VDO clock vs. Voltmeter

[xiat]

Originally posted by xiat
Excellent suggestions from evereyone....you guys are worth a million!!
Thanks for your help.

Roger

I called and talked to VDO in North Hollywood. $225 bucks to integrate the voltmeter into the tach. A little spendy but it sure looks cool.

Roger

[lhoudyshell]

Type911, really like your solution. At the risk of exposing lack of knowledge, how is the volt portion hooked up? thanks. Lynn

[H20911]

they will do it internally so it will hook up the same.

[tiorio]

Originally posted by xiat
I called and talked to VDO in North Hollywood. $225 bucks to integrate the voltmeter into the tach. A little spendy but it sure looks cool.

Roger

I've got a whole cockpit laid out in my mind with wbO2, A/F, volt...all based on what North Hollywood can do with stock look!

[Wil Ferch]

To gulf908:
Is your unit one of the three I posted in my earlier thread. Here's a post that offers easy comparison-->

cockpit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=VDO%2D332041&N=700+4294822101+4294900134+4294782479+115&autoview=sku
This is 2 1/16" ( 52mm) and edge-lit.

pro-cockpit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=VDO%2D332601&N=700+4294822101+400267+4294765776+115&autoview=sku
This is 2 5/8" ( 67mm) and edge-lit.

Vision:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=VDO%2D332103&N=700+115&autoview=sku
This is 2 1/16" (52mm) and backlit including needle backlighting. No 67mm version of this type is available.

The reason I ask is that the "Vision" looks best to match the OEM instruments, but it's backlit and wouldn't match the lighting of the OEM gauges. The other two ( I think) would match by using perimeter lighting. Correct?

To Jazzbass:
Here's a question on your method. Looks like we can turn your gauge 90 degrees clockwise, and have the readable "band" at the top of the gauge. Inside we can place the guts and face of the 2 1/16" gauge or the guts and face of the 2 5/8" gauge. The bottom band can be "blank" or we can use something else in it. In any case, which "radius" of the band would work better...the 2 1/16" gauge or the 2 5/8" gauge. All we would then need is a junk fuel level gauge. ( In re-reading your answers..it appears a 2 1/16" gauge was used. Maybe simply confirm.)

- Wil

[Porsche_monkey]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch


it's backlit and wouldn't match the lighting of the OEM gauges. The other two ( I think) would match by using perimeter lighting.

- Wil

Don't connect the backlighting and then it will match the factory backlighting.

[Wil Ferch]

OK PBH.....are you serious? What do you do at night ? Thanks for the insight....

- Wil

EDIT...maybe I misunderstood. I'm saying if you install the Vision in one piece ( like gulf908 did)...it has lighting that doesn't match the other gauges.

If you mean I'm using the cannibalized guts in the other method like Jazzbass....then OK...I think I see your point. Sorry.

[jazzbass]

Wil - you can use the 2 1/16th gauge. In fact, I made the gauge markings that are in there by scanning the original gauge face, turning the numbers in Photoshop, and printing the result out on photo paper. I made sure the graduations were exactly the same as the 2 1/16th gauge. Turning the gauge so the volt part was at top would be simpler and make more sense, actually. All you have to do is cut the original face of the 2 1/16th down so it physically fits.

[Joe Bob]

Westach made me a combo volt and CHT meter to replace the clock....150 bucks.

[gulf908]

Will,
I bought the gauge a long time ago and have had it in my previous Carrera before this car.
It sure looks like the #3 gauge which fits in with the other dial colourings for '71.
The lighting is a little brighter/whiter than the OEM gauges but I tell myself the other dials are 36 years old now,but even so the relative difference in brightness is not all that material.
HTH

Cheers,
Dennis.

[Wil Ferch]

Another thought...

If you take Gulf908's approach and insert an aftermarket gauge in a clock blank face... but use the larger 67mm gauge ( 2 5/8") instead of the 52mm ( 2 1/16") gauge....you get a look like Jwetering has here--->

blank for clock hole?

Of course, the Autometer device Jwetering shows is no longer available with a black bezel, only brushed chrome. And...VDO does not make the "Vision" in this size ...

- Wil

[bkreigsr]

my personal favorite, and it's still very visable on the top of the console stack without moving my knees.
(1.5 inch Stewart-Warner)
Bill K

[Wil Ferch]

Maybe w/o having to move your knees.....but no doubt you have to move your eyes or head downward. As I mentioned before, looking for a solution that places an *important* gauge like this one in plain sight along the main instrument panel. If need be...I'd then put a 1 1/2" clock down there, like you did. Must say, however, it does look neat and tidy.

My last post showing a 2 5/8" ( 67mm) unit in the clock blank is to show the relatively shallow "rim" that results compared to Gulf908's approach using the smaller gauge.

Just my opinion......

- Wil

[bkreigsr]

Wil, you can argue this till you're blue in the face.

I personally don't think the volt reading is as 'upper level' worthy as what the factory already put there.

I check to see where the battery charge is before cranking and occasionally during a run to see how the alternator is doing.

I like it there out of the immediate line of sight, and it takes no more moving of the eyes than checking oil pressure and temp once you're used to it.

Bill K

[Thrasher]

Originally posted by dshepp806

rlh930: which models do you refer to? I've an 8500 but don't recall seeing this feature noted in the manual...guess I need to reread tonight. Should this feature be available for my model,..and is accurate as measured by the FLUKE, I'd love to lose the cig mounter meter......

..for now time to correlate what the battery is seeing vs. the cig lighter point ....I suspect the same, within 2 decimal places......proof's in the pudding, eh? We shall see.......

I'll report back with my findings.

My best to all,..

GREAT GROUP!!!

I have the 8500 X50 and it also has the voltage sentry feature - what's even better is that it sounds an audible alarm if voltage falls or rises outside of the normal operating range. To me, this is invaluable because it will give me an audible signal that my fan belt has broken, possibly saving my engine. It will also signal high voltage in the case of a failed regulator, possibly fast enough to save your electronics/battery.

From p. 17 of the 8500 X50 manual :


Pilot V (Vehicle voltage)
In this setting, Passport will continually
display “H” for Highway, “C” for City, and
“A” for Auto, and the vehicle’s voltage. If
the vehicle’s voltage drops below 10.5 volts,
a low voltage warning is displayed, followed
by an audible alert. A high voltage warning
is also given if the voltage goes above 16.5
volts. The high-voltage warning is also
followed by an audible alert.

[dshepp806]

Thanks Thrasher,..my p. 17 doesn't show this feature. It's a manual for mine dated 2004. A review of the data I have unsurps any such feature on my (dated?) version. What's the production year of yours? Sounds like a nice, usable feature...wish I had it!!!

Best,

[dshepp806]

my bad,..

""""""A review of the data I have unsurps any such feature on my (dated?) version. """""",..should read: A review of the data I have unsurps no such feature on my (dated?) version. """"""""""""""


Sorry.

DS

[rlh930]

Originally posted by dshepp806
my (dated?) version.

My 5-year-old non-X50 Passport also has the Pilot V feature that displays voltage. See the EZ-Programming features on Pages 12-14 of the Passport 8500 manual, http://www.escortradar.com/pdf/8500manl.pdf. Enjoy!

[dshepp806]

rlh930:

Those pages brought me home,..thanks! I shall now go try it

As well, my 'best' to your "5-year-old"///...........

[Wil Ferch]

Hey bkreigsr:
I'm not arguing "till blue in the face"...I think I signed off my last post with "just my opinion". Which it is.
- Wil