Gauging interest, Quad gauge, an fuel gauge in updated Tach Options

[914forme]

Okay, for my project I have been working on a concept to build a custom set of gauges to keep every thing in the dash. And I am thinking about building some kits so you can build a set yourself.

First off is a Tach with a fuel gauge at the bottom, in reality it could be anything with a 90 degree sweep. So Turbo boast ala 930, but my is getting a fuel gauge. It is setup to use the Sun Tach update and the mounts have been moved to make it work. It will look something like this when its done. The tach needle will be the proper length once done, I need some pin drills.



It was setup to use a VDO fuel gauge, but the stock unit will also work though the face would need to be redone.

The quad gauges I setup for Oil pressure and temp, water temp, and volts.



I need to clean up some of the line widths on this one call it an alfa as I used it to prototype with. Even though CAD said it would work, and it did, I liked hold a down and dirty physical version in my hands. Nothing like a laser printer and a few pieces of cardboard.

$ lights are for generator, oil pressure, brake, and a check engine for us OBDI or II groups.

This is the prototype with the gauges I had, the oil temp needle is from a different line in the VDO gauges, so its hight and needle are different.

In case you need to know, I did the original metal work nd plating for the triple gauge sets from way back when that Pelican sold. I did all the back and front machine work, laser cut. And the silver CAD plating on the rears. I don't know if I will make these together but if the interest is there, I'll do a run to help my project along.

So would people be interested in these, once I get the final setup done
I have no idea on pricing just yet, I still need to get costs on face printing, and finalizing the design, and the costs for all the machine work and metal. Of course I will show the progress I make once I get into metal prototypes, instructions, printing faces and all that stuff.

[falcor75]

one little thing I noticed is that the most important gauge (oil pressure) in my eyes goes the wrong way....should be pointing upwards at full pressure.... and of course being a pesky metric european I'd want Bar instead of PSI.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[914forme]

one little thing I noticed is that the most important gauge (oil pressure) in my eyes goes the wrong way....should be pointing upwards at full pressure.... and of course being a pesky metric european I'd want Bar instead of PSI.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I am using off the shelf VDO gauges so I have not messed with the finding different steppers etc.... They all rotate clockwise so thats how it is done. If it bugs you, just swap the sides. Thats easily done with a photo editing program. Have the faces reprinted. Also can be done with the bar scale, though it requires some math. Easily done with the super computer you probably carry in your pocket.

That being said, the files are here, That is a full size drawing unless the web messed up the scale. We as a community can make them better as an open source project. Like Doug did by fatting up the lettering. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif) I suck at graphics design. Kinda like spelling not my strong suite. Yet I am sure there are a bunch of people who did not think these things would all fit into the 3rd gauge. Just like the Tach, you can add any gauge you want down there once you use the SunPro internals as they free up a ton of space in the gauge. Don't get me wrong they are still a tight fit, but it does fit.

So you can use any 90 degree sweep gauge from VDO, they all fit, just get the same series gauge. I had a bunch of VDO cockpit units around so thats what I used. The Oil Temp gauge is from the Vision line, and it uses polycarbonate as the gauge face with a overlay. That product was designed for this and the shaft on the stepper is taller because of this. I have replace the oil temp gauge from the cockpit line, just have not disassembled yet. If VDO has changed their production runs to use the polycarbonate faces then its an easy fix, Just change to a Sheet of polycarbonate that is the same thickness. Once you start using polycarbonate you can do some awesome effects like through face lighting.

So choices as of last time I looked they must be 90 degree sweeps.
Oil temperature
Oil Pressure
Fuel Level
Volt, and Amps
Water Temp
Cylinder Head Temperature Gauge

I am also starting to realize this might not be commercially feasible.

If you don't have the gauges they are about $25 ~ $30 a piece so that $100 in raw material no senders. New LED pieces are about $5 for lighting a sold color, not the fancy RBG stuff Timothy is doing. The face its self is $15 for machining. Printing will be $10, lights new tubes, etc..... $50, don't forget the Molex connectors and harness so I at $15. Then my time, lol you all don't want to pay my billed rate.. I'm not a cheap date.

Total with out labor estimated is $195, senders make it $295 as a kit or more depending on how and where you source the donor gauges. Thats straight approximate costs. At that price you really need to start thinking about a manufactured solution like SpeedHut or NewVintage. Speedhuts are $295 for a Quad with Oil Pressure, Water Temperature, Fuel, and Volts.

The advantage to this idea is you can make it your own. So if you want dual CHTs, one for each bank, oil pressure, and oil temp, you can do that. Thats the combo I ran when my car was air-cooled. You can do what you want in the space given. Now as far as steppers go, these things could go to the extreme and be built with a small microcontroler, and add functions like playback, peak and hold, etc... Once that happens then rotation becomes a none issue as its just a software function. These things could go on for ever and ever.

I am doing these because I can, its been a fun way to try something new and different. I haven't even shown what I am doing with the my speedo yet. The true cost conservative model would have been to goto Speedhut and buy the gauges I wanted.