Gauges

I want to replace my gauges but don't know what I should get. I have a VDO cockpit royale clock and then the rest are vintage reproduction gauges. The tach doesn't work and I want it all to match anyway. Should I go with a complete set of VDO's? Or is there a better brand that I should be looking at?

Original 356 or 912 VDO gauges are best (careful some 356 Tachs are cable driven not electric) - but they are over $600 for decent used set. Chinese and Brazilian repros are available but iffy quality and probably $450. The Royal Cockpit ones are probably still available and you already have one. Other alernative is 914 gauges (set of 3). Check size of the CMC Vintage ones - you probably will have to reduce the hole size.

My other thought is that I don't really like that it has so many gauges. What are my options as far as modifying the dash so that I only have 3 large gauges instead of 2 large and 4 small? My husband said he could fill in the holes and start over but I'm not sure I want to do that as I have 2 other project cars and this one is not perfect but usable. Is there a way to buy a dash and change it out? If so, I don't have a clue where to look. I like the look of the dash on Alan Merklin's red car. The car will eventually be redone but not anytime soon.

Also, can anyone share some pics of consoles or add-ons to your dash to accomodate for heater vents and a stereo? I have seen them on here before but don't know where I saw them.

Thanks ;-)

A one day job to fill in old holes and paint the next day. DrClock used 914 gauges with add on chrome bezel trim rings.

Denise,
You probably saw aftermarket AC units when you saw those pics. Heater vents usually are located closer to the floor.
There are companies that make a lookalike old radio that could mount under your dash, I would recommend installing a speaker set up and an iPod connection instead, it's less visable.

To my knowledge there isn't a way to "swap" a dash in these cars because the moulds are done that the car is pretty much all one piece. You could remove all the gauges and idiot lights and fill it in with fiberglass and resin then cut new holes. It maybe a little more than a day or two job but it's not terribly difficult. Worth it if your current set up bothers you so much, after all it's the part of the car YOU see more than any other.

Denise,

This was my solution for music. I only listen to NPR on the radio, and that's only at work. I have no desire to get local stations as I drive. If you have an MP3 player and are fine without local radio maybe something like this will work for you. Instead of a large head unit requiring mounting you simply have a cord to plug into your MP3 player. Not to mention when the car is parked, it doesn't look like there is anything there for someone to steal.

paul

Paul-

I wanted to do this, and talked to a couple of different audio guys at big-box electronics stores who claimed it couldn't be done. It didn't make any sense to me, but I figured: "what do I know?".

I assume you just use the volume control on the MP3 (or ipod)?

I'd love to see more details on how you did that (part #s, etc.). I had the same experience Stan did.

Time for you guys to find some decent car audio shops.

There are several around here who add just amps, amps plus an IPOD/MP3 dock, all the way up to an integrated fm stereo/dock/headset. I just assumed that everyone knew how to connect directly to an IPOD/MP3. Easiest way is to get the proper dock from best Buy or somewhere and then just plug the amp cable right in (it's usually a sub-mini, 1/8" stereo plug).

Many aftermarket car stereos also have an AUX capability that will connect (and often control) your IPOD right from the radio headset. Usually it requires a special cable ($30-$50 range) and everything just plugs together, but the amp-only with an MP3 is about as easy and hidden as you can get.

gn

Stan, Lane,
I am no expert when it comes to electronics and do not claim to be. I called up Crutchfield and explained to them what I wanted to do. This amplifier is one of two Blaupunkt amps that would work. The RCA cable plugs into my headphone jack on the Iphone. Using your headphone jack to the amplifier is the ONLY way this set up will work. If you try and use the dock connection you need some form of volume control (ie a head unit). I control Volume on the phone itself. In order to charge the unit I have to plug it in from the 'cigarette lighter' to the docking connection. Using the head phone jack as the input is also what causes the incompatibility issues with most amplifiers. The input level (mV) on this particular amplifier is low enough that it can accept the low level coming from the headphone jack on the Iphone. Most amplifiers are not able to do this. You need a pre-amp, which in most cases is a head unit/car radio in order to jump it up to the required voltage.

That is my very basic understanding of it. I looked for a long time trying to figure out how to do this. My advice, call Crutchfield, tell them what your looking for. They have always been very good at answering questions.

paul

Paul, I use a phone like you, no ipod. I like the way you hooked it up with a cord and the headphone jack. But I am a bluetooth user. I have a bluetooth stereo in my daily driver and it is awesome. I have a Chocolate3 from LG, does what I need and more. 8gb card, almost 800 songs. No cds, no XM, no tapes. Just the music I want, the playlists I made. All pulled off of my cds. I have bluetooth on my laptop and a Blackberry stereo gateway for the stereo. I hate wires!

On the Spyder, no radio, it is too loud and windy!

Denise, your tach should be repairable or replaceable. I kind of like the way your dash looks.

Bluetooth would be a great way to go! Never have seen it integrated into amplifiers, only radios. Wouldnt be a bad idea though. I have no idea whether or not I will even use this setup. I dont have speakers at the moment. Just Killing time until this car can get back on the road.

I've got a Pioneer with multi-speakers/woofers w/CD, XM and a hidden IPOD adapter. Works just great!

Paul:

When I'm in my truck, I run everything to my Tom Tom GPS (believe it or not) and then run the GPS into my AUX input on the Ford radio (it's designed to have a back-seat DVD player). All it took was a special cable to adapt to the completely non-standard Ford radio input connector (got that on ebay).

The GPS has bluetooth for my phone, and the IPOD plugs to the GPS, too and is then controlled by a screen on the GPS. Pretty slick, but, unlike Danny P., I have this cascade of cables in front of the dash. the nice part of this is that, when the GPS has something to tell me, everything else is muted during the message.

I can transfer everything to the Speedster in a few minutes, but don't have that special cable for my Pioneer FM head and the FM modulator in the Tom Tom is pretty weak (or my antenna sucks....or both)

Having everything bluetooth enabled, especially my IPOD, would be super-slick (You guys at Ford and Apple listening????)

gn

I haven't had any luck finding a replacement tach. I think they are CMC specific gauges and since they no longer exist I am out of luck I believe. There is also the matter of my clock doesn't match at all. I know this is nit picky but I am a woman, what can I say?

Have you called North Hollywood Speedometer and checked what they have to match your VDO clock? Careful, it's a VERY slippery slope!

6111 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA
US 91606
Phone: 818-761-5136
Email: info@nhspeedometer.com

Guy's" I have a gauge question. My tack is over reacting with this flame thrower ignition system.. I recall someone here a fix for that..

Anyone know???

You can get a matching Royale Cockpit tach in 3 3/8" diameter for $70. (CIP1 has too but for $90). I'm sure the 3 1/8 is" too small for Vintage Repro opening.

http://www.egauges.com/vdo_mult.asp?Type=Tachometer&Series=Cockpit_Royale&Units=E

They carry all the gauges so you have a matching ensomble.


Ziggy - is the is fix you were after?

Will VDO tachs work with points ignition or Pertronix?
Answer: Yes, with diode in line on the signal lead. Instructions are as follows:
Purchase a diode #1N4005 from a local electronics store such as Radio Shack or Circuit City. Cut both ends of the diode so each is approximately 3/4

I have a set of unused CMC style original gauges here.....I went for 914

Denise,
I was fairly pleased with the way my dash evolved. I kept my reproduction gauges and had Palo Alto-whatever-they-call-themselves, refurbish and reface them. (I had them copy a carrera 8000rpm tach face)

I took the approach that my car was still just a few years old(back in the day) and did what I recalled was being done, then. In the pic I had put the equipment below the dash and painted it out so it was less noticeable (not out of harm's way to prying eyes with evil intent).

As much as I dislike the aftermarket three-face add-on gauges, I got a VDO set and attached it under the radio. As for the clock, I just watched eBay until I saw a dashboard mount clock from the fifties and screwed it in place. The picture has the Heuer timer showing a little too prominently, but it was chromes.

In all, my cockpit was a little busy but my premise was to have a supposedly multi-function old-time racer; hula dance optional. If hubby wants to work in fibreglas, as pointed out earlier in the thread, it is very forgiving and you can redesign your gauge lay-out to incorporate vents, different sized gauges, even a period box-like holder for a radio as some of the folks have done to their cars.

As one of my friends say, "Fun with cars!"

Denise, you have pretty standard gauges and readilly available in a few different finishes.

I'm pretty sure that the Tach and Speedo are 3 3/8 in and the others are 2 1/16 diameter all made by VDO still today.

The standard VW sources mentioned above will be able to help you, but honestly these gauges are available everywhere. Search for VDO in google, or go to Summit Racing's web site, JEG's or eBay.

There are other manufacturers, Stewart Warner, eguages and othere I can't even think of as well as rebuilders, also noted above.

Too many options, so good luck.