Big Time IIe mod

["Bill Knight" <admin@ghettogamer.com>]

Hey all, I'm embarking on an interesting mod project with one of my old
Apple IIe machines. My goal is to fit a decent PC inside it (making use of a
microATX Nforce 2 motherboard and AMD processor) while simultaneously
retaining the Apple IIe functionality. Basically what I'm going to do is
this:
1. Mount the new motherboard on top of the Apple IIe board. Issues: need to
find a way to mount the memory expansion and disk controller from the IIe at
a 90* angle. I have seen this for AGP cards, so some creating soldering
should work.
2. Wire Apple IIe keyboard to ps/2, but include switch to change input from
going to ps/2 port to going to Apple IIe. Issues: either need to create a
circuit to translate signals along the Apple IIe ribbon cable to something
the ps/2 port can handle OR solder the keys from the Apple IIe keyboard to a
ps/2 controller from an IBM keyboard (and then have a switch to cut off
either the ps/2 output or Apple IIe output so that its either bypassing the
traces and going to the IBM vs. bypassing IBM and using original traces &
ribbon cable to go with Apple IIe.
3. Mount a 2u 300watt PSU, which is close enough in size to the original:
apple IIe PSU:
9.75" long, 3.5" wide, 2.25" tall
2u:
8.2" long, 4" wide, 2.8" tall
This should work in powering the IIe fine, since all it needs is a series of
12v and 5v inputs (can pull from a drive attachment on the 2u)
4. Mount CDROM in external IIe disk drive enclosure. I just gutted a broken
one and test fitted my slot loading CDROM, but it looks like the CDROM is
just a bit too long to fit in with the original floppy faceplate (I was
hoping to keep that and just stick the CD through the slot for the disk... I
may be able to take the CDROM apart and shave down the length a bit, other
option is a laptop CDROM drive, but as far as I can tell none are slot
loading. Maybe able to make floppy front swing up like a door...). I will
use a custom ribbon cable of ~ 50 wires and a thick gauge wire to provide
the 40 IDE required signals, the +/-12 and +/- 5 volt lines for power, and
the R, L and Ground for audio through one cable, preserving original look.
5. Hard drive will be mounted inside, either below keyboard or above PSU. PC
speakers will be taken apart and mounted inside. PC fans will be mounted at
angles to provide airflow through existing ventilation holes on sides. A
SLK-800 copper CPU heatsink will be used, but with the fan blowing air
through it sideways (no vertical clearance).
6. Apple IIe motherboard will be moved back some, and new outputs fashioned,
with switch to go between PC output and IIe


Yes this is ambitious, and yes I am crazy :-)
BUT... If anyone has any suggestions, or more importantly, ideas as to how
to do some of this (especially concerning the switching between IIe and PC
mode, and other electrical things) feel free to comment...Preliminary
fitting looks good