Just finished installing new 6.5" high definition overhead monitor and DVD head unit in the Expy! I was told that this couldn't be done with a sunroof! They were WRONG!!!! It's done and looks like a professional install. If anyone needs advice on how to do this with a sunroof just ask! It's a little labor intensive.... but the finished product is worth it. I mounted the head unit under the passenger seat with a custom mount because of heat and air ducts. Now all I need to find are a pair of wireless headphones to complete the install! I am using a wired pair for the time being, they sound good and have long cords so it's not that bad!

 

of the finished project and any pics you might have taken during the install. I am also interested in some more details about the install. What type of DVD player did you install? Costs? Extra parts that were needed? What would you do differently if you had to do another install? Thanks.

Tucker

 

I too would love to see some pics.. I've been trying to figure out what to do. I'm getting sick of the TV sitting on the middle console. Also what kind of wireless audio are you going with?

 

I also have been looking for a way to install 1 with a sunroof. Info and pics would be great.

 

OK fellas here ya go! I Installed a Questar DVD unit. THe monitor is seperate from the head unit. The only thing you need extra is a peice of 1/4" plywood and some nuts and bolts. Keep in mind..... This install involves removal of the entire headliner! THis also includes all overhead consoles for vent window and roof buttons. You will also need to remove all weatherstripping from around doors and sill plates at the bottom of the doors! The visors need to come down also(both sets!) Most of the interior panels are just held in place with simple panel clips. THe visors screw into the roof. The little clips that hold the visors are screwed in also. They need to be removed. Both the second and third dome lights need to come down. The second one is screwed to the roof. If you remove the lens you will see the three screws. The rear one is just clipped in place. THe only panel that needs to be removed in the rear is the top peice that runs across the top of the rear opening! All the seat belts will need to be taken loose from the anchor points on the "C" and "D" pillars. You will also need to remove the rubber trim from around the sunroof itself..... this just pulls off. It's a little sticky, so remove it from the truck immediately afterwards so you don't get it everywhere!

Now once you get all that out and have the headliner out you are ready for the install! Put the headliner on the roof so it's out of the way. You will be able to slide it out the rear door.
You will see two braces for the sunroof that run across the inside of the truck. If you slide your cover back into the open position you will find out that you have absolutely no room to work, and NO room for error! You need to cut the 1/4" plywood to 9 3/4" wide by 24" long. Close the sunroof cover and slide the plywood in from the front side of the rearmost brace! Once you get it into the brace, youcan slide it foward and let it sit in between the two braces. Make sure it sits flush with the top of these braces..... if it sticks up at all, you will ruin your cover!
Next.... drill 4 holes in the corners of the brace and plywood. Put your bolts in from the top. I used machine screws with round heads. They have a low profile and don't hit the cover for the sunroof! These screws don't have to be really massive! They are basically there to hold the wood in place and make it bend to the shape of the braces! Stick some lock washers and nuts on the screws and tighten them down. Make sure that the screws are cut off flush with the nut. This will prevent the screws from poking through the headliner! Now you have a mounting plate for your monitor!
You will then need to run all your wires. My Monitor came with a DIN style plug and a cable. I ran the cable on the rearmost brace to the "B" pillar. I ziptied everything tight! I then pulled power for the monitor from the map lights in the second row. I used a green/red striped wire for power and grounded to the sunroof bolt itself! I then plugged in my RCA cables coming from the head unit and routed them through the "B" pillar and under the carpet. I exited them under the passenger seat. Replace the headliner and and all peices that were removed. I found it easier to start at the rear and work your way foward. Replace all the peices as you go! Every peice you put in will pull your headliner a little closer to where it was when you started. DO NOT INSTALL ALL THE FRONT PEICES YET!
After your headliner is in placeyou can set you mounting plate into position and use some short wood screws to secure it to you new "hidden" mounting point. Cut a small hole in you headliner for your cable to run through and them you can mount your monitor. Put all the rest of your peices in place and the monitor is installed! Sit back and have a beer! I mounted the head unit under the passenger seat to another peice of plywood. I jumped power off the same wire down in the sill panel and grounde directly to the body. I left a small loop of wire under the seat so I could still adjust the seat! Once again.... sit back and drink a beer while watching a movie in your EXPY!
I have currently found no wireless head phones! I bought 2 pairs of Koss noise cancelling digital headphones. They have 8' cords on them. I can plug them into the monitor and run the cable over to the grab handle for the rear seat. Then they can run down to the seat from there!
This whole unit cost me under $200! I had the plywood and the screws. I would not do anything different if I had to do it again! One word of caution.... disconnect your battery!!!!! You will have the doors open for almost 5 hrs! Your battery will be dead if you don't disconnect it! I will get some pics when it stops snowing.