Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:29:51 -0700
Reply-To: Jeffrey Vickers <jeff@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeffrey Vickers <jeff@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
Subject: Re: Idea for gauge placement
In-Reply-To: <5D6D4CD6466049BABAAE248C1F1C279F@ZoltanPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Thanks, Zoltan. The white gauges are from Brent Weide's Subie site:
http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon. I think SmallCar up in Tacoma has
them as well but they are pricey.
I sent Brent a few bucks for his trouble and he sent me the PhotoShop
files for the faces. He can send you the printed faces instead of
files as well. I altered the design slightly in PS and then printed
them out on Tyvek (plastic) paper. Took the gauges apart and used 3M
spray glue to mount the white faces to the old face plates. Its small
and fairly delicate work. You have to get the new faces aligned
properly and cut out the tiny odo windows with an exacto knife, etc.
Its good to have the files so you can print out another set after you
botch the first one (did that). White faces are MUCH easier to see at
night as well as day.
The check engine light is wired to my Subie ECU. Imagine that---a wee
blinky light that tells you when something is wrong with your engine!
= ). Using the spot for the old VW OXS light worked out well.
The volt meter gauge runs out of the fuse box and the oil pressure
and water temp are wired to sensors on the Subie 2.2 engine. I ran a
length of cheap 110V extension cord from the engine to the front---I
used the extension cord so I'd get three wires at the front when I
pulled the wire instead of just one. Actually, if you buy a cheap
50ft extension cord for this, cut it in half and run two sets of
three together since you already under there anyway. You might need
the extra three wires someday. Use a cheap cord---it'll be thinner
and easier to pull. I brought all the wires up under the dash cluster
cover together with a m/f plug so that I could take the cluster cover
off easily. The lights on the new gauges are wired to the dash dimmer
switch for total dimmer -luxury.
Hope that helps,
Jeff
On Sep 29, 2007, at 8:54 AM, Zoltan Kuthy wrote:
> Jeff,
> It's beautiful. I would like to make mine the same. Could you
> give me all the info?
> Also, there is a "check engine" sign there. I don't suppose that
> is necessary if its only our 60k miles counter's signal. Or yours
> is something better.
> Zoltan
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeffrey Vickers"
> <jeff@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 1:33 AM
> Subject: Re: Idea for gauge placement
>
>
>> Here's a pic of what I did. I found the three gauge pod on ePay for
>> $9. Its a "universal" pod sold for about a dozen different cars as
>> far as the listing goes. Mounting it on the cluster cover means that
>> if you don't like it, all you have to do is get another cover for $10
>> and be done with it. No holes drilled in the dash and the gauges are
>> right in your line of sight. I get a sliver of reflection on the
>> windshield from the gauge lights at night which I will fix with small
>> eyelids at the top of the gauges.
>>
>> http://vickersdesign.com/vanagon/gauges1.jpg
>>
>> Jeff //87 Westy Syncaru
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