Adding some extra dials

[dean_ratpac]

Thought i might share my latest idea - after the success of the LED's behind the dash many moons ago - a lot of you adapted to; and recently having the Oil temp gauge + oil thermostat installed where the clock is - not my idea - but sure does let you know when your engine is actually warm!
I'm going to add some more dials to clearly know what is going on in the engine bay.

Now clearly trying to not destroy the interior feel and deviate too much - i'm thinking batt level - for those who have the tell tale signs of the 100amp fuse going - this will actually give accurate readings, another coolant sensor, as mine seems to lie! i've still got the clock, but trying to think if there was anything else?

fuel pressure? i don't want to go over the top. three will do and they will go under the dash, roughly where the pic illustrates but they will be tucked right under (i cannot get them under just right now, so not fast and furious. Thoughts?

[Steve_T]

For me they need to look like they were there from day one, so getting a similar shaped pod to the rest of the dash and wrapping it in the same leather etc. is going to be important.

[Scrooloose]

I'd put them in a pod underneath the radio myself....

[Steve_T]

IIRC Craig did that on his NOS cerb.

[julian64]

I'd ditch the absolute battery meter cos its a bit halfords, and get an ammeter instead like the old fashioned british cars

[Steve_T]

julian64 said:

I'd ditch the absolute battery meter cos its a bit halfords, and get an ammeter instead like the old fashioned british cars

True but it is OE on Griffs - harder to get an ammeter with the right look.

[BCA]

We have a battery meter in place of the clock and have put the clock to the left and down on the swoopy bit - think how the charisma cerbs interior used to look, only massively toned down. It looks better than you'd think.. and we're considering more dials too...

[dean_ratpac]

The extra gauges i have are from TVR, and are in Magnolia w/TVR logo. The reason i got the batt was due to many times the big fuse going/cracking - only finding out when my tunes start dying - i'd rather have earlier warnings certainly on longer journeys. My dash is going to the stainless steel route - looking for the heater module still, so it could be a pod this way/style, or moulding one - covering in leather with staggered gauges pointing towards the driver under the main dash - similar to top level. Although contemplating changing tis to alcantara because of the horrible glare off it. i looked about placing under the head unit similar to NOS gauges (craig), but i have my TomTom/iPhone there.
BCA - i'm interested in seeing your clock dial - could you post. I have the Red Rose fuel map switch so this was used up.

the other gauge was fuel pressure... but as far as i am aware TVR didn't ever do one, and i would like to keep the look and feel so don't want a random gauge in there.

[dean_ratpac]

Steve_T said:

julian64 said:

I'd ditch the absolute battery meter cos its a bit halfords, and get an ammeter instead like the old fashioned british cars

True but it is OE on Griffs - harder to get an ammeter with the right look.

Steve did you receive yours yet?

[ridds]

How about a pod that sits just below the radio but doesn't fill the hole completely?

I don;t think they're going to fit properly above the dash are they?

[BCA]

Dean, I'll have a go at grabbing a photo at the weekend - the Cerbs being used too much lately. It'll be the only chance to get a photo in daylight.

[dean_ratpac]

ridds said:

I don;t think they're going to fit properly above the dash are they?

I have enough space in there - its just getting them in which is the tricky bit. As Steve_T know's I'm planning on some sound/heat deadening and the interior will be out.

BCA said:

Dean, I'll have a go at grabbing a photo at the weekend - the Cerbs being used too much lately.

thanks - hope its being driven like you stole it!

[BCA]

dean_ratpac said:

BCA said:

Dean, I'll have a go at grabbing a photo at the weekend - the Cerbs being used too much lately.

thanks - hope its being driven like you stole it!

It did a 5mph higher terminal speed at Aintree than our previous best last weekend... 137mph.

It just gets faster every year. Rear T1R's are now nicely bedded in too...

[dean_ratpac]

BCA did you manage to get a pic of your gauge?

also adding next weekend this:





to go with the extra coolant gauge for the caerbont late chim gauge... swiped the blue collar of the younger brothers car... happy days!

Edited by dean_ratpac on Monday 11th May 17:55

[alinton]

I'd like to change the clock for a battery voltage meter, where do you get the meter from?

And I'm interested that someone has moved the clock to the left hand side, any chance of a pic of this?

Thanks

Andy.

[diycerb]

dean_ratpac said:

Thought i might share my latest idea - after the success of the LED's behind the dash many moons ago - a lot of you adapted to; and recently having the Oil temp gauge + oil thermostat installed where the clock is - not my idea - but sure does let you know when your engine is actually warm!
I'm going to add some more dials to clearly know what is going on in the engine bay.

Now clearly trying to not destroy the interior feel and deviate too much - i'm thinking batt level - for those who have the tell tale signs of the 100amp fuse going - this will actually give accurate readings, another coolant sensor, as mine seems to lie! i've still got the clock, but trying to think if there was anything else?

fuel pressure? i don't want to go over the top. three will do and they will go under the dash, roughly where the pic illustrates but they will be tucked right under (i cannot get them under just right now, so not fast and furious. Thoughts?

That picture is scarey, I've pretty much fitted my extra gauges as you have them there.

They just fit, with a bit of a shove underneath the top dash and above the radio slot. I've cut away where the centre two air vents were to get the gauges to sit back in. I bought a leven dash and they kindly gave me some extra metal which I used to mount the gauges in. I made a couple of sides and covered them in leather, looks ok but only Mk 1. Got no pics at the moment as the car is away being sprayed.

I've got battery and oil temp gauges but I just had speedy cable make me a bespoke supercharger pressure gauge with the TVR logo. So I may end up with 3 gauges up there.

Rich.

[caduceus]

Less is more imho

[BCA]

Dean, sorry - I completely forgot about this.

drop me an email with your mobile number and I'll send you a photo from my phone, not sure how to get one up here easily.

[dean_ratpac]

Nice work, I've got the leven dash to go in, but not had the time to fit. I have fabricated pods, coolant temp Volts and oil temp, I was thinking about putting the fuel up there?

Supercharger pressure sounds nice. I've had the idea for a while - getting parts and time together is another thing! Looking forward to seeing your setup! Post pics when your car is back.

Edited by dean_ratpac on Wednesday 13th May 10:33

[diycerb]

dean_ratpac said:

Nice work, I've got the leven dash to go in, but not had the time to fit. I have fabricated pods, coolant temp Volts and oil temp, I was thinking about putting the fuel up there?

Supercharger pressure sounds nice. I've had the idea for a while - getting boys and time together is another thing! Looking forward to seeing your setup! Post pics when your car is back.

Here you go managed to find an old picture.



Like I say, Its only MkI, I think the sides need to be smaller to make it look more factory. MKII maybe more of a horizontal half moon, curved edge pointing down to contrast with the dash pod, trimmed in the blue leather.

Supercharger gauge turned up today, not quiet as I wanted it but hopefully Speedy cables will sort it, looks good though.



What do your pods look like...oh er

Rich.