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[DetroitTurbo]

Also, all of the mounting holes are on the same plane except the bottom right. The top left one has its own built-in spacer.

[acannell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gringo Bandido this help?

Yes those are useful thanks!

[DetroitTurbo]

Had a few posts last page that might have got lost in the mix, IDK if you missed them.

[acannell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitTurbo Also, all of the mounting holes are on the same plane except the bottom right. The top left one has its own built-in spacer.

Okay..heres a plan:

-Mail me your existing plate. Ill measure and copy the mounting hole pattern from it. BTW, is its mounting hole pattern correct? How accurate did it come out? (You dont have the drawing?) If possible, include one of the mounting screws so I can get ones with the right threads.

-The version I will attempt to make will be a 1/4" thick ABS plate with the same outside dimensions as your final adapter, without the mounting tab on the bottom. It will have the same mounting hole pattern. It will have three 2" diameter holes in it for gauges. (thats the right diameter, right?).

-I need to know the location of the edges of the "window" formed by the dash cover on the surface of this adapter, in order to center and space the gauge holes. You could use a sharp pencil and with the adapter and dash cover installed, trace the window the cover makes on the adapter. Then I'll measure it when it gets here.

-I wont be able to make it have a 15 degree angle. It would have to be thicker, and its alot more complex to set up my mill for that. It wont have any reliefs either. Just a simple plate with holes.

-It will use only the three upper/left mounting holes, with spacers and long screws.

-I'll make the first one and ship it to you with your original adapter for free, whether or not I decide to sell them.

Yes I go through the thread very carefully, I got your posts.

One more thing..how come our vendors dont make this? Seems like a pretty simple product to come up with. Alot simpler than pillar pods.

[DetroitTurbo]

Sounds good to me, will mail the plate tomorrow morning after I scribe the opening on it.

The angle doesn't matter, i mentioned it in passing and he just did it because it was cool.

standard gauge size is 2 1/16" (52mm), but some are a couple thousandths bigger or smaller for some reason. All 3 of my holes are slightly different and fit my 3 different gauges perfectly. if the holes are too small for each person they can always use sandpaper to open them up a bit.

[DetroitTurbo]

And yeah the mounting holes are exact. Ill include a mounting screw, its your standard sheet metal screw that holds in radios/speakers/bezels in any car.

[acannell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitTurbo And yeah the mounting holes are exact. Ill include a mounting screw, its your standard sheet metal screw that holds in radios/speakers/bezels in any car.

I'll make this first one whatever hole size you like for the gauges.

And you are okay with me selling whatever I come up with right? Forgot to ask!

[DetroitTurbo]

Sure dude I dont' need a cut or anything like that. Maybe cut me a little deal on the shifter parts but other than that I'm just happy to help out.

Once you get the finished plate back to me I'll take allot of pics for you so it will be easier to sell.

[acannell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitTurbo Sure dude I dont' need a cut or anything like that. Maybe cut me a little deal on the shifter parts but other than that I'm just happy to help out. Once you get the finished plate back to me I'll take allot of pics for you so it will be easier to sell.

Awesome thanks!

I think I'll owe GringoBandido a free one too. Give me a little while to make these guys, I'm swamped right now with machining, but I like this idea so I'll do it as soon as I can.

Im letting your shifter project sink in slowly...i dont want to jump into it until i have a solid plan. When you get a chance can you take pictures of the rod it actuates?

[DetroitTurbo]

Ok, sent out the parts to you, but I took some pictures first. I outlined the hole in the dash cover, and as you can see below my gauge positioning was off. I also sent you the original gauge that goes there so you can take better measurements.



In the above image you can see that its a bit crooked, so the piece you make will have to be re-aligned according to the mounting holes and have the gauge holes centered in the opening. I think this can be achieved by moving up the left mounting holes about 1.5mm. The gauge centering will be a bit trickier but should be easy with the opening scribed in relation to the holes.

In this next image you can see that the opening just barely peeks past the right side, so when you design your new piece keep that in mind. I think when you level the plate to the opening it will fix that.



And here is the shift rod.

[acannell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitTurbo Ok, sent out the parts to you, but I took some pictures first. I outlined the hole in the dash cover, and as you can see below my gauge positioning was off. I also sent you the original gauge that goes there so you can take better measurements. In the above image you can see that its a bit crooked, so the piece you make will have to be re-aligned according to the mounting holes and have the gauge holes centered in the opening. I think this can be achieved by moving up the left mounting holes about 1.5mm. The gauge centering will be a bit trickier but should be easy with the opening scribed in relation to the holes. In this next image you can see that the opening just barely peeks past the right side, so when you design your new piece keep that in mind. I think when you level the plate to the opening it will fix that. And here is the shift rod.

Excellent thanks!

Once I draw it up in solidworks, I'll send you a PDF that you can print at 1:1 scale, tape to some cardboard, and test-install to see if it all looks good. Ill draw the window on it and gauge hole outlines and have hole centers so you can mount it correctly.

[DetroitTurbo]

Sweet I was trying to figure out a way we could test it but that's perfect!

[Gringo Bandido]

Looking at that 3 gauge bezel you're attempting to make..
I'm wondering if making it a 2 gauge cluster instead would be less work or more?
Not trying to change your idea, just curious as I would like one with only two and would even pay for one.

I'm thinking exactly the same thing you have pictured except omit the last gauge opening on the right-hand side.

[acannell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gringo Bandido Looking at that 3 gauge bezel you're attempting to make.. I'm wondering if making it a 2 gauge cluster instead would be less work or more? Not trying to change your idea, just curious as I would like one with only two and would even pay for one. I'm thinking exactly the same thing you have pictured except omit the last gauge opening on the right-hand side.

I should be able to do that no problem. The tool paths for the gauge holes will probably end up being completely independent and I can just change the coordinates. Plus, other people may want a two, or even one gauge version.

Also, Detroit Turbo and Gringo Bandido: I can add other holes really easily if you want LED holes or whatever. Just give me coordinates and diameters. This should be a one tool machining path so I literally just program in the coordinates and let it go.

Getting the mounting hole pattern and window relationship right, and the spacer/standoffs figured out, will be the tricky part of this project. And really, those things should be easy, so, hopefully this goes pretty smoothly.

If I add one tool change, I can draw text or graphics in the front surface too, which should also be easy.

So figure out your LED holes or gauge hole locations or text or whatever you want..you can make the measurements relative to the window.

The text is experimental, I'm not sure what endmill I'll use or what the text will look like, or the minimum font size, so just list everything you might want and I'll try things out.

[DetroitTurbo]

You may have to take in consideration for the gauge bezels too. The biggest one I've seen is the AEM wideband (my middle gauge). As far as the LEDs go, I'm not sure I even want them anymore, they would have to be done really nice for me to worry about it. Like countersunk behind so they are just behind the faceplate and not sticking out, that way they will light up but not blind you at night.