another gauge in vent thread

[glens14a]

Because I've changed my 14a I had some spares so I thought I would move the gauges up to the centre air vents and take some pictures as I did it and do a small step by step guide.
I also took the opportunity to fit new gauges :D

1.
I removed the vents from the panel (four screws and it just unclips) then I cut out the centre section which holds the control for the vent, did this by drilling a line of holes with a small drill bit then used a hacksaw blade to cut it out (sorry no pic of that bit) but this is what was left.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dash1.jpg

2.
I used tin foil to wrap round the panel and used expanding foam to form a new section to hold the pod.
This didn't work as well as I had hoped so kept it for support for the next stage.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dash3.jpg

3.
From time to time at work we build speaker pods and sub boxes, so I used a technique that we use on them.
I cut out a section of thin stretchy cotton cloth bigger than the panel. Normally we would use this on wood so we would use staples but staples were never going to work with the plastic panel.
So starting at the bottom I super glued it along the bottom edge, then when it dried I pulled the cotton cloth tight and super glued it along the top edge and when it dried I did the same side to side and was left with this.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dash4.jpg

4.
Now that's its all nice and tight you mix up some resin, I used fibreglass resin and just brushed it on all over.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dash5.jpg

[glens14a]

5.
Once the resin went off and hardened it became clear that even with the foam filling it didn't hold its shape that well.
It was ok at one side but not the other, so got out the filler and did some blending.
Again once it had gone off I rubbed it down and made sure it was all level.
Next out comes the hole saw and try and drill three holes in a straight line, I didn't make it but its not far off.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashblack2.jpg

6.
I could have added more filler and spent more time getting it perfectly smooth and painted the panel, but I was in too much off a hurry and I didn't have any black paint.
So I had some really good quality carbon film, not the pish crap you get from Halfrauds but some really nice dry 3 weave carbon that's self adhesive.
It's a bit thick but with a hot air gun I heated it up and it was pliable enough to follow the contours.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashcarbon1.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashcarbon2.jpg

7.
Once it cooled down I used a very sharp Stanley blade and cut out the sections for the gauges and the heater controls and switches.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashcarbon4.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashcarbon5.jpg

8.
Trial fit and using a file smooth down the ruff edges and make it fit tight with the dash.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashcarbon6.jpg

[glens14a]

9.
Fit the gauges

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashcarbon15.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashcarbon16.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashcarbon17.jpg

10.
test wire the gauges :D

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/th_dashgauges.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/?action=view&current=dashgauges.flv)

11.
next once the car is running get all the gauges wired up in the car.

[bkvj]

that looks sweet:smitten:

[Egon]

:eek: mad flashing gauges!!
Looks nice mate....:nod:
Like that a lot...

[glens14a]

:eek: mad flashing gauges!!
Looks nice mate....:nod:
Like that a lot...

I only hooked them up for power that's why the boost gauge goes through the roof and the water temp doesnt see any temp so thinks it's wrong.

[Darkside7]

fancy making me one?
where are the screws as I need to remove my surround and paint it?

[glens14a]

fancy making me one?
where are the screws as I need to remove my surround and paint it?

the panel just pops out no screws

[xborninthefight]

:notworthy :notworthy
that looks ace

[Alex]

Thats is cool mate :nod:

[tej]

at least your gauges fire up in sync, one of mine has a very tiny delay

looks good though :)

[d1 rwd]

10 out of 10
:thumbs:

[Topper]

Looks good mate, got an film left? :wave:

[DANCRX19]

Top job mate. nice one :thumbs:

[Ramps]

Looks good :thumbs:


at least your gauges fire up in sync, one of mine has a very tiny delay

looks good though :)

Mine fire up in sync, but one's about a second slow on the shut down sequence :wack:

[glens14a]

Looks good :thumbs:



Mine fire up in sync, but one's about a second slow on the shut down sequence :wack:

did you figure out how to switch off the beep from start up, I had it on for about a day then it started driving me mad every time I switched on the ignition, so now it's all nice and quite :)

thanks for the input guys :thumbs:
here are some more pics from the other thread

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashin1copy.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashin4copy.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashin9copy.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dashin13copy.jpg

[amnesia]

That is SOOO tidy :notworthy

I have a sheet of 3M backed flexible carbon to have a go at mine... any tips, other than use a heat gun and take your time ?

I have a full set of centre console bits to use so my car won't look a mess whilst I do it ;)

[glens14a]

That is SOOO tidy :notworthy

I have a sheet of 3M backed flexible carbon to have a go at mine... any tips, other than use a heat gun and take your time ?

I have a full set of centre console bits to use so my car won't look a mess whilst I do it ;)

No it's really easy to work with, just have a few sharp Stanley knife blades, the radio console is the easiest one to do so start with that but leave the ashtray until the end (I've still not got it right)

Glen

[amnesia]

Did you fold the carbon around the cut-outs, or just leave it flush with the edges ?

I want to keep my fag lighter (for my sat nav) - will it stretch enough to do the recess in the console ?

[glens14a]

Did you fold the carbon around the cut-outs, or just leave it flush with the edges ?

I want to keep my fag lighter (for my sat nav) - will it stretch enough to do the recess in the console ?

I did turn it round the edges but it was to thick for my head unit so I had to trim it back down, I've now cut out the fag lighter cause I also need for sat nav but it won't streatch that much.
I'll take a pic of it for you :thumbs:

[glens14a]

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dash1-1.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m168/glens14a/dash2.jpg

[amnesia]

That looks so :cool:

Gonna have a go at mine tonight... what's the worst that can happen :wack:

:thumbs:

[DANCRX19]

I am clucking to do this now! Going on holiday tommorow and have gotta wait 2 weeks! grrrrrrr

Fantastic job mate! Will that 3m carbon sheet do the trick?

[amnesia]

I have some of this stuff... thing is I'm gonna need 3 sheets to do the whole lot :rolleyes:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100-GENUINE-CARBON-FIBRE-SHEET-SELF-ADHESIVE-30x20cm_W0QQitemZ230143638130QQihZ013QQcategoryZ10 8831QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Will try it tonight on the top console piece and see how I get on.

[Ice 240]

what gauges are thease?