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lovedavdubs Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2004 Posts: 1597 Location: New York, NY.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:20 am Post subject: Gauge cluster update - I've got the blues |
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What do you guys think? This all started when my van was encountering idling problem and I wanted to install a tach to monitor the idle without having to turn the stereo off. I installed the tack but the redline didn't match my engine's output. So I refaced it with a lower red line. Then I thought it might be cool to change the cluster bulb color to blue to match the van. But then I came across this glow gauge material. I'm pleased with the outcome. I still have to swap the gauge needles for glowing ones but I think it looks pretty cool so far. I have even wired it into my stock dimmer switch so it dims with the rest of the lights in the cluster. I think this may be a first for indiglo gauges in a Vanagon. I may make a few more for resale once I work out the kinks.
_________________ 82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway.
Last edited by lovedavdubs on Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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lilweasel Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2005 Posts: 285 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:31 am Post subject: |
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SNAP!
Nice work Dubs. That looks awesome. Is that stuff paint on and you change the bulbs or something? That looks great. That would match my other gauges really well. |
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Dogpilot Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005 Posts: 4205 Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:33 am Post subject: |
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Definatly way cool. It kind of gives me that blue leader, protect me while I make a run on the Death Star feeling. It is much more even than the LED's I put in. You must share the secrets. _________________ Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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tencentlife Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006 Posts: 10067 Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:55 am Post subject: |
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Sweet!! I love your "Achtung" redline warning.
How are they to read at night? Do your eyes pick up the blue at a quick glance?
Reminds me of the old Saab 95s and 96's I used to drive. They had a high-beam indicator lamp in its own little bezel on the dash that was a really pretty violet. Everyone who ever rode in those cars at night was fascinated by it. |
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lovedavdubs Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2004 Posts: 1597 Location: New York, NY.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:27 am Post subject: |
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Thanks guys
The secret to even elimination is back lighting. I'm planning on doing away with the bulbs all together. Here's a couple photos of how I did it.
Link
_________________ 82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway. |
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pete000 Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Ocala FL
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:34 am Post subject: |
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Slick ! you should offer a kit ! _________________ 1990 Vanagon RS 2.1
1967 Deluxe 21 window
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Koni Shocks
H & R Red Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
18 X 7.5 and 18 X 8 OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats |
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tsombrero1 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2006 Posts: 288 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:35 am Post subject: |
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Cool! So the backlighting is some kind of glow-panel, and the paper with the gauge lettering sticks right on top?
Where did you find that stuff? I'd like to read up on it. _________________ Tennessee Sombrero
1988 Westy, Syncro-nated
2003 Aprilia Caponord (now with Jif)
Atari 2600
1970 Earthbound Humanoid |
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T3NUT Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2006 Posts: 3 Location: UK
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:38 am Post subject: |
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That is quality. Ive got a LHD German import which had KPH rather that MPH so i bought some VDO stickers to convert to MPH. The stickers are white and i bought some blue LED lamps to fit into the instrementation but it looks total crap in comparison to yours. Please keep us posted if you intent to do this comercially |
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lovedavdubs Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2004 Posts: 1597 Location: New York, NY.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:51 am Post subject: |
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T3NUT wrote: |
That is quality. Ive got a LHD German import which had KPH rather that MPH so i bought some VDO stickers to convert to MPH. The stickers are white and i bought some blue LED lamps to fit into the instrementation but it looks total crap in comparison to yours. Please keep us posted if you intent to do this comercially |
You didn't get those stickers on ebay did you. I bought a set on ebay from some guy in UK. Not very good quality and the guy ignored me for 2 weeks. I wound up throwing them away.
I just picked up a water cooled gauge cluster from ebay and am planning to make a quality set of white faces for resale. I'll let you know when I do. I'll be out of the country for about seven months though so it will be a while. _________________ 82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway. |
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bacwmi Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Saint Louis area
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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did you use an EL sheet??
I have been looking into that idea because you can dim it
can you dim an LED?
Well, after seeing how great it looks on your van I have to do it
I hope you have internet access while you are away |
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kevinbassplayer Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2006 Posts: 1041 Location: Nor-Cal
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome, I'm ready to buy a kit! |
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hilllaguna Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2006 Posts: 49 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a buyer when you are ready. I've seen some pretty funny stuff on gauge fronts from things like Kaboom! written in at the red line, and more. You could do one for the guys that want something more traditional and for others that like me would like to have something with a bit of fun thrown in. Sign me up. _________________ 1990 Vanagon GL full camper with GW 2.4 and tons of mods |
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wbx Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2005 Posts: 1254 Location: Monterey, CA
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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I'm in, too... That is really nice - a clean way to modernize an aging vehicle.
-Damon _________________ '84 Westy (first owner).......but my daily driver has pedals
My "perspective" mantra:
A Volkswagen Vanagon is just a material thing,
As such, it is of the earth,
And if i need to, I can let my Van go. |
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M_atthewanderson Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 288 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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i would like orange
I love watching you mod your van. Can’t wait for the next one, but it sounds like it will have to wait a while. have fun on your long trip and awesome gauges.
BRILLIANT!!! _________________ 1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon |
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lovedavdubs Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2004 Posts: 1597 Location: New York, NY.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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Wow Thanks for all the complements guys. Guess it was worth the effort. Bacwmi you are correct, I did use Electroluminescent. With all these responses it looks like I've got my work cut out for me when I get back from Taiwan. I wont be able to do much between now and then unfortunately. My wife will have my head if she catches me disassembling any more gauge clusters before I finish packing up our apartment. No honey Im not working on my VW stuff She hates this van This project has been my obsession for the past month. I just about have this mod down to a science now. It can be done without any permanent modifications to the cluster itself. This was one of my main objectives. I just took a 2 hour test drive and all systems are go. They look real trick along side of my blue Pioneer and blue Sirius satellite receiver screens. Now every light in the dash glows blue. God damn I'm excited
Keep ya posted. _________________ 82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway. |
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M_atthewanderson Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 288 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Is she from Taiwan? I hope her family is okay or at least you can get a hold of them. That earthquake has made my Indonesian phone calls and msn very hard if not impossible. _________________ 1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon |
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lovedavdubs Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2004 Posts: 1597 Location: New York, NY.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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mattography wrote: |
Is she from Taiwan? I hope her family is okay or at least you can get a hold of them. That earthquake has made my Indonesian phone calls and msn very hard if not impossible. |
She's from taipei way up North. Thanks for asking though. Everyones fine. _________________ 82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway. |
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noganav Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2006 Posts: 1236 Location: San Diego CA
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:49 am Post subject: |
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Unbelievable! This is one of the coolest upgrades I've ever seen. It could be mistaken for stock. How are you printing the gauge faces? I had tried to buy a tach from an 84 wolfsburg on ePay, but I bailed when the price went over $150. One of the later tachs would be much less expensive, and With a new face, it wouldn't look god awful. |
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lovedavdubs Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2004 Posts: 1597 Location: New York, NY.
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:16 am Post subject: |
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noganav wrote: |
Unbelievable! This is one of the coolest upgrades I've ever seen. It could be mistaken for stock. How are you printing the gauge faces? I had tried to buy a tach from an 84 wolfsburg on ePay, but I bailed when the price went over $150. One of the later tachs would be much less expensive, and With a new face, it wouldn't look god awful. |
This was exactly my circumstance in the beginning stages of this project. Those Wolfy tachs go for a pretty penny. There aren't to many of them out there. So here's the trick. Go down to the junk yard and pull a cluster out of an 88 Jetta or Golf. 91 will work also but I've learned that there is a little more work involved. Neither will just bolt right up, but with a little trimming etc. you can get them to fit. The difference between the two is in the compactness of the circuit boards. The 88 is much smaller. The tach in my cluster now is out of an 88. When I refaced it I just changed the redline. I payed 30 bucks for the whole cluster. Then sold the speedo and the rest on ebay.
I've got this ridiculously high quality laser jet printer that allows me to get that crisp stock look. I'm also printing on high quality acetate as I've learned that paper will begin to wrinkle and or yellow after a while.
noganav wrote: |
Unbelievable! This is one of the coolest upgrades I've ever seen. It could be mistaken for stock. How are you printing the gauge faces? I had tried to buy a tach from an 84 wolfsburg on ePay, but I bailed when the price went over $150. One of the later tachs would be much less expensive, and With a new face, it wouldn't look god awful. |
This was exactly my circumstance in the beginning stages of this project. Those Wolfy tachs go for a pretty penny. There aren't to many of them out there. So here's the trick. Go down to the junk yard and pull a cluster out of an 88 Jetta or Golf. 91 will work also but I've learned that there is a little more work involved. Neither will just bolt right up, but with a little trimming etc. you can get them to fit. The difference between the two is in the compactness of the circuit boards. The 88 is much smaller. The tach in my cluster now is out of an 88. When I refaced it I just changed the redline. I paid 30 bucks for the whole cluster. Then sold the speedo and the rest on ebay.
This is the 91 tach. I had to do alot of trimming (to the tach and the cluster) but it fit in the end and I used it for over three months before I decided to build a better one. I really didn't like the idea of trimming the cluster. So I set out to make one that would bolt up with no mod to existing equipment.
This is the 88 (absolutely no modification to the original cluster ) It took some time to work it out, but it is much cleaner. I made a plate out of plexy glass that matches up with the stock screw holes.
I've got this ridiculously high quality laser jet printer that allows me to get that crisp stock look. I'm also printing on high quality acetate as I've learned that paper will begin to wrinkle and or yellow after a while. _________________ 82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway.
Last edited by lovedavdubs on Fri Dec 29, 2006 7:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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CF Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005 Posts: 802
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:22 am Post subject: |
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ok very nice work jay
when are you going to start on my dash?? |
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