Finding some space in the 911 dash array

[Jack Olsen]

The 911 is a small car, and the analog gauges give you the information you need in a pretty clear -- and prioritized -- way (RPM above all). My particular street-and-track 911 is always struggling to not become too much of a track car. I hate the look of those updated digital gauges, but I also see the value in the flexibile and digital approach, especially with newfangled technology like predictive lap times.



A while back I got a Dash 3 display to use with my car's Race Technology data logger. After spending the better part of a year working out whether the necessary firmware updates would fry my early-in-the-development cycle data logger, we got the bugs worked out and the old logger and the new display talking to each other. It's a pretty small display, but I really only want the laptime and predictive laptime functions showing when I'm on the track.

The problem has been, where to put it? My first idea was to use a second ash tray as a snap-in base to hold it. But the angle is not great, and the ash tray is a long way from the driver's eyes.

Today I came up with the idea that there is a space in front of the tach, down at the base of that gauge, where I could fit the thing. Here's a picture with the steering wheel removed.



As you can see, I've already found a little bit of space for the Valentine 1 remote display. That thing is ugly, but important.

I didn't want to drill anything to mount this new display, and there really isn't a good surface for two-sided tape. So I came up with the idea of having a piece of metal held captive under the gauge gasket, curving around in an inverted C-shape with a hole for the tripod-screw mount on the back of the display.

Here's the bracket:



And here's the display in place. It obscures part of the tach and speedo, but it lets me see the tach from 1K all the way to redline and -- the picture makes it look like it blocks more than it does -- I can also see the entire run of the speedo.



The problems? Well, I can't easily see the tach below 1K. So if I'm curious about my RPM at idle, I need to move my head slightly. And the display blocks the high beam indicator light. I haven't made a decision yet, but I think I could swap the high beam blue indicator with the running-lights-only indicator (the green one at the top of the speedo).

[r_towle]

Dash vents?

[TRE Cup]

Good idea Jack. You don't block the a/c vent and the C shape looks to be kept captive by the tach's rim. Nice solution

[kuehl]

Great topic Jack.

I've been using PLX Devices combination single gauge for the past 3 years, displaying AFR, Boost and Temps. I have their single OLED display mounted alike Jack's.

There are pro's and con's with their design: the installation is rather simple, the display is large enough to see but small enough it does not block vision of the stock instrument gauges; one could mount it into the clock space or have the OLED display custom installed into the tach (pricey), at the time I purchased my unit they did not supply a simple display mount so I made a simple one, today they offer the mount. You can purchase additional display's if you have a need to have individual sensor data on each display.

Their component module approach of daisey chaining the modules is a bit unique, reminiscent of the IBM PC Jr. micro channel bus, but it can add up in terms of total cubic inches of space. I'm using their AFR, Boost/Vac, and Temp sensor modules. Each module box is the size of a pack of smokes. Plus you need the display module. So there are 3 boxes mounted in the engine bay power panel area and one up front. You just have to run one supplied cable from the engine compartment to the front cockpit area.

You can program in 'alarm' points, select which sensor items you wish to display in what order, change display colors, text, colors, gauge design, but the control, a button device the size of key fob you an have nearby or mount in the cockpit if you wish, is a bit antiquated and the procedure is a bit linear; you have to do things in series and not mess up else you start over.

With any display, larger is better when is comes to seeing more data items, so there are limitations with the PLX display.

Although the OLED display has some nice colors and contrast any refracted light in the cockpit over contrasts the OLED's display. I had considered sputtering an anti-reflection coating on the displays face but there are only so many hours in the day; hence I adapted my display with a simple solution (pic to be posted).

A critical missing item for data loggers with the PLX is 'RPM'. From a marketing stand point the developer started off with a fantastic concept but he missed one of the key elements .... RPM's. I spent a good deal of time discussing the issue with their sales and technical dept's but they seemed clueless to 'our' sector of the market ... old hot rods lacking OBDII; their OBII version does capture RPM. I wrote the owner a few times but he did not respond (I did not take this as arrogance but rather he is someone off in another world, to each his own). Most of PLX's effort today is directed at later generation data access (OBII), and the 'rice rocket' market. Its unfortunate. I have a neighbor next door that specializes in muscle car blocks, the age group seems to fall between 50 and 70, and they would love the simplicity and price points of this product. In the end I rationalized what my primary objective was for the purchase: AFR/Air Temp/Boost, the AFR is the most critical for my application. When it comes to AFR there are many supplier's out there, and many claims to accuracy. I have tested my setup against a few others and I'm satisfied with the resolution and tolerance. Am I fully content with the PLX product? For the moment, I'm always open to explore something better; this is the second product of this type we have tested.







In the past 10 years the market for data/display devices has evolved so much we are fortunate. Let the good times roll !

[kodioneill]

Just a suggestion: you could take out the clock take it apart make a face plate for it and reinstall in the clocks original position.

[cdrik915]

Or using a Golf instruments panel , dedicated , for the 3 originals gauges .

It takes place in the radio housing perfectly.


Volts , AFR , oil temp' .............or what you want.

And for the radio missing , singing is THE solution.

[911 Rod]

Heads up display would be nice.

[kuehl]

Originally Posted by kodioneill

Just a suggestion: you could take out the clock take it apart make a face plate for it and reinstall in the clocks original position.

Many owners have installed other gauges in the clocks position.
Some like to keep the original analog clock. All depends upon
how important time is to you. Frankly time is going by so quickly
at this point it, lol.

It all depends upon how important the data is and how often you
need to glance at it. Having to look to the right, taking your eyes
off the center running position, might be a distraction for some drivers.

Ideally, a heads-up display comes to mind.
I have my gauge located directly in front of me.
I can see the full tach swing behind it. Is it perfect? Nope.
Is it easy to install? Yes.

I've also explored putting the display itself (a small square OLED that is mounted in the round face) into the tach, alike what "In Your Face" gauges was doing. That would be a cleaner install but pricey. We tried one in our car. It looked nifty. But we had issues with light refraction.
And, I kinda like the 'camera lens shade' adaption we did because it cuts down on the light refractions and the "aperture" the tube creates brings the display into focus.

[Jack Olsen]

Agreed. I've seen some awsome examples of integrating more informaiton into the existing gauges, but that's expensive.

What I like about my bracket is that I can easily snap it out and be back to stock. I suspect that this display technology will continue to improve, and I don't want to over-commit to the current piece.

[quattrorunner]

A pillar mount