you press the exhaust pipes down to start the machine. Maybe some tail lights or something with LED to show that the system is on.
Here is how you would setup the LED's.
Look at the picture of the motherboard.
Look at the top view, and look at the top right corner (By those purple things)
There you will see these plug in things, there are two reds, two blues etc.
That is where your power button cable and LED's would go.
Basically you would get a regular power switch, and if I was you, I would mount it like this.
Some trucks have those ice coolers up on the front of the trailer, I would make the power switch in one of those, nothing fancy, just the power button in the A\C thing. (You could even make a wheel a power button)
For the LED's you could mount them in the muffler, and just take the cable and pull it through the trailer to where they are plugged in (Same place as power switch)
So, for the basics. Where should I place everything to make it all fit and be accessible? I was thinking that I would have the motherboard attached to the left inside wall. So that the ports for plugging in everything would be attached to the back of the trailer. do you think that is the best method? And if so, how would I mount the motherboard without screwing it into the actual trailer?
I agree that you should mount it on the left side, and you won't really be plugging anything into the expansion slots, so you wouldn't necessarily have to cut out holes for them, just for where you would plug in your mouse, keyboard, monitor cable, etc.
I think you would have to take a piece of aluminum, and raise it about 1/2 inch off of the left side, drill holes through that match your motherboard's mounting holes, and screw it in (Always use standoffs)
Also, where should I put the dvd drive? The most conveniant thing would to get a slot loading drive....but that is a stretch. Maybe the top front? So the loading tray would extend above the cab of the driver seat?
I think a cool way to mount the DVD drive would be on it's side (I think some allow you to do that) and mount it in the back of the trailer where the trailer doors open.
I think it would be really cool if you were able to mount it so that the trailer doors open and close, and it looks cool, but when you open the trailer door the DVD drive would be there (I think that's cool)
Where should the power supply go? I was wanting it to go on the rear of the trailer.
Since the back is taken by the motherboard and DVD drive (The DVD drive thing would be totally cool, you should mount the Power Supply up front, and have the cables going to the back of the trailer where all your stuff is. (This would make it look clean from outside)
And I thought it would be cool to put a fan on the inner bottom of the trailer. Since it would be on wheels, there would be an inch or so for air flow. This would also make the trailer look cooler. Not having a large visible fan.
One inch wouldn't really cut it, the top would be the best spot, but then again that would ruin the look. If you could make it so that the cab is detachable from the trailer, you could mount the fan up front, or make the cab at a 90 degree angle allowing the fan maximum airflow.
As for the fan sucking in, you could just mount it on the bottom, as long as it can suck air in.
To mount the hard drive I guess you would use the same technique as the motherboard.
Good luck with the project!
Post plenty of pics, and ask many questions!