Well, I just got back from a road trip in my friend's 00 GTP, and I really like driving with the HUD on the highways... so, I was wondering if the setup out of a Grand Prix would work on a 00+ J-body. now, obviously there isn't going to be a harness to plug it in to, but could I splice into the VSS and turn signal wires and make it work? or would it just be easier to buy an aftermarket system and go from there?

i think it is more than just that the gtp will have a different windsheild than a car without HUD we had one in the shop a while ago and it was cool and the heated seats are the best i did not want to get out

Actually, in 2000+ you had an option at some dealerships for a HUD, and you can use the one in the G6. However, it not that simple to make the swap.

1) your gonna have to make some room under your dash, and cut a hole on the top for the lower display pad.

2) The windshield is different, it contains the 3M Window wedge. The window wedge almost completely eliminates the ghosting effect you get because of 2 panes of glass seperated my plastic film. The doubling effect, or ghosting as commonly reffered is the reflection of light at 2 different angles.

3) Most people also find that even with the brightest light output during daylight hours and direct sun, HUD becomes pretty much useless.

What is the visibility like on these units when driven at nite? Im less concerned about daylight visibility.

At night its great, just like a mini projector tv. But during the day, your screwed.

how bad is the ghosting and clarity at nite?

well with the 3m window wedge, there is no ghosting day or nite. Without it, day or night, the ghosting image gets annoying. YOu always see it, and there is nothing you can do about it.

are there any other "film" alternatives to the window wedge, or anything that improves this issue? Im getting a new windshield thru an insurance claim anyways, I'd like to see if maybe something could be arranged.

you ronly option is a peice of That mirror tint right where your HUD would be displayed, however, that would look horrible having a 3" wide piece randomly in the middle of the driverside view.

I am bumping this because I was thinking about doing this since my gf has a 2001 GTP and I love the HUD.

Anyone else have any more insight into this? Mainly the wiring portion.

I use to work for Pilkington Glass Co. NSG www.pilkington.com for 8 years so I can give some insight on this.

The HUD will only work effectively using the glass manufactured specifically for HUD. The PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral) which is the plastic that holes the 2 planes of glass together has a wedge style composition in the PVB inorder for the HUD to function effectively. I was actually the process engineer and team leader of this process, and in particular, we produced the Grand Prix windshield in the early 90's

Taken from http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/review-of-automotive-glazing_id102691.aspx

Quote:

Head-up displays

Head-up displays - or HUDs -- are gradually becoming popular. A HUD is a system which projects a visual image at a distance of about 2-metres in front of the driver. A projector located in the dashboard projects an image which, when reflected on the windshield, appears like a virtual image on top of the bonnet. There are, however, some special characteristics of the PVB interlayer fitted into the windshield in order to realise this function. DuPont claims market leadership as far as the PVB interlayer is concerned.

"We have a patented product called The Wedge™," commented Jeff Jirak, global business manager, DuPont Safety Glass Business. The wedge angle is dependent on a series of factors, namely the position of the driver, the mounting angle and the shape of the windshield and the glass thickness. This means that there is a specific wedge angle for each car model. For a HUD, the layer has to be designed to be thicker thinner at the bottom and narrower thicker at the top to focus a projected image from the instrument panel."

A J-body does not have this option for a windshield replacement. So as stated above, unless you stick some sort of reflective tape, and mirror the image coming out of your dashboard somehow you're out of luck. The windshield is the primary tool to success for a HUD set up.