Nice idea for a modern gaugecluster

[Ange]

Maybe I'll make this a Project for my 3s in the future. With how cheap and good the tablets are nowdays and obd2 compatible.



Next I had a play with the dash. I had another think about how to achieve it. The original tablet I bought wasn't up the the job, it was too slow, and out of date. The programs I need didn't work, and for the life of me I couldn't get it to flash a custom ROM (being a no name brand, it doesn't any online guides on how to do it). So I plurged and bought a nexus 7 tablet.

https://play.google.com/store/device...us_7_8gb&hl=en

The thing is fantastic, it's got voice command, so I'll be able to say, "navigate to north adelaide." And it automatically beings up the navigation app, and auto brings up the directions. It'll also be able to play MP3's, movies, and internet radio. Great little tablet.

For the tech savvey, I've set up tasker, so when the power it to the device, it'll automatically turn on, skip the open screen, and auto load the speedo app. When the power is off, it'll go into airport mode, and screen down, with a 1/4 cpu being used. It should be able to stay in this mode for a week or two without power. I'll see how it goes.

For the non tech savvy, I turn the key, it turns on, into the speedo, I turn the key off, it goes off.
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz23/ColumBlack-Byron/DSCN1657.jpg

Just going to be annoying to have to keep it in the car, I'm having a little bit too much fun playing with it at the moment. Might need another...

Anyway, I had a bit more of a rethink on the speedo cluster, I'm going to want all the lights for engine problems, indicators, hi-beams, ect. So I thought the best way would be to find another dash and get that to work.

I wanted something simple, so I had a hunt around you pull it, and found the japanese section, and discovered the excels to have an almost perfect speedo cluster for what I needed.
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz23/ColumBlack-Byron/DSCN1656.jpg

The wiring is also pretty simple, so I can sort it out easily.
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz23/ColumBlack-Byron/DSCN1658.jpg

I left the bottom collection of lights together in one piece, and pulled apart the plastic cluster, moving the fuel and temp gauges away, giving enough room for the tablet.
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz23/ColumBlack-Byron/DSCN1659.jpg


I also made a bit where the tablet fits flush to the other gauges, and has a level behind holding it up.
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz23/ColumBlack-Byron/DSCN1660.jpg

I cut out all the holes again, and with more layers of fiberglass, it's pretty strong.
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz23/ColumBlack-Byron/DSCN1673.jpg

It's still not perfectly symmetrical, I've built up another layer of filler, so I can do more sanding again next weekend. I also gave it a back, the whole thing will be visible from the side, so I needed to build it up towards the back, so it now wraps around the whole rear part.
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz23/ColumBlack-Byron/DSCN1679.jpg
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz23/ColumBlack-Byron/DSCN1680.jpg

"Riggs" My 1964 Ford Falcon Ute (lots of pictures) - Page 8 (http://forums.mightycarmods.com/showthread.php?3794-quot-Riggs-quot-My-1964-Ford-Falcon-Ute-(lots-of-pictures)/page8)

[Maximal]

Cool idea. I wish he had some finished pics though.

[Ange]

yes it's obviously not finished. I just like the idea.

here's another one on the same concept.

VWVortex.com - Project: Custom Gauge Cluster (http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5857132-Project-Custom-Gauge-Cluster/page2&)

[IPD]

wow. welcome to the idea i had in 2006.

[Ange]

wow. welcome to the idea i had in 2006.

so why didnt you do anything about it then chief?

[IPD]

tried. contacted everyone i knew who had any sort of expertise needed. even a few companies--where i just told them i wanted to buy it--i didn't even want to make money on the idea. no bites. the world was NOT ready to ditch 100-year-old analog-style gauges. why, who the fuck knows? i didn't have enough resources or contacts under my belt to press onward. hell, it's been 10 years that i've owned a 3/s, and it's essentially still stock--so that speaks to my motivation.

any wonder why i want to bail on this platform?

[Ange]

stock? damn I thought you had some monster there with how active you are on here. :Bow:

Anyways this isn't too much of an undertaking these days. Since tablets can be wireless(or Cable if you dont trust wireless) connected to the obd2 port. And there are tons of programs and that can have you customize it to how you want it.

The only hard parts are the fiberglassmolding to get it neat looking in the gauge cluster. I Think a 7" screen would be a good fit not sure if there is room for a larger one in our gaugeclusters. Then rerouting the turn signals and fuel gauge is another problem. The middle dummy lights are not that important and can be deleted (imo)

[mehrshadvr4]

Cool idea. I prefer oem look so this is what I'm doing to my car. :D
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/q88/s720x720/1044280_10151755109478594_413724718_n.jpg

[Ange]

Cool idea. I prefer oem look so this is what I'm doing to my car. :D
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/q88/s720x720/1044280_10151755109478594_413724718_n.jpg

nice. But no dummy lights?

[anyonebutme]

dummy lights are for dummy's?

[CoopKill]

Dummy electrodes hooked to specifically sensative areas!

I like the pad idea, and the thought of having logging at the touch of a finger is awesome as well. Now if only evoscan would conform to a tablet.

[Ange]

Dummy electrodes hooked to specifically sensative areas!

I like the pad idea, and the thought of having logging at the touch of a finger is awesome as well. Now if only evoscan would conform to a tablet.

yeah.

and ecuflash aswell. that would be awesome.

[IPD]

The problem I could never figure out was how to program it to read sensor inputs correctly for whatever model of car it would be installed in. I wasn't shooting for something 3/s specific--I wanted to create aftermarket plug & play. I mean, without relying on GPS, how do you get an accurate speedo read (what happens when the weather is shitty and you can't find a signal?) Or what about oil pressure?

How do you modify the readout for different colors? Different layouts? Round, Bar, Line or digital numeric readouts? Gauge placement? What if you wanted different motifs to mimic the OEM layouts of different "classic" cars?

[mehrshadvr4]

nice. But no dummy lights?
I have thought about that as well. I'm using bike's dash lights for high beam and turn signal and some other brand lights with logo on them for hand brake and seat belts. for the rest I have no use for them because I already have a gauge for them or I removed them out of the car completely. It was a bitch to look for lights like these. Took me hours online to get them. other people use just regular lights that are big and don't sit flush with the panel and that looks so ghetto.
http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/images/image_34552_300.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RFCTAqp%2BL._SX300_.jpg
I prefer this method over using it in the dash. people put the ipad in the center console.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQe0Hw7rOP1lJ92A0HQJJQYlA92dUjX0 UhS9pfP1CCvhYkwfrNG

[CoopKill]

The problem I could never figure out was how to program it to read sensor inputs correctly for whatever model of car it would be installed in. I wasn't shooting for something 3/s specific--I wanted to create aftermarket plug & play. I mean, without relying on GPS, how do you get an accurate speedo read (what happens when the weather is shitty and you can't find a signal?) Or what about oil pressure?

How do you modify the readout for different colors? Different layouts? Round, Bar, Line or digital numeric readouts? Gauge placement? What if you wanted different motifs to mimic the OEM layouts of different "classic" cars?Is why evoscan would be brilliant if could be written to a pad version.

[TUFFTR]

Cool idea. I prefer oem look so this is what I'm doing to my car. :D
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/q88/s720x720/1044280_10151755109478594_413724718_n.jpg

now that, IS NICE!!!!

[IPD]

looks a lot like what stealthII did...

p.s.
infotainment systems are dying off. mfg's are realizing that charging $2000 for something that's unfamiliar to navigate & does the same job as a $500 smartphone...isn't a winning prospect.

[Ange]

looks a lot like what stealthII did...

p.s.
infotainment systems are dying off. mfg's are realizing that charging $2000 for something that's unfamiliar to navigate & does the same job as a $500 smartphone...isn't a winning prospect.

2014 corvette C7 disagrees. :D

http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/51/blowin-in-the-wind-2014-chevrolet-corvette-c7-features-supercharger-boost-gauge-top-image-photo-504405-s-original.jpg

[IPD]

yeah...NOW. the tech to do led/lcd instrument dash cluster has been around for a decade. i'm glad to see ford and chevy finally getting their asses in gear, but it's been long overdue.

p.s.
DailyTech - Drivers Want to Use Smartphones in Cars, Not Infotainment Systems' Software (http://www.dailytech.com/Drivers+Want+to+Use+Smartphones+in+Cars+Not+Infota inment+Systems+Software/article31997.htm)

[Ange]

yeah...NOW. the tech to do led/lcd instrument dash cluster has been around for a decade. i'm glad to see ford and chevy finally getting their asses in gear, but it's been long overdue.

p.s.
DailyTech - Drivers Want to Use Smartphones in Cars, Not Infotainment Systems' Software (http://www.dailytech.com/Drivers+Want+to+Use+Smartphones+in+Cars+Not+Infota inment+Systems+Software/article31997.htm)
dude the tablet is just meant to be there as a gauge replacement. it will be installed and setup purely for that. not as an "infotainment system". just to show the mph/rpm gauge mainly + Engine info from the ecu. Can be setup nicely with apps for the androids.

the center dash 2din opening can be used for the Music, gps and all that.