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Step By Step Snakeyes Install And Pics

S

spectron65

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2002
Messages
570
Mike and Tony of Snakeyes are great folks to deal with. They will provide excellent tech support behind a well designed and very functional product. The instruction manual IMO is very weak but these guys are only a phone call away. Hope this helps your installation a little bit....

1. Prepare your tools, make sure you have all your parts and pieces, and eat a good breakfast. Skip the coffee.

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You will need a 1- 1/8 inch bi metal hole saw and its leading pilot metal drill bit if you choose the bumper mount installation. I went to ACE hardware to buy these. I did not want the above receiver mount because I keep my receiver on at all times as an anti-tailgating device, which would block the camera if installed in the square hole above it.

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It would help a lot if you have a set of jack stands to raise the driver side of the truck. I purchased a set from Checker Auto which includes 2 jack stands, 1 floor jack, 1 creeper, and 2 choke blocks for $35.00 (you can skip this step)

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2. The easiest part of the install is drilling the bumper. Choose a location 1.5 inches to the left and 3.5 inches above the license plate.

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You have to drill through both plastic cladding and the metal bumper behind it. Very easy if the hole saw is brand new.

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3. Assemble and install the rear camera. The original mount was with a foam backed double sided tape. I made a mistake and removed them and used 4 pieces of velcro instead so I can adjust the camera mount. Red arrow shows velcro, yellow arrow shows input cable, black arrow shows camera body, and blue arrow shows license plate.

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4. First difficult part of the install is threading the yellow cable through the left frame of the truck. I followed the parking brake line and used the supplied zip ties to secure the cable. Do not overtighten the ties yet in case you need slack in either direction. The next pictures show how I threaded the cable around the left rear tire, then to body frame, and eventually ending up below the driver seat where the rubber boot entering into the cab is.

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5. Entering the cab is tricky. This part was omitted in the manual. The suggested way is to route it around the front cladding, then around the door hinges, etc. I was getting frustrated and I decided to just cut a circular hole below the driver next to the rubber boot. I first removed the plastic liners next to the seat and the kick panel covering the hood release.

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Then I used the hole saw to cut the hole and fed the yellow cable into the cab and tucked it under the carpet, then replaced all kick panels and plastic liners. I covered the hole with soft female side of velcro so the cable does not rub against a sharp metal edge. I will cover the hole with ATV sealant as well.

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6. Feed through the cable around the left fuse box then remove the liner on the A pillar just left of the windshield to arrive at the left visor mounting arm. The RCA plug will end up in the roof/headliner while the power cord will strategically end up in the fuse box. Ground the black wire (red arrow) into one of the bolts and insert the power plug (black arrow) into the 10 amp SEC ACCY plug as directed.

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7. Remove the vanity mirror by popping the base with a flathead screwdriver, then cut the 2 wires supplying light into it and cover the fresh edges with tape. I wore gloves because my hands were filthy and did not want to mess up the fabric.

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8. You will replace the arms back into the roof and tuck in remaining cable inside the headliner. Assemble the 5.8 inch widescreen monitor as directed and insert into slot. Leave enough slack in the power cable so you can tilt the visor to the side to block the sun. Pics of slack in cable and installed monitor...

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9. I ordered a setup that is on all the time as soon as the key is turned, instead of the traditional on only when in reverse. Here are pics of the bike just outside the garage about 10 feet away from rear camera...you can see my trailer hitch

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And here are pics of the bike inside the garage about 4 feet away from camera...

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10. Close up of the camera lens...

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11. The kit comes with a remote control that you can use to turn the monitor on/off and adjust the settings for contrast, color, tint, brightness, etc. You can also switch from AV1 and AV2 input. I am planning to install a second camera when Mike comes with the wireless version this summer. Or you can hook up the monitor to a DVD player, playstation, etc. I installed the remote with velcro under the cover of the middle console.

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When it gets dark, I will post pics of the nightime views and also some "action" views when I go out in actual traffic. This is a great product.

Hope this helped.


spectron






 
i've been wondering how hard it was to install. thanks for the great instuctions and pics (y)
 
GTEAT write with pics. People like me needs this kind of information when we do our mods.

Some :love: comming your way.

RON
 
Just noticed that you don't have the karma on. Oh well, still some :love: :love: for ya.

RON
 
Or we could just talk about here as well :rolleyes: :0: :rolleyes:

Regardless, very nice write up and detail of this mod (y)

There is also documentation here: http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=159;action=display;threadid=23611;start=msg368975#msg368975 for those who want this in the center console. Many ways to skin a cat!

Also for those who don't know, snake eyes is a CAFCNA sponser. When you buy, you support the club (y)
 
Just got conformation that my snakeeyes system is on the way! WOO! HOO! can't wait to get the mod done.

I ordered my system with the camera located above the receiver... and the system always on like spectron.

Thanks spectron for the detail and pics that you you posted, I know it takes alot longer for you to do the mods you do on your AV going to the trouble to do the step by step thing. but it means an awful lot to us that are not sure about how things work and are afraid to screw something up

Thats whats great about this club.... there's alot of members that go the extra mile and helping others in one way or another using the know how that they have to help others who don't.

sorry for the long post but two thumbs up to you my AV brother! (y) (y)

how about posting some more of the great photos of the AV with the beautiful backgrounds that you used too!
 
Great post and "how to" Spectron. (y) Do you have any information on how the wireless version will vary from the current set up?
 
Spectron,

Truly great post (y)

I do have one question for you or others . . . how come Snake Eyes isn't listed on our Partners page?? I went to Mike's site and checked the price and it's more than if I buy it from JP Customs who is also carrying it ??? Just wondering where/who/how I should be ordering this ???

Your post has made me finally commit >:D I've read before about thisa setup and noone has ever said a bad thing about it or Mike (y)

Peace

IM


PS TIA for help on the above info :love:
 
Contact Tony aka 7of7. He will get you the best club price. Tony and Mike ( the guy who makes the camera ) are great people to work with!! (y)

Pete
 
i would suggest getting a rubber grommet like the one to the left of the of your mod to keep the cable protected. also to keep water, dirt, and grime out of the truck.


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one last thing. be very careful lifting the AV with that small jack. i can't tell what the lifting capacity is, but it looks to be inadequate. it would seem that the jack stands may be also if they came as a set with the jack. all i am saying is be careful.
btw, good job on the install. nice pics too. i would come back here for pointers if i ever get the Snakeye's system.
 
bigdaddy said:
Contact Tony aka 7of7. He will get you the best club price. Tony and Mike ( the guy who makes the camera ) are great people to work with!! (y)

Pete
Click to expand...

Thanks Pete will do (y)

IM
 
Great install photo's, thanks (y)

Terry
 
Now that yuou have had this mod for a bit... how do you like it? anything you would change? ever get a chance to get some night shots or traffic shots?

Very well documented install, Thanks a lot. It is greatly appreciated.
 
That snakeyes unit is not to bad. I talked to the owner of the NAVCAM today. His name is Mike and his company is called mobile av (www.mobileav.biz). They sell a prodouct similar to the snakeyes but they went the extra mile on this one. The monitor mounts up on the windshield like a rear view mirror but you can put it just about anywhere you want. The camera fits inside this billet aluminum camera enclosure and it fits perfectly in the V on the hitch that most GMC and Chevy trucks come with. The bonus is you only need like 3 tools to install the thing and you DO NOT have to drill holes in your ride. The company sells them through JPCustoms.com. I think its pretty sweet looking if you ask me. Haven't seen any other units that went the extra mile to adapt it to a certain vehicle. Anyone have experience with it? laterz
 
Aqualung said:
They sell a prodouct similar to the snakeyes but they went the extra mile on this one.

Haven't seen any other units that went the extra mile to adapt it to a certain vehicle.
Click to expand...
Actually, the Snakeyes system was designed by an Avalanche owner (and club member), specifically for the Avalanche. There was no adaptation needed, although it has been adapted for other vehicles.

-- SS
 
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