HOW-TO: Camera Mount

[Natey]

I don't feel like spending 100 bucks+ on an in-car camera mount, but it sure would be cool to get some Hwy9 footage!

With this in mind, I've been searching the net for a cheaper solution, and this is what I found....Might be time for a lil' project this weekend.


How to build an in-car camera mount



Parts List

3 - ¼ by 2½ inch bolts
1 - ¼ by 1½ inch bolts
3 - ¼ inch lock nuts
7 - ¼ inch washers
4 inches of plastic hose(sku#705230 at Home Depot)
1 - 1"x48" box aluminum
4 - Plastic end caps(Part #1189-6)*
SLIK Compact Ball Head**

Instructions
1. Cut the box aluminum to the proper lengths. The short piece is 8 inches long and the long piece is 16 inches. At this point you can decide on the position of the camera in the car. If you want it more towards the center of the car just extend the length of the 16 inch piece. Then temporarily tape the two pieces of box aluminum together with electric tape. Mark the position for the three ¼ inch bolts, and drill the holes with a ¼ inch drill bit.



2. Remove the electrical tape and bolt the two pieces of box
aluminum together with the ¼ nuts, bolts and washers. After you have
bolted it together, take your headrest and mark the location for the holes
for the headrest posts to be drilled. Drill the holes first with a smaller drill bit. Then step the holes up to the final ½ inch size. Be careful while drilling these holes, since you are drilling in between the two pieces
of box aluminum the drill bit will have tendency to bite into the aluminum.



3. The next step is to drill the ¼ inch hole at the end of the longer box aluminum piece for the camera head mount.

4. After you have finished drilling all the pieces you will need to go back and clean up all holes and cuts you made, especially the ½ inch holes for the headrest posts. Make sure there are no sharp areas left on any of the pieces. I used a dremel tool with a sander disk (it fits the ½ inch holes perfectly). You can also use a file or just a sheet of plain old sand paper. After you are finished sanding, cut a piece of the plastic tubing just wider than the box aluminum.



5. The last step is to assemble all the pieces and do a test fit on the headrests. With all the bolts loose you should be able to slide the headrest posts into the rubber sleeves (it should be a little snug). If you can't, go back and sand a little off the ½ inch
post holes. Retry. If everything fits, tighten the bolts down and make sure the mount is firmly attached to the headrest. That's it! You just built yourself a $35 camera mount for you car. Now go out and get some video!!!

[zmepro]

cool!

[kcbhiw]

The only problem with that sort of mount is the excessive vibration that is received throughout the seat. I've also seen a mount setup that is tied to the rear "oh shit" handles. I'll post the link if I can find it.

Good post, nonetheless.


.....now, if only building a mount for the Miata was as easy.

[jflo]

hah...tell me about it. but that's cool...video footage of some fun runs

[kcbhiw]

Originally posted by jflo
hah...tell me about it. but that's cool...video footage of some fun runs

There are times where I really wish I had a camera; those times where I've pulled some pretty sweet turns on course. Oh well.

[StarvingRussian]

Thats really bad ass, my friend was thinking of making one that would go close to the ground, I'll have to show him this, we were also going to run a microphone from the camera under the hood so you could hear the engine. We did that once, but we also wanted video to go with it. Listen to it here.

[PaulMP3]

good stuff natey... way to get clever.

[Dreeza]

Originally posted by StarvingRussian
Thats really bad ass, my friend was thinking of making one that would go close to the ground, I'll have to show him this, we were also going to run a microphone from the camera under the hood so you could hear the engine. We did that once, but we also wanted video to go with it. Listen to it here.

it doesnt work fool

[StarvingRussian]

Originally posted by Dreeza
it doesnt work fool

bullshit

edit: it works fine, you have to left click on "here" then right click and save as in the thread.

[pr5owner]

StarvingRussian your sig is a little bit scary

[smithers_0990]

The only problem with that mount is that most people don’t sit with the seat straight up. The way that one is positioned you would only see the sky.

later

[PhatTrax]

The only problem with that mount is that most people don’t sit with the seat straight up. The way that one is positioned you would only see the sky.

later

mount it on the passenger seat and if someone sits there, kick them out

[jersey_emt]

I just bought this:

www.stickypod.com

The thing is absolutely incredible

[kcbhiw]

I just bought this:

www.stickypod.com

The thing is absolutely incredible

I really should invest in one of those. I shall call it...cone-cam, heh. I only have one video of me driving and that was at a track day at Road Atlanta. I need to either get one of those stickypods or rig something up so that I can analyze my driving when attending an auto-x.

[enigM@]

This is a good product too:

http://www.clamperpod.com

Just roll down the window and go to town.