Torana SS

[immortality]

Bloody hell mate, very nicely done.

[VK_3800]

Had a go at modelling some mounts for the gauge panel and they came out pretty well, will be heaps strong enough.


Add some holes with a bit of aluminium sheet around them. Once the gauges and adapters are mounted this isn't so flimsy.


Dummy assembly.


With surrounds and extra LEDs.


It all screws in exactly the same as the original cluster.


Proof that it fits.


Just need to blow it all apart for sanding and painting now. The surrounds seem to be quite captive just pushed into place, but if they need a little help I'll just add a couple of dobs of epoxy on the outside where they meet the locating rings. No modifications to original parts at all which makes a change!

[vlad01]

That's mint!

I've been thinking of similar route to add a small gauge pod on the corner of the VN-VP cluster surround that is profiled to fit the shape of the surround itself but have no 3D designing or printing skills or knowledge. Although I have used a commercial 3D printing facility a few times before for repro parts.

All the current 3D printed solutions on the market for VN-VS focus on the gauges placed in the console or radio trim which is completely useless from a driving point of view.

I have seen some great solutions for old 4x4s. They often have a replacement A pillar trim with small gauge spots molded into the trim. My nephew has one in his 4Runner and it's really good. Looks factory and is neat and not in the way and in view all of the time.


I mainly just want to add a 54mm customized programmable oil pressure gauge for one of my future projects. Maybe a fuel pressure would also be handy.

All of the universal mounts for these gauges are cheap and horrible looking.

[immortality]

That's mint!

I've been thinking of similar route to add a small gauge pod on the corner of the VN-VP cluster surround that is profiled to fit the shape of the surround itself but have no 3D designing or printing skills or knowledge. Although I have used a commercial 3D printing facility a few times before for repro parts.

All the current 3D printed solutions on the market for VN-VS focus on the gauges placed in the console or radio trim which is completely useless from a driving point of view.

I have seen some great solutions for old 4x4s. They often have a replacement A pillar trim with small gauge spots molded into the trim. My nephew has one in his 4Runner and it's really good. Looks factory and is neat and not in the way and in view all of the time.


I mainly just want to add a 54mm customized programmable oil pressure gauge for one of my future projects. Maybe a fuel pressure would also be handy.

All of the universal mounts for these gauges are cheap and horrible looking.

Agreed. I had non critical gauges down the bottom (oil temp, volts ) but put oil pressure in a Autometer cup on the steering column cover.

new oil pressure gauge with g-tech on the windscreem.jpg (159.21 KiB) Viewed 5298 times

It's something I really have about more modern cars, a lack of info on the dash. My VH has all sorts of info in the standard dash cluster.

[Charlescrown]

Man I love your thoughts and skills with this car. That dash looks OE.

[VK_3800]

Thanks guys, definitely aiming for the might-have-been-factory look.

Nothing exciting today, made a double adapter for oil sensors - going to run pressure and temp to the ECU as well as pressure to the dash gauge.


As you can see I've already relocated the hole on the oil pump to gain clearance to the power steering pump but there's still some room.

[Charlescrown]

That fitting looks nice. I have a fobia abt long brass fittings in cars. My thoughts is brass is brittle and the longer the fitting is the more chance it will eventually break due to vibration. Thats my personal opinion.

[VK_3800]

For reference the sensor holes are only 1/8" NPT, overall its only a couple of inches long. Also fairly solid, the through hole is on the smaller side.

[vlad01]

I was literally thinking about such a fitting as that. 1/4 bsp both ends and a 1/8 npt on the side for a pressure transducer. That way on my engine I can have the stock oil switch sit on top and have a transducer on the side for an oil pressure gauge.

[VK_3800]

I just used 3/4" hex stock. I wouldn't risk 1/4" NPT on the side but should be fine on the top as you say. You could probably buy the off-the-shelf unit with two 1/8" NPT outlets and drill/tap the one larger.