to make it nice, straight and remove the sharp edge.
3. Pull down the overhead maplight assembly, I carefully insert a flathead screwdriver and work the clip on one side out then pull the other clip on the opposite side out.
4. Take the strip and insert it into the area between the headliner and the metal frame (watch out for the cabling in the area, make sure to put the strip below the cables), take note of how far the strip goes in - usually about 8-9". With the strip fully inserted, put a U bend into the strip where the maplight hole is, then carefully, PARTIALLY reinsert the maplight assembly - no need to fully reengage the clips right now since you are going to have to pull it out again. Bend the strip where it comes out from under the maplight. You will have a shape similar to this:
_________________
________________|
|
|
(note the second bend will be shorter than the 1st but my ASCII drawing just isn\'t working out)
Ok, pull out the bracket and break out the drill, get the Roady/receiver mounting bracket and line it up to drill the holes to mount it to along the last segment. After you drill the holes remove any excess aluminum strip below that point and file it smooth so the edge isn\'t sharp.
Mount the receiver mounting bracket to the aluminum bracket using the appropriate nuts, washers and bolts, then fit the aluminum bracket inbetween the headliner and the metal and make sure the bends are what you want and fit well. Mount the receiver to the bracket and adjust to your preference. Remember not to go too low since it might interfere with your rear view mirror!
Once you get a good fit, remove the bracket again - place 2 strips of double sided tape on the end that is going to be between the headliner and the metal frame. Attach the tape to the metal frame to help brace the aluminum bracket (this is just to relieve some of the weight so it doesn't all rest against your headliner and maplight mount).
Run the receiver wiring up the A pillar and under the headliner and drop it through the maplight hole, replace the maplight mount and mount the receiver on the bracket.
Your done!
Cost - about $5 (or less) for an aluminum sheet and about an hour
Photos coming soon - need to run my wires (and find a way to extend my power cord so its long enough to run from my power outlet under the passenger side/glovebox, up the A pillar and across the headliner).
George
