2004 Admiral Front TV conversion

[GLWilliams58]

I picked up a 32" on black Friday and got ambitious. In just a few hours we had the old TV out, cabinet cut down and new TV installed. It was very easy to do. The hardest part was getting the cabinet out to cut it down. Everything else was pretty easy and it turned out pretty good. We gained about three inches of head room and the full motion mount makes viewing nice from the couch as well as the patio.

All of the photos for each step in process can be found at:

Picasa Web Albums - Greg - Flat Screen R...




If you have been putting it off for a while like I was, don't wait any longer. It is much easier than I thought.

GW

[NLOVNIT]

Is this the mount you used? I Googled the model # from the photo in your Picasa album. DH is looking to replace our front CRT with an LED but is still shopping for a multi-adjustable mount.

Lori-

[GLWilliams58]

Yes. That looks like the one. And it seems to be working fine in this application as long as you secure it before motoring. It sits up there nice and tight and at this time I have only used two small velcro straps to secure the bottom of the set when travelling. I am considering some improvements to secure all four corners, with a more stylish fastener, but it works fine the way it is for now.

[SpursMVP]

Nice work. It looks like your shortened the TV box and well as reduced its depth right? I like the idea of moving that back (toward the winshield) as that 'box' is always a target for peoples heads as they come in the front door.

[GLWilliams58]

Hey Spurs. Good question. In fact, all I did was shorten the box. I would have liked to do what you were thinking and shave a few inches off the front so it sits closer to the window but I did not for one major reason. When you take the frame (bezel) off the from around the front of the old TV you will see an irreversible dent in your ceiling. I contemplated cutting the box back, but that would have always bothered me. But, I gained a lot of head room. Plus my dash lights now slant backward to light up the cup holders instead of the dash. The view from the seats is much more open too. Keep in mind, I did not alter the original back of the box (where the access panel is. I simply tilted it up to align with the new short sides. But it changes the whole view accross the bow from the driver's seat. The whole thing came together very nicely and I am pretty happy with it.

One more thing, I rounded the edges and stained it to look like the original oak and finish. The other thing that was critical was getting a nice piece of oak plywood from Home Depot with the same grain pattern for the new face of the box. I got a nice piece. Then I just used that Minwax all in one stain and varnish and the project was finished.

[corjaguar]

Hi
I'm doing our front tv now.....except that I cut the side panels on either side of the two cabinets flush and I found a 32 inch tv that was 30 1/2 in length. (with the modified sides, I have exactly 30 3/4...leaving me 1/4 inch play). I mounted a 3/4 inch plywood (3/4 x30 3/4x19 1/2) top plate to the existing structure and it made for a very secure platform. I reinstalled the dash lights into the plywood. Than I installed a piece of 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x0 3/4 across the top. I got a heavy duty fixed tv mount, installed it to a 3/4 x 22 x 30 5/8 and installed it with piano hinge. Now the tv folds up into the ceiling leaving me with a whole lotta windshield. The can fold up to whatever your desired height. I am planning to fold it enough to be just above the cabinets.
The cost of the tv was 266 tax incl, the mount was 17 and the piano hinge was 10 dollars........screws/glue, stain and paint were availabe......labor was free
Thus far the project is coming along very nicely.........love the fold a way feature.

I just removed our booth dinette and made a buffet cabinet/ free standing chairs

2005 Admiral se 30' ppd

[NLOVNIT]

Hey corjaguar, . We're glad to have you here.

It sounds like you're coming right along with your modifications. We'd love to see photos of what you've done.

Lori-

[GLWilliams58]

corjaguar,

That sounds like what I had envisioned doing initially. I would like to see photos of that and know what model TV you selected.

My plans were diverted when I could not find a ceiling mounted, fold away, telescoping arm mount for the TV. But I definitely like your concept.

GW

[JohnRR]

Your mod seems to blend in very well with the rest of the front.

[corjaguar]

The work is coming along great.....had to take a short vacation for a DIF.....The bracket I used was a fixed flat mount that does not do anything except it holds/supports the flat panel tv. I bought it on amazon for 19.00 dollars...it is a heavy duty type slide in mount that will securely hold the tv.
The piano hinge I bought from Lowes for 9.00 dollars.....I am using #10 pan head screws to mount the hinge to the 3/4 inch plywood that mounts the bracket......and will use the same screws to mount to the plywood ceiling I installed. In the plywood piece that I installed in the ceiling I secured the plywood to a piece of trim that was already mounted......I also utilized the steel support that was already in the ceiling to support the tv I took out, and I added another 2x2 back further to make it even more secure.
The tv is a dynex 32 inch (31.5 measured diagonally) measurement is 30.5 long by 20 wide 3.5 thick (approx.) it is the only tv I found that measures up to my need. The dynex company has been making monitors for computer for a very long time and the reviews I read have been favorable. the price was great at 249.00 plus tax from best buy.
Tv is about to be mounted into the ceiling today......it should be mounted to the ceiling directly with a margin on top between the tv and the trim board I installed of about 1/4 inch. (I cut the frame I took from the existing installation and I cut only the bottom to be reused as the trim for the top).
I am planning to install a strip on either side at the same angle as the original tv was.....that angle will be less than the straight 90 degree if the tv were to hang straight down.
The tv will be secured to the stored mode for travel above the cabinets on either side with 2 pieces of angle aluminum ( home depot 4.80 for a 3 foot piece) cut 12 inches to support the tv.
Will let you know how it turns out and pictures will follow

[JohnRR]

Do you have any more in progress pictures?

[corjaguar]

Hi
Just got back from a 4 day cruise.........also finished up the conversion today.....I couldn't wait to finish it. The conversion came out a bit better than I expected.....when I finished and got behind the wheel of the m/h, I was so impressed with the openness of the front windshield, I was blown away. I was able to close the front curtain all the way from the front seat.......sitting down. I now can also install my privacy curtain without being a contortionist.
Again, the view out the front windshield is incredible without that box hanging down......can't wait til we hit the road for our 3 1/2 month yearly trip starting in April.

I will post pictures as soon as I can get help in doing that.....it seem I am a better cabinet maker than a computer wiz. The task is worth the time and effort, so long as you plan to have the tv fold up into the space left from the old tv removal. Make sure you measure the space available between the two cabinets and buy a tv that fits in that space to achieve this conversion.......I was going to use a remote/electrical contraption until I searched the price.......(1500.00 is a bit pricey). I also know that this installation will net me a very tight and secure " travel position" when traveling.......very important.