Modded Xbox incorporated into a Scion TC

This project is not for the procrastinators who are faint hearted.

In doing this project the DIY'er holds all responsibilty for any type of damage. Whether it physical, mental, or property.

The brain of the project is a Xbox softmodded with linux running XBMC (Xbox Media Center) and a 250gb hard drive. There will be no section in this tutorial on how to softmod or instal XMBC on your Xbox. There is more than enough information already out under that subject. This project will show how you can take an Xbox and have the on/off, eject/close buttons, and the dvd drive in the center console for your convenience. It seems like a silly idea but imagine carrying your entire itunes library and any shows or movies you would like to watch on a long drive (as long as your not driving, Dangerous!!).

In this project I handled all the hardware situations but the software installations was all my friend BJ (so thank you, sorry missed halloween)

Step 1 Opening the Xbox

First we will open the Xbox and get comfortable with what lies inside. To see how to open the Xbox LLama.com or Xboxscene have excellent tutorials. After opened use Xboxscene to decipher which version the box is. If you have V1.0 to 1.5 you can use Sickmods.net's atx to xbox psu converter.

I unfortunately did not have version 1.0 to 1.5 so i do not know exactly how to but you can use the converter to take the power from the car (12v) and use it to power the xbox directly. I had to use an old fashion inverter, which isn't bad but it would of made the project so much cleaner, more built in, if you will.

Well this is what my boxed looks like now. Pretty simple stuff. The bottom left is the two inputs for the 4 controller ports. Top right (bigger box) is the Ide cable which I kept as the flat ribbon style. I definitely think it is possible to get the rounded type of Ide cable for this project but I have not tried it. The small top right box is the power to the dvd drive, incredibly small wires. The mid right is the fan which I thought I should keep in there since it will be under a hot seat with not a whole lot of ventilation. The big middle box is the power cables to the hard drive, pretty self explanatory.

Comments

[lonerayven]

I think I'm going to do a classier version of this mod in a scion XB. Anyone want to fund the research? :P Just kidding. I do have a serious lot of ingenious ideas for my XB, maybe ill just be that guy on instructables.

[Irock148]

YOU HAVE THE RED RIGN OF DEATH!!!!!!!
EVERYONE RUN FOR THEIR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Royse9808]

thats cool but did it destroy some of the car parts though

[LennyTheDub]

Just wondering where you are? Just curious about effect from the climate? I'm in Canada, so hot and humid in the summer and freezing in the winter.

[ArkAngel762]

You didn't need a power converter for the Xbox. Most gaming systems actually use around 12v of power. Instead of spending the extra $50, you could have just found the inverter that is inside the xbox case and disconnect it. Then run the 12v from the Xbox to a regulator then to a fused line to your battery.

[ArkAngel762]

I've got a '95 Chevy Astro which I have converted into at "Shagin Wagon" and this modification is great. It's a rolling box of awesomeness. What the cool part is is the fact that I also have a projector set up so when I press a button in the front console, the rear window opens and I can project up to 112 inches of awesomeness onto anyone's wall (or on the side of a tractor trailer :))

[waffleman]

you should try this with a 360 and try to somehow connect it to live. or even try to connect this one to live. your choice.

[ArkAngel762]

To connect a moving car to live, you would need to get a Verizon or ATT 3G USB router on a laptop and bridge the connections. The thing is, if you're out of cell phone tower range, no Live for you. BUT, if you wanted to, you could get a WiFi reciever for your 360 or PS2 and if you are on the road and stop at a WiFi-enabled hotel/motel, you'd have a nice little system. (no guarantee that the network would be able to handle that though. Might want to use a laptop or PC and see what the network settings are)

[crc09]

any tips for doing this for a ps2??

[ikirt]

 Just wanted to add that you can also use USB sticks to transfer data to your xbox's HD or play media right from the USB stick.

[cornboy3]

I am so going to do this in my VW Van except geekier!

[abadfart]

i am getting a mini van so that we are more comfortable when we visit family in new mexico "im in NE colorado" and this would be perfect to put games on but i might do it with a modded 360 

[sashadalton43]

thats the spirit!

[gwolff]

I have a Scion tC.. if i had enough money,and didnt care about damagin my car forever, i would totalllyyy do this

[abadfart]

you just don't have enough experience at modding your car  i have put so much stuff where it shouldn't be in cars and trucks

[Kuhan]

hahaha the diagram is hilarious!

[fjkl;]

I keeeeel u! lol!

[N1CK4ND0]

nice ride!

[beauwalker23]

This is so cool! im deff. going to do this with my old nintendo 64, but a bit softer mod if you know what i mean :]

[viper2788]

what do you have under the hood? or any other mods?

[btop]

You are my hero. I wish I had a car... Mobile LAN party's!

[sashadalton43]

thats the life!

[J_Mi]

Mad Idea.

[Shinta786]

ow, and ONe question. how did you connect audio? I have a BOSE surround in my car. 6 side speakers, one front, one woofer, 2 tweeters.....and I would like to have REAL surround in the car like the surround I get when listening to a CD or watching DVD. With the XBOX, there is only R+L. Do you know any program/device which can create a real surround sound? right now, all speakers make the SAME music, it would be nicer if I could control sound like in a game. Imagine a racing game and there is a car behind you, then I would like to hear the car behind me and in front of me when it passes me by. Is it possible to do so, or does it also depend on the game? Probably a stupid question, but I was curious.

[richiehops]

My head unit pretty much does all the work. It does the surround sound on it's own.

[Shinta786]

Incredible......you actually did what I did (almost). I also have EvoX and XBMC on my Xbox. Xbox under passenger seat + slim PS2 built-in in dashboard, buttons separated and in front console and DVD loader in armrest. My inverter is in the BOOT. But still....I also love it. I am planning to put Linux on it and then put some navi-prog on, but.....then I wondered.....what about a laptop under the driver seat. So thats whats gonna come now. Laptop + touch screen with NAVIGATION on linux (somehow). Wish me luck, you also did a VERY nice job.

[DIYDragon]

I can see you making lots of gamer friends wherever you go. haha! Cool project though!

[elheffe]

I am assuming that you already had the screens put in.. nice mod! would love to do this as it is a dream to make a carputer or something to keep the kids entertained... well, just one kid now and hes 19 months, but still... always plan for the future! :D

[DannyboyINXS]

ahahahaha you spend weeks on this and when u start it all up u get this red ring of death ahahahaha it would make it even funnier if the steering wheel had the lit ring lol

[Spartan Phalanx]

The regular XBOX can't get the RROD

[DannyboyINXS]

yes, i know that, but i thought that this mod wasn't based on the regular xbox at the time.... obviously i was wrong

[smmiller506]

you need to be careful when undoing the bolts holding the seat done. when you put them back in, you need to make sure they are torqued to spec, or else scion could decide to void your warranty and the insurance company can void your claim if you are in a crash. nonetheless, still very cool. i am thinking about doing something like this, except, i want to use a true computer like a mac mini or a micro pc or small linux box. have it control all of the sound and the controlling device be a seven inch touch screen

[Spokehedz]

I am thinking that the other non-certified electrical work would be an easier claim than non-properly torqued bolts.

[Self-Serving Martyr]

Can it still play games?

[frosty1433]

it would be sooooo cool if you could get each player on a different screen instead of having split screen on a tiny display.

[richiehops]

I thought about that but spent so much time doing everything else was exhausted to research it. If you have any ideas how to let me know.

[frosty1433]

well, you could go by a new xbox for each screen for $20 each, if you're lucky... and only play network connect games? that might be too much though...

[richiehops]

yeah thats a bit much..

[frosty1433]

afaik, games with split screens, like Halo 2, use a whole map, to divide the screen. Halo 2 uses a file called "shared.map". I'll bet you can edit this file to change the way screens split, but idk about different screens.

[richiehops]

I'll definitely check into it, thank you