Date:         Tue, 20 Mar 2001 06:12:56 -0800
Reply-To:     '80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         '80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Golf II instruments fit Vanagon cluster? White faces?
              Backlighting?
Comments: To: andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ
Content-Type: text/plain

I seem to recal that www.fastforward.ca knows how to do up a Golf tach for a Vanagon, I'd start there... those guys REALLY know what they are doing.

Thanks,
Chris

On Tue, 20 March 2001, Andrew Grebneff wrote:

>
> I scored an instrument cluster from a Mk II Golf CL today, used import from
> Japan. It has a 220kmh (138mph) speedo and a 7000rpm tacho which
> incorporates fuel & temp gauges. Just about right for an SVX engined van,
> though 8000+ rpm would have been better.
>
> I remember being told that the Golf II tacho can be made to fit the Vanagon
> pod and look like it is made to fit there.
>
> BUT... can the speedo be done likewise? It is cable-driven, not electric,
> and can either be recalibrated to run from the Caravelle's drive cable
> (odometer will still be inaccurate however) or an inline gearbox can be
> fitted to the cable to correct it (best option). But will the speedo fit
> the cluster?
>
> What about the wiring? Anybody done this? The Golf instrument lighting is
> the same crude indirect setup as the Vanagon. No backlit faces here.
>
> Regarding Sean Birkner's idea of getting white faces done for listees'
> instruments, it should IN THEORY be easy to convert to backlighting. This
> would require fitting of (say Toyota) holders into the back of the
> instrument housings; cutting the holes should be easy as long as you know
> where and what shape exactly. Plug fittings in from behind and turn to
> secure. For this application the new white (or whatever color) faces should
> be uniformly translucent, to allow the light to shine through; tacho red
> (or green or whatever) zones should be translucent also. Lettering should
> be opaque, to show up at night. Bulb color can be owner's choice; could
> even, given enough room, install several different sets of light fittings
> with different colored bulbs, with a rotary or slide switch to select the
> different colors!
>
> Like Sean, I think blue in particular would be really neat (the Nissan
> Presea has intense blue backlit instruments, and they look amazing).
>
> Of course if there are shadow-producing obstructions within the
> instruments, the backlighting idea may be in trouble.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
> Andrew Grebneff
> 165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
> fax 64 (3) 479-7527
> <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> VW van (something for every man), Toyota diesel & seashell nut
> Macintosh 7500/200/64, 6116/60/24, LCIII, LC, Classic, Plus
> Even though Mac Users may be only 10% of the market,
>              always remember that we are the TOP 10%

Thanks,
Chris Gronski
'80 Westy "Pokey" - SLOPOKEY
'87 Chevrolet Sprint - Ice Racer
'91 Pontiac Firefly - Convertable
www.vanagon.org & .ca
www.gronski.com, .org, & .ca
www.nineeleven.org & .ca