Finally installed my new gauges (LED)

[ManySHOs]

This is the best shot I could get with my digital camera.

I took this with my cell phone during the day.

At night with the flash (lights on). The gauges have white writing when the lights are off. They are (From left to right) Autometer Cobalt oil psi on steering column, trans temp, water temp, oil temp. The bottom 2 include a Summit volt meter and a PLX wideband gauge. I bought the Summit to match the PLX. The Autometers originally had a chrome bezel. The PLX's was silver. I painted them all black to match.

I went way overboard with the wiring so it took me awhile to finish everything up. The gauges are powered from the fusebox on the firewall. I fused that connection in the engine compartment. Once inside the center console, I installed a relay that is switched off of the HU. All of the gauges have inline fuses. I was going to use bus bars to make my ground, positive and illumination connections but I couldn't find anything small enough that was sealed. I ended up soldering and heatshrinking crimp on ring terminals to every wire. Once all 24 or so terminals had be soldered on (wideband controller + 6 gauges), I used 3 small bolts with 2 washers and a nut to secure each of the 3 seperate connections. I should install them in small project boxes but they are insulated with electrical tape for now. Whatever, it works really well.

So far I'm happy with the result. I'll probably get another set of speedhut overlays (this time reverse EL with Cobalt blue lighting) to match the new gauges. I'll also paint the needles red to match. I wanted to ditch the A pillar pod to restore my line of sight to the left of the windshield. So far, much better. I also wanted gauges that I could actually read at night instead of staring at. My old Ultralites were difficult to read at a glance. This setup is much nicer. I think that I've suceeded in doubling the number of gauges that I had while keeping the setup looking tasteful and ergnomically functional.

I've already installed blue LED's in all of my door/window switches. Next up would be the headlight switch, fog lamp, radio buttons, etc and the EATC. It should be an interesting project. I'm looking here for my inspiration:

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=55429

Thanks for looking!
Ian

 

[omeara7]

looks awesome....gotta love the light emitting diodes! I want oil pressure and coolant temp gauges....nice work

 

[DDakRT]

Very nice, those are some pricy gauges though, I want them

 

[ManySHOs]

Very nice, those are some pricy gauges though, I want them

Yes, cough cough. I made the mistake of finding an awesome deal on one of them on ebay. Wow, this is pretty good I thought! So, I bought 1 and then another. And then I realized that even the cheapest price I could find on the 'net was still really expensive for the rest of them. I think that one of the gauges (oil psi?) was close to $200. Yikes. By then it was too late to turn back. Even so, I probably knew what I was getting myself into. I was just in denial.

'still cheaper than Autometer Nexus. Oh well, I'm happy with them. I'll get the Nexus or Defi's when I get my Ferrari 360. hehe

Thanks for the compliments!

Ian

 

[DDakRT]

So can I have your Colbalts when you get the 360

I've said it before and I'll say it again, your car's one of the nicest on this forum, and I don't usually don't like 92 and 93s.

 

[ManySHOs]

So can I have your Colbalts when you get the 360 :

Hey, you can have the entire car at that point!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, your car's one of the nicest on this forum, and I don't usually don't like 92 and 93s.

Thanks! That means a lot. You probably wouldn't say that if you saw it in person though. I have a week off of work coming up in April. I want to spend that time actually cleaning the paint and washing the car. It's been a long time since I've actually washed it. Yikes.

Ian

 

[SolidState]

very nice.

And I love the FR500 wheel...I really want that wheel. Blue on Black is almost ideal for me too...

 

[ManySHOs]

very nice.

And I love the FR500 wheel...I really want that wheel. Blue on Black is almost ideal for me too...

Thanks. I had always wanted a black interior. I sorta forced myself into it when I installed the FR500 wheel and didn't like the look in the grey interior. It took me awhile but I think the black swap is finally complete (I just need a moonroof ventshade).

The FR500 is nice but I'd prefer a small diameter wheel like a momo or sparco wheel. However, I wanted to retain an airbag so I didn't really have that option..

Ian

 

[MaxOwnJoo]

they match your blue strut boots!

this is not an insult

 

[ManySHOs]

they match your blue strut boots!

I forgot that I had those..

..and yes Steve (MaxOwnJoo), I need to install my aluminum Autovation pedals. Those rubber pedal pads look ugly now..

Ian

 

[SolidState]

Thanks. I had always wanted a black interior. I sorta forced myself into it when I installed the FR500 wheel and didn't like the look in the grey interior. It took me awhile but I think the black swap is finally complete (I just need a moonroof ventshade).

The FR500 is nice but I'd prefer a small diameter wheel like a momo or sparco wheel. However, I wanted to retain an airbag so I didn't really have that option..

Ian

so it wasn't originally black? tres cool...I want a black interior, so I am thinking of dying the trim pieces myself.

As for the wheel...I love thick steering wheels. The one in my GTi is perfect.

 

[ManySHOs]

so it wasn't originally black? tres cool...I want a black interior, so I am thinking of dying the trim pieces myself.

As for the wheel...I love thick steering wheels. The one in my GTi is perfect.

At first I dyed most of the plastic and vinyl parts using VHT vinyl dye in a spray can. As time went by, I replaced everything with original black parts. I hit the jackpot when I found a 93 atx parts car in North Jersey that I stripped of the seats, center console, and door trim plastics. I got the door panels and headliner from a car in CT. (yes, MaxOwnJoo, SHO92 and my girlfriend jumped in the car to drive 6 hours to CT and back without a headliner just to pick up interior parts. I got back at 3 AM but getting my doors blown off by a Lotus Espirit V8 twin turbo on I95 was worth every minute of it)..anyway, I digress..

The only dyed parts that remain are my airbags and the meaty section of the dash (vinyl). The shroud and glovebox/vents, etc are from parts cars, ebay auctions, etc.

I like the thickness of the FR500 wheel but it's just a huge wheel to begin with. Coupled with the extra wrapping it's a lotta wheel. I would prefer a meaty wheel with a smaller diameter.

Again, thanks for the compliments!
Ian

 

[tominos]

whats an fr500 wheel from? don't the stock steering wheels look like that?

 

[SolidState]

yikes...I forgot this thread existed...

The FR500 is a mustang steering wheel....

What was your thoughts of the VHT dye?

 

[SHO92]

Ian was not a fan of the vinyl die. While it is true that the stock black pieces would be the best to use, I will be going with the VHT approach. Ians dash board looks great(it's been dye'd) and you can't tell when comparing it to the cluster surround or the dash vents. I think VHT is the way to go to get everything done. You can then slowly accrue stock black pieces as you find them.

I have 4 cans of VHT in the garage waiting for warmer weather, and I need to order some Corbeau buckets and I'll be also set to do my black interior conversion. The only things missing are a rear deck(which I will be doing some customizing too before I recover it) and the headliner, which I'll also recover.

 

[SolidState]

I was thinking of going the SEM route....although I will be interested in hearing your feedback on the VHT product...

 

[ManySHOs]

Wow, it's nice to have my own spokesperson (SHO92).

The VHT is ok but I preferred using the real black parts when I could get ahold of them. It can be difficult to get even coats of dye on everything. At first this may not show up. I started to notice when I was taking digital pictures with the flash on. The flash would point out obvious problem errors where grey was appearing through.

I'm also not sure how well this stuff holds up over time and to cleaning agents. I'm going to be detailing my car this weekend. If I get to the interior, I'm going to try mild soap and water.

I think this stuff works better on vinyl than it does on plastics. The dashboard vinyls did come out pretty nicely but all of the plastics are OEM 92-93 pieces.

Oh; the FR500 wheel is ok but I'd prefer a smaller diameter wheel instead. I wanted to keep my airbag so the FR500 was really my only option.

Now for a black moonroof ventshade....

Ian

 

[SolidState]

if you ever decide to rid yourself of that pesky FR500, lemme know

 

[DemonNeno]

Well, there isn't a easy way to yank off the Dash, is there? I've heard of the wiring harnesses being detached from the firewall? I have a full black interior ready to be swapped into the '89, minus the dash. Everything from the roof to the floorboards is in my possession... What will I do with a grey dashboard, though?! baaahhh...

 

[SolidState]

if you are careful, and patient, you can remove all accessories from the dash and mask the rest off and dye it in the car....

I believe the single wiring harness for the dash was late gen1/early gen2