Cascade Crew

aaron_sK · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 8:43 pm Post subject:

Hey Gabe...

...don't forget about Megan's recommendation letter. Razz

BluFbdy · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:48 pm Post subject:

I may have missed this but what are you doing with your old parts? Still need a good stout t5 before I can get the tpi in

Alphius · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 6:39 pm Post subject:

BluFbdy · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 6:55 pm Post subject:

Ah balls

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:56 pm Post subject:

So how are you doing the throttle cable? I've got ideas but I know you aren't waiting for me!

Alphius · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:05 am Post subject:

If I waited for you I fear I wouldn't get to drive my car again for years. Razz

In order to answer your question I am going to shamelessly link to your very own thread:

I am going to do something similar to Aaron's post HERE. I think my method will result in a little cleaner look than his however, I am not a fan of the EFI clamps holding everything together down there by the firewall. I am going to try to make my cable one piece again, possibly by using EFI line like he did but leaving the clamps off and holding the plastic sheaths to the connecting piece with epoxy instead. It's not like it ever needs to come apart again, right? I am perfectly OK with swaging the cable with a hammer, but I am from Lewis County. Laughing

(It's a pretty backwoods county here in WA where much worse things fly on backyard-lifted trucks all day long)

As far as the more "popular" way like Ian did HERE, I am not a fan because of the ghetto-ness of using a washer and the resulting severe misalignment of the cable just doesn't seem proper. I like the way the thirdgen cable end positions the cable right where it needs to be. I was even reading this guy's thread on TGO and he did the washer thing, then used zip ties to take up the slack in the pedal. Ugh. Seems like a lot of people there end up bending their pedal arms to take up the slack, which also doesn't agree with me.

aaron_sK · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:13 am Post subject:

Lewis County, your home for 2x4's jammed between leaf springs and axles! LMAO

Alphius · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:20 am Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 1:27 pm Post subject:

I made a thirdgen cable work with a chevette and it looked like it belonged. It can't be that tough to make it look good.

Alphius · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject:

So, gauges. I ordered some today. And I ordered SFCs. After I get back from vacation some fun stuff will start happening. My motor should be here shortly after I return as well.

So, I have some nice ideas for my gauge cluster to hopefully make it just about the nicest aftermarket cluster in a Camaro. Let me explain how this will occur:

I enjoy black AutoMeter gauges because I like keeping things looking factory to the untrained eye. White face gauges are dumb looking IMHO, so Sport-Comp was my natural choice in an AutoMeter gauge.

Another thing I really don't like is having gauges unreadable behind the keys and wiper switch like the Covan's Classic panel does with the bottom two gauges, one on each side. Observe the terrible gauge placement:

Symmetry is good. All gauges fitting in the panel is good. I don't want random gauges all over my interior in pods and stuff. I would really like to avoid that. Another thing I tried was using 5" speedo and tach. Nope, not gonna happen with my other criteria. So 3-3/8" gauges are the only way to go and still have a reasonable amount of other gauges in the panel.

Another thing I really like is illustrated here on TGO:
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/posts/fabrication/625326-building-custom-dash-gauge/5089741-post34.html
Badass! Nearly factory looking! I am going to use this method for all of my signal lights since I dislike just having blue, green and red LEDs scattered over the dash. My turn signals, highbeams, Check Engine light and Brake light will all be factory overlays lit from behind.

So here is my planned layout:

This is really the best layout I could think of while keeping all gauges above my imaginary "readable while driving" line and keeping the factory indicators. The voltage is digital because I like the current layout and it can't be symmetric with a round voltage gauge added. Plus who needs a real voltage gauge? Razz

A low-intensity digital readout is fine for that.

The gauge cluster itself will maintain the factory countersunk screw holes by salvaging the original cluster faceplate and cutting the center out, leaving the beveled border edge. I have access to ABS plastic with a similar to factory texture that I will epoxy to the border and drill holes in for the screws to go through and for all the related gauges/lights/etc.

The whole shebang will be built with weatherpack connectors for ease of assembly and removal.

Thoughts?

QwkTrip · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:38 pm Post subject:

These are expensive, but these are the best looking aftermarket gauges I've ever seen. You have got to see some of these lit up at night! And they have combo gauges to save room.

Some of the speedometers have built in GPS.

http://www.speedhut.com/gauges/

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject:

The one aaron has now that I built worked FANTASTIC for me. I did have a 4 spoke awesome 2nd gen wheel though. Picture doesn't convey sitting in car visual though.

[img]http://www.cascadecrew.org/phpBB2/garage.php?mode=view_gallery_item&image_id=671[/img]

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:07 pm Post subject:

Really, we can't link images from the garage section?!

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject:

Oh yeah. Don't put fuel in the middle, if you are running OP in the dash run it in the middle. It's probably the most important gauge in all reality.

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:15 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:23 pm Post subject:

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:25 pm Post subject:

Well, so much for my memory. Laughing

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:28 pm Post subject:

Alphius · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:45 pm Post subject:

Yeah, after I made that diagram I changed my mind and decided to run oil pressure in the middle for that very reason Paul. Good looking out buddy. Very Happy

I didn't care for the two lower gauges being so low in your panel Paul, or the indicator lights just being dots. I think that if I can manage it the factory looking plastic and backlit indicators will look really sweet in my car. Gauges are such a personal thing that I decided to just build my own panel even though Aaron did offer to give me your old one. Laughing

Those Speedhut gauges look pretty cool but they are just as expensive as AutoMeters and I like the Sport-Comp's looks a little better. Plus I already ordered the gauges. Razz

They do look like pretty nice gauges though.

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:52 pm Post subject:

One other thought, don't be tempted to use LEDs for your turn and indicator lights. I had them in my IROC and they are annoyingly bright at night.