Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:01:10 -0800
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Dash Cluster Substitute + Reproduce It ?
In-Reply-To: <CAB2Rwfimo34yZ6nzxswJ61sARz9BBZSpcGbW06=1diqBiUK-Vw@mail.gmail.com>
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I am frustrated by the cluster, both by the sight line problem I have and the brittle plastic. I have 3 clusters, all sketchy, can't make one perfect unit from them. I suppose part of the problem is my seemingly constant diving into the cluster to add this and that, doesn't help things, easy to break things.
So for me, an additional display which is low profile and nice looking would be a definite plus. Even have the day dream of a F1 type steering wheel with the data displayed there :)
alistair
On 2011-11-21, at 6:21 PM, neil n wrote:
> Thanks for that link Alistair. I had his project in mind too but was
> thinking of something the average DIY owner could do. e.g. if he/she had
> a "new" stock cluster housing, and it was the same for all MY's, one could
> just swap the parts over. But judging from John Rodgers comments, it would
> require a large investment of time/money. ("bring money" as Dennis Haynes
> would say < grin > )
>
> It just seems so silly to be dealing with aging plastic. Anyhow......
>
> No doubt Frank did a nice job. During the process of swapping engines,
> adapting the Mk3 cluster was something I'd wanted to do. The scope of it
> was too far beyond my skills at the time though. And, well, a nice diesel
> cluster is serving me fine for now. ;)
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 9:35 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>> Frank G did a nice job Neil, I hope he chimes in. Meanwhile pics and text
>> of his work here on this page in my blog
>>
>>
>> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/vanagon-frank-g-s-instrument-cluster-mod/
>>
>>
>> alistair
>>
>>
>> On 2011-11-21, at 9:11 AM, neil n wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all.
>>>
>>> On thesamba.com there's a thread on adapting a Fox cluster to the
>> Vanagon.
>>> I can't find the thread right now, but it should be there. The thread
>>> content was aimed, in part, toward the Suby crew, but IIRC, the swap is
>>> applicable to any Vanagon.
>>>
>>> What would it take to reproduce a new cluster housing? Is it even $
>>> feasible to do this? Thoughts towards this?
>>>
>>> Does it have to be made of plastic? I bet a 3D printer could make a
>>> prototype for (casting?) purposes.
>>>
>>> I guess it all comes down to someone taking the ball and investing $ to
>>> make it happen. I'm just thinking that at the very least, a plastic
>> housing
>>> could be reproduced then one could install parts specific to their model
>>> year. That said......
>>>
>>> Is the housing the same for all model years? I imagine there's
>> differences
>>> in the amount and positioning of warning lights.
>>>
>>> OTOH, maybe there's enough Vanagons in the bone yard to provide suitable
>>> parts. (?)
>>>
>>> Neil.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 8:33 AM, george jannini <georgejoann@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Fonman, I've just gone through somewhat the same dash crap as you-
>>>> original problem was a broken speedo cable, but the job devolved into
>>>> my being forced into finding, then assembling the best parts that I
>>>> could come up with from 4 spare dash pods, all of which suffered from
>>>> varying degrees of dinged/cracked/broken plastic and/or
>>>> folded/broken/missing contacts where the console attaches to the
>>>> wiring harness.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Neil n
>>>
>>> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
>>>
>>> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco" http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>>
>>> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
>>>
>>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco" http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
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