I've wanted to custom install the Valentine One in the car but I hated having it on the windshield. The cops always seem to be angry when they see it if you get pulled over, and I just don't like leaving it out in the open if I ever park the car somewhere.
I bought a stealth mirror from ANYTIME in the marketplace and finally got it all installed.
I didn't like other options of having the radar detector mounted between the rear seats out in the open, it just didn't look very nice in the interior with it protruding out between the seats.
I made a bracket out of 18ga stainless to hold the detector. I wanted to use aluminum, but I needed to tig weld on a hinge and couldn't find an aluminum one small enough. I used black Plasti Dip to spray the bracket when I was done welding the hinge on.
Here is a picture of the bracket installed. It is mounted over the targa top holder and is removable without any damage. I just used sticky back Velcro to hold the Valentine on to the bracket after it was Plasti Dipped.
nsx valentine 001 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
nsx valentine 002 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
I had to figure out a way to mount the bracket and keep it from sliding around. I followed the contours of the targa holder and this is where the hinge came in. I had to be able to make enough folds in the metal to go around the targa holder and be able to still remove the bracket when I wanted to. I didn't want to have to unbolt the targa holder to remove the bracket. I can slide the bracket thru the 2 parts of the clamshell when it is partially open. I then can fold the hinge up. I use sticky back Velcro on the targa holder and the bracket. I also put a piece of the soft side of the Velcro on the back side of the hinge in case the hinge ever fell with the targa in the clamshell so it wouldn't scratch it up. The only thing I didn't really like is how the rubber is smashed down on the clamshell holder now. I don't know if it will permanently bend it to that position, but it didn't rip it at all.
This is a picture looking thru the partition glass into the engine bay. You can see that it matches the bends of the targa holder so it can't move around.
nsx valentine 005 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
This is a picture of the hinge when it is open with the Velcro installed on both pieces.
nsx valentine 003 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
This is a picture of the hinge closed Velcro'd together with piece on the clamshell.
nsx valentine 004 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
I ran the wires down the center console. Make sure you only use an 8 foot cord or shorter. I actually used a seven foot cord and it was just long enough. I had used a 15 foot cord and went thru the grommet on the passenger side but I couldn't get the thing to turn on. I thought it was a bad cord so I ordered another one and tore the interior apart again and it still didn't work.
I called Valentine One and they told me to use the shorter cord, so I had to take it apart again. I ran the wire thru the grommet in the center of the car and then up to the detector.
I now needed to mount the remote volume control. I thought about putting it in the center console, but it is a pain to get in to and I didn't want to lose any more space in there. I ended up mounting it in the ash tray. I drilled a single hole in the back of it and running the wires thru. I also had to roto-zip down 2 of the fins inside of the ashtray on the bottom in order to get the ash tray to close. You can still hear the speaker in the ash tray when it is closed.
Here is a pic of it in the ash tray.
nsx valentine 006 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
I ran the other wire to the fuse box in the drivers foot well and used one of the open spots in there so it only turns on with the ignition.
I then mounted the new mirror with the remote display behind the glass. (Thanks ANYTIME:biggrin
nsx valentine 010 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
You can still see the radar detector a little bit when it is really light outside. I only have 20% tint on the back window, so it is not quite dark enough. If you don't know that it is a radar detector, you really can't tell. I might try to make a box that covers it but I guess I'll see this summer how noticeable it is.
I bought a stealth mirror from ANYTIME in the marketplace and finally got it all installed.
I didn't like other options of having the radar detector mounted between the rear seats out in the open, it just didn't look very nice in the interior with it protruding out between the seats.
I made a bracket out of 18ga stainless to hold the detector. I wanted to use aluminum, but I needed to tig weld on a hinge and couldn't find an aluminum one small enough. I used black Plasti Dip to spray the bracket when I was done welding the hinge on.
Here is a picture of the bracket installed. It is mounted over the targa top holder and is removable without any damage. I just used sticky back Velcro to hold the Valentine on to the bracket after it was Plasti Dipped.
nsx valentine 001 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
nsx valentine 002 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
I had to figure out a way to mount the bracket and keep it from sliding around. I followed the contours of the targa holder and this is where the hinge came in. I had to be able to make enough folds in the metal to go around the targa holder and be able to still remove the bracket when I wanted to. I didn't want to have to unbolt the targa holder to remove the bracket. I can slide the bracket thru the 2 parts of the clamshell when it is partially open. I then can fold the hinge up. I use sticky back Velcro on the targa holder and the bracket. I also put a piece of the soft side of the Velcro on the back side of the hinge in case the hinge ever fell with the targa in the clamshell so it wouldn't scratch it up. The only thing I didn't really like is how the rubber is smashed down on the clamshell holder now. I don't know if it will permanently bend it to that position, but it didn't rip it at all.
This is a picture looking thru the partition glass into the engine bay. You can see that it matches the bends of the targa holder so it can't move around.
nsx valentine 005 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
This is a picture of the hinge when it is open with the Velcro installed on both pieces.
nsx valentine 003 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
This is a picture of the hinge closed Velcro'd together with piece on the clamshell.
nsx valentine 004 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
I ran the wires down the center console. Make sure you only use an 8 foot cord or shorter. I actually used a seven foot cord and it was just long enough. I had used a 15 foot cord and went thru the grommet on the passenger side but I couldn't get the thing to turn on. I thought it was a bad cord so I ordered another one and tore the interior apart again and it still didn't work.
I called Valentine One and they told me to use the shorter cord, so I had to take it apart again. I ran the wire thru the grommet in the center of the car and then up to the detector.I now needed to mount the remote volume control. I thought about putting it in the center console, but it is a pain to get in to and I didn't want to lose any more space in there. I ended up mounting it in the ash tray. I drilled a single hole in the back of it and running the wires thru. I also had to roto-zip down 2 of the fins inside of the ashtray on the bottom in order to get the ash tray to close. You can still hear the speaker in the ash tray when it is closed.
Here is a pic of it in the ash tray.
nsx valentine 006 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
I ran the other wire to the fuse box in the drivers foot well and used one of the open spots in there so it only turns on with the ignition.
I then mounted the new mirror with the remote display behind the glass. (Thanks ANYTIME:biggrin
nsx valentine 010 by v-tecpwr, on Flickr
You can still see the radar detector a little bit when it is really light outside. I only have 20% tint on the back window, so it is not quite dark enough. If you don't know that it is a radar detector, you really can't tell. I might try to make a box that covers it but I guess I'll see this summer how noticeable it is.
