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Simon_W *******
Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford
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Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 22:16 Post subject: Aftermarket temp gauge fitment & 4WD light relocation |
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The general wisdom is that the standard temperature gauge is useless, so I want to fit a more accurate one on my 2.8 Challenger. But I also want to keep the 'stock' look of the instruments as far as possible. So my plan is to move the 4WD indicator lights to the main dash and use the empty slot in the binnacle for the temperature gauge.
So having acquired a 52mm white on black temperature gauge and sender, this is what I have done.
The starting point is the standard binnacle:
Bezels removed:
4/wd cluster and voltmeter removed:
Used bezel from voltmeter to create mirror image copy in white plastic for temp gauge mounting:
Rough assemble and remove excess material from housing:
Trial assembly:
I then realised that the gauge needed to be set back in the housing. So I scribed around the mounting plate and trimmed it to fit inside the housing:
Like this. (The mounting plate is supported by four plastic legs):
Carefully cut the perspex face (I used an abrafile) and reassemble instruments:
Wire them up:
And the finished job, ready for fitment in the Challenger:
Part II will be to move the 4WD lights. |
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Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 22:16 Post subject: Google Ads keep the POCUK free to join! |
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venn105 LifeTime Member
Age: 49 Zodiac: Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 13103 Location: Lancashire
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Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 23:15 Post subject: |
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Awesome work,that really does look oe |
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Simon_W *******
Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 0:27 Post subject: |
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venn105 wrote: |
Awesome work,that really does look oe |
Thanks venn! I'll be pleased if I can get the 4WD lights to look oe too. Hopefully it won't be much more difficult than this was. I've also got the advantage of having a spare instrument panel so I can experiment a little without fear of damage. |
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peteinchad LifeTime Member
Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 15079 Location: UK
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:21 Post subject: |
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That looks good Simon - much better than a garish plasma display. |
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Simon_W *******
Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 11:06 Post subject: |
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peteinchad wrote: |
That looks good Simon - much better than a garish plasma display. |
Thanks Pete. Although I do think that the plasma displays can look good with an LED bulb dash upgrade. Some of the bright blue set-ups are very impressive.
This has reminded me of the display on a 3.0 24v Vauxhall I had. It looks very dated now!
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peteinchad LifeTime Member
Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 15079 Location: UK
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 13:22 Post subject: |
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I went for the standard look
with blue LED backlighting
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Simon_W *******
Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 13:34 Post subject: |
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peteinchad wrote: |
I went for the standard look
with blue LED backlighting
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That looks great! Very cool indeed. |
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venn105 LifeTime Member
Age: 49 Zodiac: Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 13103 Location: Lancashire
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 13:37 Post subject: |
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WOW that dash has brought memories back 8-)except the astra gte 16v with digital dash,that was one of the motors to have!!! My mate had one and the novelty never wore off,i decided on the cavalier gsi 4x4 instead with boring clocks ..........but i had an mpg computer.........4mpg was my record and lets just say the needle was off the max speed .My dash always made a noise after, as it must have sprained a plastic gear or alike inside........as it clicked (i was 20 at time and stupid..........still am now just not quite as ) |
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Simon_W *******
Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 13:54 Post subject: |
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venn105 wrote: |
WOW that dash has brought memories back 8-)except the astra gte 16v with digital dash,that was one of the motors to have!!! My mate had one and the novelty never wore off,i decided on the cavalier gsi 4x4 instead with boring clocks ..........but i had an mpg computer.........4mpg was my record and lets just say the needle was off the max speed .My dash always made a noise after, as it must have sprained a plastic gear or alike inside........as it clicked (i was 20 at time and stupid..........still am now just not quite as ) |
Ah, those were the days! I thought that my Carlton GSi 24v was the dogs nuts. 200+ bhp, sub 8 second 0-60 and as near as 150 mph as made no difference. Except that I always wished it was the Lotus version!
What I find extraordinary is that my diesel Mercedes can virtually match that performance and better 40mpg with care - i.e. not often! |
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venn105 LifeTime Member
Age: 49 Zodiac: Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 13103 Location: Lancashire
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 14:10 Post subject: |
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Yes the lotus carlton,awesome beast 3.6 twin turbo iirc,my dream car at the time(early to mid 90s) and only in dark green flavour .
The carlton gsi was out of my price range at time iirc (1995 ish) and was only 20 at time,still the saphire cosworth was the muts nuts for fun,rwd too.........loved it for the 9 months i had it,then i rolled it several times That was probably the most i paid on a car at £8k but no bills or kids and £1850 a year ins(cheap compared to these days as group 20 at time and that was top group) After this i got the cav gsi,iirc paid £6500 on a H 91 plate and almost paid same again over 3yrs in repairs and mods
Good old days............i feel old |
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Simon_W *******
Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 14:24 Post subject: |
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venn105 wrote: |
Good old days............i feel old |
Well I've got 20+ years of motoring and other memories on you! But my family and friends are still waiting for me to grow up. Personally I hope it never happens. |
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venn105 LifeTime Member
Age: 49 Zodiac: Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 13103 Location: Lancashire
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 16:13 Post subject: |
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Simon_W *******
Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 18:36 Post subject: |
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After an enforced interval caused by a broken finger, I've finally moved my 4WD lights!
First, the finger. Yes, it did hurt a bit! But I had fantastic service from the NHS. Just two days from turning up at my local Minor Injuries Clinic to being operated on by a consultant plastic surgeon.
On to the project. I used a connector directly into the existing 4WD light plug, and used a 10-wire data cable to take the feeds to the new light position. All very simple and very little work.
Then I ran the cable down to the base of the centre console. I soldered another connector and two 5mm LEDs onto a circuit board. LED bezels finished the job off nicely. One LED is for the front axle engagement, the other for the centre diff lock. No rear diff lock No need for labels at this stage.
So job done.
Last edited by Simon_W on Tue Mar 03, 2015 20:44; edited 1 time in total |
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peteinchad LifeTime Member
Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 15079 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 19:10 Post subject: |
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A nice neat job - I'm surprised that you managed to find a connector to fit the one in the dashboard. |
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Simon_W *******
Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 20:41 Post subject: |
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peteinchad wrote: |
A nice neat job - I'm surprised that you managed to find a connector to fit the one in the dashboard. |
Thanks Pete. To be fair it's not a perfect fit, but it's got the standard 2.54 mm pitch and enough of the pins match to make it work. |
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