Front LCD TV Install in a 2005 Sea Breeze 8321LX

[coulter6]

I finally got to install a new LED LCD TV in our 2005 Sea Breeze 8321LX. Here are some of the goals I decided on before I started:
- use as much of the existing framework and caging as possible from the original TV mount
- have the TV sit lower in the frame to improve the viewing angle and alleviate head tilt.
- get the TV closer to be cabinets so I wouldn't bang my head on the frame any more.

The new TV is an LED LCD Vizio XVT323SV 32” bought from Sam's Club. I bought it bacause of the size; it fit in the existing void with 1/2" space on either side (32" space - 31" TV width) and the old frame facing fit perfectly. I wanted the extra 1/2" to help mount the old frame. It also has front facing speakers and has Internet capability.

Here's some pics:

Original factory TV installation. Note how the TV extends about 4 inches beyond the cabinets.


Factory metal framing that requires modification. I did insulate the front cap with regular bat insulation and spray adhesive.


I used the exiting metal frame and had it cut to fit the new TV.


The original bottom tray is repositioned to hold the new TV mount.


Disassembled original wood framing.


Modified the original frame. This is where the 1/2" on each side came in handy - note the plywood brackets. I turned the frame upside down in the new installation.



Almost done, testing before final assembly. Still need to done something about the hole above the TV

I want to thanks everyone on the forum for their ideas and comments about replacing the front TV. I spent allot of time reviewing previous posts on TV replacement and was able to use many different ideas from our forum participants to get this done.

[Belgian]

That looks GREAT! I like the front facing speakers too.

[Belgian]

Thanks for the pictures. That's the way I want to go.

[Family Time]

Wow, that is a great job!!

What are your plans for the ceiling?

Thanks for showing the detail.

[coulter6]

The plan for the ceiling is to use a piece of Maple (bought at Home Depot) and try to match stain. I have a friend who's a woodworker that will help get it to look good.

[clarkgriswold]

Awesome job. Well thought out. Thanks for posting photos along with the description.

[Don and Kim]

Nice post, how do you remove the wood surround? I don't see any visible screws.

[coulter6]

Inside the each of the cabinets there are 2 screws that secured the old frame. They are usually hidden by wooden plugs.


I used those holes and the original screws to hold my "new" frame. The screws attached to the new frame by way of the additional pieces of wood I secured to the frame. I had just enough room to slide the new frame between the TV and the cabinets.

[La.Paul]

I wonder if mounting a "single speaker" speaker bar would be doable? It would seem like it would cover the hole with good cosmetic results, and provide surround sound as well. I recently saw a Zyvox 550 that connects to TV with one wire, I believe it is powered, so probably has power cord as well. They are made for an LCD tv stand to sit on top, so no integrated mounting holes, but some sort of corner angle mounts might work. Unit weighs 20 lbs, I don't know much about strength of ceiling, so I don't know if this would work or not. Unit is 28" wide, 13 inches deep, not sure of dimensions of your hole. This was just what popped into my mind when I saw your modification. Cost of unit is about $230 plus S&H.

[coulter6]

I thought about a speaker bar but since the TV had front facing speakers, I decided just to finish it off with a piece of wood. I think it would be doable. There are 2 steel 2" steel tubes running from front to rear in that area and would be strong enough to hold a speaker bar. Here's how I finished it.

[Wolfpack Fan]

Really nice work! Eventually I want to do the same thing to our 05 Dolphin. Got a 32" already but it for placing in the basement for outside viewing. I wasn't sure what would be the size to go with for replacing the front 27" crt tv. Now I know.

Thanks

[keninvic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by coulter6 I thought about a speaker bar but since the TV had front facing speakers, I decided just to finish it off with a piece of wood. I think it would be doable. There are 2 steel 2" steel tubes running from front to rear in that area and would be strong enough to hold a speaker bar. Here's how I finished it.

I decided to install a piece of oak for the full width.
upgraded the big front tube TV to LED HDTV

[brabono]

Exactly my MH. How did you manage to get out the old TV, especially how to ge out front molding?

[coulter6]

In post #8 above, I describe how the frame is held in.

It took 3 of us to wrestle the old TV out. 2 held the TV while the 3rd took out the last 2 bolts. The TV sits on 2 tabs that are welded to the bottom tray.


The bottom of the TV rests on these tabs. Here's a pic of what the bottom of the TV looks like.


We had to push the TV up and back to get it over the tabs. It was a pretty intense 2 minutes to get that 80
lb TV out.