Custom Gauge Cluster

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I take it you don't have the Koso Temp Gauge or you would have room for the Tranny Shifter?

I'm doing the battery LED with 3 Pole Switch real soon. I really think I should do a write up.

I currently do have the Koso, but if I'm doing a custom cluster I will ditch the koso for a cleaner finished look.
 
I'd like to ditch the factory multimeter and do everything custom, but I have no knowledge of what kydex even is and virtually no experience in cluster fabrication. Thats why I chose to keep the stock framework in place. I haven't looked at the wiring diagram closely enough to know if disconnecting the multi-meter has any affect on the vehicles operation? Anyone know?

Unsure if this applies to your cluster or not but does to plenty of other vehicles, the red battery light is normally necessary to excite the alternator, without it the charge process may not start?

regards

Dave
 
You might also consider VDO gauges, they have a line with warning lights on the gauge since it sounds like you were looking for that feature.
 
I'm putting dd vhx 1060 in my swap. Not sure how these other gauges work, but the dd brain box is really nice. It does all the speedo, tach, fuel level etc without the need for any other box to adjust. I got autometer custom for my trans temp and oil temp.

A couple downsides to the dd path, 2 month plus wait and they won't make custom gauges.
 
interested to hear the feedback on the speedhut gauges as well. I'm about to pull the trigger on a set for my old mustang.
 
what would be the benefit of the ammeter? I've got a T-max dual battery system with its own voltage display. I know they are different functions...
With a digital volt display already, why do you needed a volt gauge? If you're looking for balance for your OCD...
 
So kydex is basically a plastic sheet that you can mold and cut..lots of different colors and thickness..used for holsters and wallets as well..I haven't seen many dashes built out of kydex so it may not be a good medium, I'm not a pro material person..thought it might be a good platform as it's easy to mold and cut..it's also cheap which is another reason I was looking at it because I have to do everything twice

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Speedhut

Is a link in the speedhut gallery to Broadfield customs, I could be wrong but this looks like kydex.
 
@dirtyboots I've got a friend who has access to tons of carbon fiber that's willing to hook me up... He builds full size drone helicopters for the military, so for sake of anonymity we will call him Mr. Orange.

I've done some research on Kydex and am impressed. I'm selling a set of tires, hopefully today, and that should set me up for my gauge purchase.

This is what I plan on ordering:

Vacuum, Water Temp, Trans Temp - Speedo/Tach dual - Fuel Level, Volts, Oil Pressure

All from speedhut, I did look at glowshift but I figured I didn't want to have to do this twice so its worth spending the extra money on high quality gauges.
 
Your getting close to racepak pricing, have you looked at the new Racepak street dash? I install these every couple months. Some love the look, so dont, but they are very versatile and have sensors available for anything you can imagine and can read OBDII data to convert into a gauge.
 
Yea I've looked into a LCD dash but I'm not thrilled with them. I have a pilot's mind, my eyes scan my gauges every 5 mins atleast, its very easy for me to subconsciously notice a needle out of its normal range. Digital numeric gauges don't offer the same level of subconscious data acquisition IMO.

Also I don't have OBD2 :)
 
OK I need some guidance from those of you who are good at understanding the FSM wiring diagrams. I understand generally the pathways and what they are showing, but I get lost when it comes to understanding how everything interacts.

The gauges are in production right now so I'm taking this time to plan out the build. I need to make sure that I won't affect the function of any of the vehicles systems if I don't have the stock bezel plugged in.

From what I can see on the diagram there shouldn't be an issue. But again I am not a 12v expert. Anyone? I'll try to post up picts of the pages tomorrow.
 
Finally popped over to Production! Should have these by next week, I'm getting excited!

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So I built the wiring harness today using OEM connectors. Then I test fired everything.

I'm really happy with the small gauges however I am not thrilled about the colors on the dual gauge in the dark. I was expecting the white in the dial to match the pointers on the small gauges better, and also expected to see the pointer's more red (although it looks pretty red in the photo). Oh well I will call them tomorrow.
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Have to agree, the smaller gauges look real good, the dual looks a little 'washed out'. Is there an option to put a 'warmer' bulb or LED in there? I would guess you could get pointers with a deeper red and swap them, unsure how they are constructed, can the bezel be unscrewed?

I know exactly where you are with this, my Discovery had additional gauges from VDO, the needles were a deep orange and the OE dash needles were yellow, my OCD will not tolerate that. I sat there for hours masking the OE dials and spraying the needles different shades of orange to get a match, I managed it eventually but if you are going to look at it day after day it must be right.

regards

Dave
 

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