Instrument Info (dash)

[toymachine]

Just wondering what to expect if i take out the gauges in my TD. Like can u diconnect and take it right out etc. Also how and what would u paint it (can u paint behind the needle? what about the numbers..etc?), im thinking white where the black is. Also how would i go about changing to blue light behind the dash? can u use those sleeves or do they have the same size globes in blue somewhere. Thanks heaps in advance

[Wfc]

i dont know much about the old style dash as i have a TF. But what i did was take out the culster take out the guages. then take the needles off and unclip the plate that has the numbering on it.
then i simply just placed the face on the scanner and scanned it in. now that i had a accurate picture to work from i just inverted the colours blabla. ended up with a white background with blue numbers.
i did this all in photoshop btw as it preserved the natural size of the picture.
then i just printed it out on to some standard 80gsm paper, cut to size, carefully stuck it on with a little tape and then put it all back together.
looks pretty good, and i have been asked where i bourght it from lol!

Cheers
Wfc

[Wfc]

Also if you want to put blue or any colour LED in replacement of your globes get ones that are at least 5mm preferably 10mm with the widest viewing angle possible(35 degrees is good). i suggest red as blue 10mm leds with a wide viewing angle can become very expensive, but red are dirt cheap. you will also need to find the wire that lights up the illumination to the instrument cluster and put a resistor in line with it as most leds run at 1.5V for red and about 4.5v for blue, so about 350ohm and 150ohm respectivly if i have done the calculations in my head right, but hey its 1:17am so i could be wrong lol

Cheers
wfc

[FLYINLoW]

hey wfc u wanna send me the scanned pic of the dash cluster ??? nadamson@optusnet.com.au

[Tex]

Can you also send it to tex@onedollarshort.zzn.com
Cheers

[Frederick Stienheld]

just for fun wanna send it to gemini@qeidrafting.com as well.
Thanks

[PhilC]

sounds good can u send it to me aswell?
philcoss@yahoo.com
cheers-phil

[GeminiCoupe]

what resolution did you scan it at to keep the same size? thinking about doing this except the TX/C/D cluster has raised numbers on it...

nick-

[Wfc]

i cant remember what resolution i scanned it in, i just used the highest i had available at the time, but i used photoshop so it preservered the natural size of the image. i think that is the key point.
I will have a look on my hard drive to see if i still have those pics and if i do i will send themout to everyone
Cheers
Wfc

[Wfc]

Hi,
had a look on my harddrive and i think those pics are long gone as i did do it about a year or so ago. I will scan them in again and write up a message for the R&D section with photos of the finished product and everything as soon as i finish my uni exams(2 weeks).
Cheers
wfc

[toymachine]

Bringing up the point about raised numbers got me thinking, that if you sprayed the whole face, you could stil see where all the numbers are then somehow colour them in with a paint or permenant marker!?!? Just a thought any other ideas to add?...

[GeminiCoupe]

Thought about that too....just say you want white background and black numbers, spray your face black then spray over the top (after its dryed ofcourse) with white. Before it drys, rub the raised edges (ur numbers) with a wet rag or something to get the paint off them, that way the black paint underneath them shows thru.

any1 game to try it?

nick-

[toymachine]

I'm up for it! What paint do i use?? Just normal shit outta a spray can? What about preparation? Anything in particular?

[YellaTE]

by the way most leds run at 3v and a 560ohm is best to bring it down from 12v