Photoshop Concepts for my FSJ. Dash and Exterior.

[suzq044]

My current real-life work in progress; these are re-brushed versions of what he will look like when I am finished. The interior is not quite done yet, as I haven't decided which seats I want to put inside, or whether to find some OEM seats for him (hard to find) and restore.

He is going to be a resto-mod; meaning he will be restored with a few modifications in audio/video and other electronics mostly. So, without further adue', I introduce you to "Project Levi". Click images to see em huge.

http://th04.deviantart.com/fs42/300W/i/2009/116/a/9/Project_Levi_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg (http://www.deviantart.com/download/120587791/Project_Levi_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg)

Dash:
http://th02.deviantart.com/fs45/300W/i/2009/100/0/8/Levi_Dash_Concept_2_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg (http://www.deviantart.com/download/118785738/Levi_Dash_Concept_2_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg) http://th01.deviantart.com/fs44/300W/i/2009/100/1/1/Cherokee_Dash_Concept___1_by_suzq044_chopartist.jp g (http://www.deviantart.com/download/118785620/Cherokee_Dash_Concept___1_by_suzq044_chopartist.jp g)

DRL concept (ala' Audi) (rough-concept); updated on post 35
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/6434/runninglights.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=runninglights.jpg)

Custom Bumper:
http://th03.deviantart.com/fs45/300W/i/2009/060/0/c/Levi___Bumper_guard_Concept_by_suzq044_chopartist. jpg (http://www.deviantart.com/download/114483692/Levi___Bumper_guard_Concept_by_suzq044_chopartist. jpg)

Custom Roof Rack:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2493/roofrack.th.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/my.php?image=roofrack.jpg)

Interior:
http://th01.deviantart.com/fs45/300W/i/2009/135/b/3/Jeep_Interior_Concept___WIP_by_suzq044_chopartist. jpg (http://www.deviantart.com/download/122652718/Jeep_Interior_Concept___WIP_by_suzq044_chopartist. jpg)

[jaber]

I like that color. I'm going to do a dark metal flake Blue on my J-10. :thumbsup:

Keep up the good work.

[suzq044]

Thanks; the interior is going to be the uhm "trick" part.. I will be adding a lot of modern-mopar to old interior.

[tazzerzz]

very nice work

[PlasticBoob]

Wow, I love everything about it! Curious to see what happens here... :D

[Lindel]

I like the looks of it, but I think the steering wheel is a little small...;)

What type gauges are you going to use??

[PlasticBoob]

I like the looks of it, but I think the steering wheel is a little small...;)

Nahhh it's a touchpad connected to the computer. Ever heard the expression "I can steer it with one finger!" ?? :p

[reece146]

Very nice blend of modern and retro.

If I can make a suggestion - use a larger screen. You have the dash real estate for it. Don't bother with the door.

[Sian09]

Very nice! I like it a lot. Can't wait to see how it looks when you're done!

[reece146]

The reason for the cover is security exclusively, I don't want to give anybody an excuse to hop in and mess with my truck. I don't want a bigger screen, cause I like how Chryslers' works at the moment. The only mod I'd make there, is a touch-screen if anything.


If you change your mind on the Jeep system take a look over at mp3car.com for what is possible (if you haven't already). The Jeep OEM system is pretty limited in comparison to what you can roll yourself.

FWIW, I'm putting a 9" touchscreen interface in my XJ. I have an old web page about it at http://moose.ca/davis. I've changed almost everything since that page was written (switched to WinXp, RoadRunner, Garmin Mobile PC, WinAmp).

With your obvious design skills you'd probably be able to knock out a Jeep OEM looking system for RR in a weekend. I lust after the dash real estate you have to work with in a FSJ. You'd probably be able to get a ~14" widescreen in the dash they way you have it laid out. Smaller dual screens would be possible as well. He!!, put another screen behind the steering wheel and use brain stem to drive gauges.

I'm looking forward to see what else you do with the interior.

[suzq044]

lol - I am not looking at making it look aftermarket. I actually want it to look as stock as possible. I have two problems at the moment; finding a place to mount the wireless router, and a place to mount the audio amplifier. I will be using either BOSE or JLaudio for the sound system; I am really intrigued by their slim-line subwoofers.

[reece146]

For a modern looking gauge set look at the Auto Meter Cobalt and Nexus line. They kinda have the same type of look as you've put in your images above.

Beware of sticker shock though.

[suzq044]

For a modern looking gauge set look at the Auto Meter Cobalt and Nexus line. They kinda have the same type of look as you've put in your images above.

Beware of sticker shock though.

It's an interesting thought; but I was thinking of making the entire dash an LCD screen, or something of that nature; and just put a cover over it, so it's not as bright as an LCD can be; not to mention looks more original..the pain is going to be in the wiring..

As for the center, it will have a space for a small laptop in there (Like the Acer One, etc); if there's anything the GPS can't do, the computer can.

Edit - And now that I am looking at it, I am looking at an OLED Dash-display. Much more customizable.

[JeepinPete]

A comment about your brush guard. The lines looking at it head on are probably the best I've seen. But I think you will find the sweep back of the profile view will land the top of it well into the front of the hood.

[suzq044]

Decided to not start a new thread for more photoshop work. lol -- Check the first post for the updates. :D

[men in black]

Are you going to put in a floor center console?

[Chrome]

Looks great! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[suzq044]

I have been debating that; so I'm not sure if I want one or not. If I do, it will likely come from a truck (like the new ram or something).. or the JK.

[Wagoncrzy]

NICE...real nice I like the idea of getting rid of the glove box for lcd/nav screen....please let me know what you end up using, weather it be fiberglass or metal to alter the appearance of the dash. Good luck and let me know....post some pics of your progress. jim:)

[suzq044]

Oh, it'll definitely be metal - lol; I don't like the cheap look/feel of fiberglass. I want it to look relatively original, if I go with anything moldable, it'll be carbon fiber.

[2003 mcs]

Looks good, really interested to see finished dash. Audi lights-nice touch:thumbsup:

[suzq044]

Not so much Audi lights, more Audi-inspired ;)

Teaser shot; Click for full-resolution:
[image updated on post 35]
Feel free to use it as a desktop bg ;)

[vintagetrks]

Looks really cool. Have you given any thought to digital guages?

[suzq044]

If I don't go full-custom, I'm going to get those dakota-digital ones from uhm.. Bj's

[men in black]

Not so much Audi lights, more Audi-inspired ;)

How about some BMW Halo lights :D

[suzq044]

Nah, Halo's are played-out .. every ricer on the planet has them. And they'd make the Jeep look dumb; I was thinking about doing projectors, but they just would make the thing look goofy (like the lights were eye-balls).. plus, that already exists link (http://www.autoaccessorystore.com/products/1062_b.jpg); I was wanting something more custom, and less ricey. :)

[Danbert]

Feel free to use it as a desktop bg ;)


Done :thumbsup:

Great, now I want to work on customizing mine. I have always wanted to do a carputer

[suzq044]

well, you have plenty of space in that dash :)

[JPSwapMohn]

here is picture of an overhead light bar that I really like. It is on Project TealJ or Teal-Brute in four wheeler mag.

http://image.fourwheeler.com/f/17864953/129_0906_01_z+1997_jeep_tj_brute+front_view.jpg

Looks like this is the company:
http://www.visionxoffroad.com/led/xmitter/

I bet it would fit nicely into the front of your roof rack design.

[suzq044]

Actually that is exactly what I had in mind for it ;) good catch.

[250psd]

Wow! Did you check out the prices on those LED lightbars? $1900 for the 42".

[men in black]

How about a spaceship look?

Your low beam would be just the bottom one on
then your high beam would be all three on.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192/pixelhound/suzlights2Small.jpg

[suzq044]

LOL -- no, cause they're not light-bars being shown, just running lights; not going to be bright enough to kill anybodys eyes. Like so: [link] (http://bestaudidealer.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/a5.jpg)

Plus, I don't want anything over the muscle-grille.. that'd be pointless. You can see the design of it on the first post :D

[suzq044]

It's an interesting thought; but I was thinking of making the entire dash an LCD screen, or something of that nature; and just put a cover over it, so it's not as bright as an LCD can be; not to mention looks more original..the pain is going to be in the wiring..

As for the center, it will have a space for a small laptop in there (Like the Acer One, etc); if there's anything the GPS can't do, the computer can.
Changing that LCD to OLED; much thinner, less weight; and by the time I'm at that point in this project, it should be cheaper. lol

[link] (http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=oled&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wv#) to videos on OLED. It's quite interesting, and cool; to the point of being able to ultimately do a picture-on-picture if you wanted.. and they have the ability to be touch-screen as well.

+++++++++++
I am adding another work-in-progress photoshop to this one. Mostly just a revamp of the outside; it's pretty much going to remain stock though; with a few obvious changes (aforementioned roof rack and bull-bar on 1st post). So far, I know the suspension is inaccurate, because I am changing the trucks suspension in the end; plus, as I said, I'm not done :D

Unfortunately, I have yet to even BEGIN my physical mods, until I get him driving, and legal.. yey California. Anywho, here's the pic..

This is a huge image, sorry for those on low-res or slow connections:

http://i50.tinypic.com/3465eyu.jpg

<please use external links for anything bigger than 800x600>

[HD_JEEP]

I love the way the lines run on that nice work...

[JPSwapMohn]

I recommend LED's for the running/signal lights as well. If you are going to run LED's in the grill, the running lights will look sort of dull and odd compared to them.
I recently had to reconstruct front of my S-10 parts chaser/run-about and went with LED running/signals. They really are nice and give a really nice appearance, especially at night.

I also did the projector headlights, but chose not to wire up the halos that are in the highbeams for the reason you mentioned..overdone.

None of this would have happened if someone had not dropped an old rear-projection monster of a TV on I-270...and I was the next lucky b@stard in that lane, at night, with traffic beside me.. Joy.

[COLOFIREMAN]

suzq044....you have a little too much time on your hands...:rolleyes: :D JK

[suzq044]

Say can you do one on the brushguard but not in the dark but mounted to the truck. I would like to see more of a 3d effect as to what it would look like but in daylight. Thanks

I'm working on that one.. that's what the "night" one was originally going to be, an entire re-brush of the Jeep, but it looked really cool when I changed the background.. so I went with it.. :rolleyes: A.D.D. much. lol

I recommend LED's for the running/signal lights as well. If you are going to run LED's in the grill, the running lights will look sort of dull and odd compared to them.
I recently had to reconstruct front of my S-10 parts chaser/run-about and went with LED running/signals. They really are nice and give a really nice appearance, especially at night. [snip]


I will be doing full LED lighting on all four corners :thumbsup:

suzq044....you have a little too much time on your hands...:rolleyes: :D JK
Yes.. yes I do. lol :thumbsup:

[suzq044]

updated image on post 35. I've been playing around with the idea of reflective vinyl stripes, look stock during the day, but at night are reflective (obviously). You can see my roof-rack made an appearance. It took all my effort to NOT turn those lights on up there.. I have lots of ideas, and no mechanical skills with which to start making them into reality.. it sucks. LOL

[suzq044]

I decided, yesterday.. to design a trailer to match Levi. It'll probably never get done, but I figured.. why not post it.

http://i56.tinypic.com/wbc6jm.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/296hpqv.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/2623wvs.jpg

[Brizio]

Every time you post on this topic, there is something very interesting!
I like the trailer! :)

[suzq044]

Thank you :)

...and everyone else for the compliments and suggestions thus far ;)

[jaber]

Love the trailer design.

One suggestion though, center the weight of the trailer on the axle. Makes life easier when not on the hitch. ;)

[suzq044]

As I said, Photoshop Concepts, not really something I have the skills to actually create. LOL

[Tigger4X]

Some mighty fine looking PS skills you got there! :thumbsup: Levi is looking purdy darn good with a great future.




Did you happen to find those Glad X renderings? Would ya PM me or email me when ya do? Thanky! :) tigger4x@yahoo.com

[jaber]

As I said, Photoshop Concepts, not really something I have the skills to actually create. LOL

I was offering tips on making you look like you know....:D