Dashboard Minimalism - 5 clocks into 3

[johndglynn]

Thought I would share this as might be of interest.

I recently sold my spotless SC Cabriolet, so have been consoling myself by getting on with jobs on The Orange, my Carrera 3.0. Got to get cracking now as Classic Le Mans and a 10-day Euro Tour with little brother is only 6/7 weeks away and there is quite a bit to do.

First job was fit the lightweight hi-torque starter I got last year, not too difficult. New one weighs under 4 kilos so a nice saving. Fires the car straight up on the Odyssey battery I run. Just in time as old one had been sticking a bit.





Second job was also cool. I am going to fit a pair of face vents to my dash, like the Tuthill SC I drove last year (pic above), so I needed to lose one more gauge (already lost the clock and have the RSR blank there). For my 40th bday I commissioned North Hollywood to make me a custom triple gauge like the 914/6s, with fuel, oil temp and oil pressure. I wanted the temp in numbers rather than quadrants and the pressure in bar rather than psi. Forgot to specify degrees C for the oil but I don't mind that too much. I wanted it with a black face, black bezel and typeset to match the bumper-style 911 clocks. This is how it came out:



Fitting was easy enough. Had to swap the oil temp sender, so did that and changed the connector. Then take out the old gauges which were still labelled from when they were reassambled during the car's restoration. Swap the wires, lose the oil level gauge wiring, job done. Quite pleased with it though North Hollywood annoyed me a bit: sent the unit to Texas second class surface uninsured and managed to put a tiny crack in the coating on the face around and on one of the little light shrouds (green one), not a disaster just annoying. It cost a small fortune so wanted it perfect.





Once the gauge was in, I dropped in a Ford vent a kindly Pelicanite sent me last year. My dash has been retrimmed, so not the slick fit others have enjoyed. I need a pair for mine, so have given it to another Pelican buddy of mine as fits in his.

I also put my Momo RSR/Carrera Cup wheel on to see what it looked like. I'm going to experiment with the spacing of it over the next few months to get it just where I want it. Will definitely be retrimmed in leather at some stage, as not keen on the feel of the alcantara, and am missing the thick leather-rimmed Momo Jacky Ickx wheel I gave to the buyer of the SC as a good luck present. After the bottom pic was taken, I fried the lock surround with a heat gun to rise the oils up and get it back to black.





Have used the setup for a few miles now, the wheel is nice but rim a touch too thin so the retrim is coming. New gauge is good, though one warning light is partially obscured and I miss my reserve light as I run very low fuel all the time. If it continues to bother me I'll fit an LED one someplace - I have a plan for that.

Looking forward to the vents, should be in stock this week, then just need to plumb them. Lots more to do.

[mjshira]

very cool. I did a similar treatment to my car also, made a huge improvement in airflow to the cabin. thanks for sharing.

[Todd Simpson]

Looks good John.

I also have two of those Ford vents waiting to go in my dash. The plan is to hook them up to the passenger side of my fresh air blower. Then I can have air blowing on my legs and coming through the vents.

I'm using small VDO guages where the radio used to be. I like your solution better though.

[Ove]

Nice work John

That custom gauge is very cool!
I also got one of the F*rd vents, but haven't got around to mounting it yet.

Will you keep the stock vent system? If not you can block off the vent control panel opening in the dash to take the minimalist theme one step further. Here's a pic of my dash. The two switches are not functional yet. They are intended for the footwell blowers I have purchased, but not installed. The last hole is for a low fuel light in case I decide to delete the fuel (and oil) level gauge.

[johndglynn]

Originally Posted by Ove

Will you keep the stock vent system? If not you can block off the vent control panel opening in the dash to take the minimalist theme one step further.

Beautiful work as always brother

I have the no-vent dash retrimmed in leather, and I really need controllable face level airflow for track days and road trips. Got 10 days coming up on the road with little brother for Classic Le Mans etc, and he will need some air to his side if the temps from last time stand any chance of being repeated, so I am thinking maybe route to him via third vent in much modified glovebox.

I like the vent control panel, but then I have a heated windscreen to go in and almost always use the heat solely to my feet, so who knows what I might come up with for it. For the time being it stays. The little heated front screen switch is going to the right of the column, and the reserve light/additional oil pressure light will go amongst the clocks (if I fit the lights).

I may have an adjustable pedal box coming also and the bias control will go on the dash, so lots more to do. Keep up the good work Ove!

[Highfield]

Great write-up as always John. Where do you get the time from for all these mods, along with your websites, blogs, magazines etc :-)

Ian

[dshepp806]

Very nice writeup. Thanks for the time.

Best,

[johndglynn]

Thanks James, Todd, Ian and Doyle, the feedback is much appreciated.

Now I have just one 911, I am throwing myself into it when I have any spare time, as lots of parts in the garage that need fitting: MSD, 226mm fan & lightweight alternator, harnesses, alarm and central locking (lightweight LOL), brakes, 15" Fuchs etc. I am selling all my other stuff and just going to hot rod this thing to oblivion.

[DW SD]

Fine job, John and Ove!!
Is the extra air conditioned?
or just vented from the cowl air box?

Doug

[EarlyPorsche]

My car came that way

[SCWDP911]

Very cool John.

[PCA7GGR]

Anyone have the p/n for the Ford vent or year/model that it's from? Thanks

[ianc]

After the bottom pic was taken, I fried the lock surround with a heat gun to rise the oils up and get it back to black

Hey, does that really work? Mine looks like ****e. Got any after pics?

Great writeup!

ianc

[johndglynn]

Originally Posted by ianc

Hey, does that really work? Mine looks like ****e. Got any after pics?

Usually works fine, but is not for the faint-hearted. I learnt how to do it in car detailing school 20 years ago, am a bit rusty but it came up OK. The surround didn't like it much though and was into partial meltdown at the rear before it started to darken (at 2 very thin points).

Soon as it had gone, I chucked it in a bucket of a water to cool. Bare skin on hellishly hot plastic was not part of plan A, but then you don't want to risk denting it with tools either. Was worth a bit of pain



Not the greatest pic but you get an idea.

[Trotskyite]

Looks great! While I am at it, where did you get the cool key fob? I live a few thousand miles away, so I don't feel too bad copying your style.

[johndglynn]

Originally Posted by Trotskyite

Looks great! While I am at it, where did you get the cool key fob?

A buddy of mine in California sent it to me: say no more - nudge nudge, wink wink

[johndglynn]

Originally Posted by DW SD

Fine job, John and Ove!!
Is the extra air conditioned? or just vented from the cowl air box?

Thanks Doug, Ove did his like this, not settled on mine yet, as the rally cars route theirs from the front of the car and doesn't take up much room. I will probably just duct it from the cowl, through a filter and into a homemade manifold with a decent blower fan attached, working off the stock slider. Have to figure that part out fully yet.

My early setup will be just getting some fresh air in for sunny France!

[eimkeith]

hear, hear!

[Highfield]

Originally Posted by johndglynn

Thanks James, Todd, Ian and Doyle, the feedback is much appreciated.

Now I have just one 911, I am throwing myself into it when I have any spare time, as lots of parts in the garage that need fitting: MSD, 226mm fan & lightweight alternator, harnesses, alarm and central locking (lightweight LOL), brakes, 15" Fuchs etc. I am selling all my other stuff and just going to hot rod this thing to oblivion.

John,

Only ever had one at a time :-)

I am in the same boat, as I have refurbished bilstein struts and Tuthill revalved inserts, turbo tie rods, refurbished 'S' alloy calipers, 26mm rear t-bars, new sprint rear bilsteins and adjustable spring plates on the shelf in my garage, all crying out to be fitted, but will have to wait until after ny Donington and SIlverstone track days and the DDK September tour of Wales.

Keep those articles coming, and the column in Total 911 - how about a column in Drivesr Republic ?

Ian

[Wavey]

Originally Posted by PCA7GGR

Anyone have the p/n for the Ford vent or year/model that it's from? Thanks

Part numbers are in this thread:

http://66.236.61.177/showthread.php?t=362314&highlight=ford+vent

Nice work, John & Ove!