For Those Bored With the Look of the Dash Gauges

[Ken Wright]

Figure out a way to cram a Valentine 1 display in there and then you will have something.

[jriva]

How much would we be looking at for this order cost wise?

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Guys -

I just PMed clopi2000 about building a cluster to almost exactly duplicate the look of the Stack cluster. I feel this is the most tasteful way to modify the existing cluster. If anyone would like to help me offset the cost of acquiring a real Stack cluster to use as a reference, please let me know.

Thanks

[Chili Red]

Originally Posted by clopi2000

Tools: Scanner, vectorial graphic software that support layers, like Adobe Illustrator (no pixels here), and hi-res commercial printer that can print on backlit substrate, or silkscreen installation (I have both at my company).

Material: flexible lexan textured on one side only (like the one we use for industrial keybords).

And the hardest to get: time. Lots of it.

I have one of those industrial printers if you need any help. Ive not tried printing on lexan, but Im sure it would be no problem with hot solvent inks.

[SweetDaddyD]

I want blue lights! I love the look of VW instrument panels. The blue is so much cooler. The orange lights are ultra lame. Maybe it would be easier to preorder if we knew what they were selling for. At $300 I'm out. At under $100 I'm in.

[goldfive]

the Speedhut EL overlays go for $99 or so plus $8 shipping. Here is the response I got from Speedhut regarding the run of Elise gauge overlays:

"We don't currently offer EL-Glo Dial Kit's or Bezels for your dash. If
you are interested in becoming a Group Leader for your cluster, please
read the info below:

The Group Leader sends a cluster to begin the Pre Order. Please don't
use a personal dash cluster (we don't send clusters back). We recommend
a cluster from a junkyard (it does NOT have to be in working condition.
However, it does need to have everything intact - i.e., needles, cover
etc).

Please send the Cluster via Ground, Mail (or another inexpensive
method). Please make sure it is INSURED for your protection! *Remember
to add your contact information in the package.

Once the cluster has been received the Pre Order will be added to our
Model Development Program with the sender listed as the Group Leader.
The Group Leader's email will be listed on the site for questions. We
will be in contact with the Group Leader throughout the process.

Once we receive 25 Pre Orders we will begin tooling. The Group leader
will get their Custom Dial kit for FREE. We offer incentive discounts
for the entire Group. *Free Text, Free Standard Graphics, Free Standard
Logo's.

*We can add the Km/h version at No additional cost.

The price for our Custom Gauge Kit's are generally around $99.95 + $8.00 US S&H per Pre Order."----------------------

Here is a link to a generic dial template where buyers can custom design their own dials (its for a Porsche 928, but it gives you an idea of the process)-- Make sure you scroll down to the bottom to use the interactive design tool:

http://www.speedhut.com/el_detail.as...ber=253&bhcp=1

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Sorry, but Speedhut looks ghetto as hell, and I wouldn't use their gauges.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Originally Posted by Ken Wright

Figure out a way to cram a Valentine 1 display in there and then you will have something.

It looks like there is an unused LED pit above the ABS indicator that could be converted to a V1 LED. Or you could rip out the ABS indicator and use it and the space above it for forward and backward indicators. I can see this being awesome.

[darkSol]

I've been trying to identify the LCD part number/manufacturer to see if there is another drop-in part with different backlighting, perhaps blue/white/green or even blue-fluorescent on black. That would be the ticket with the LCD.

Get one of the dozen electroluminescent companies to make a cut plain white glow-sheet with the same dimensions of the stock orange one and you're golden (no pun intended)

[goldfive]

Originally Posted by MyFutureSelfnMe

Sorry, but Speedhut looks ghetto as hell, and I wouldn't use their gauges.

I really don't see where you get off saying that. Their EL gauge overlays look a thousand times better than the stock Elise gauges. What is there to possibly dislike about doing, say, red numbers on a black background? It's a standard scheme in many cars. How is that "ghetto"? If you're talking about all the wild graphics... to each his own. I don't think anyone here wants to put checkerboards or flames on his instruments. Speedhut obviously caters to a wide group of auto enthusiasts.

If you think the stock pale-yellow-twin-moons-in-your-face-theme looks good, then great. More power to ya.

I think they look like utter crap, especially in an exotic car.

[Buz]

I would be in if the speedometer can be re scaled so that it is accurate.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Originally Posted by goldfive

I really don't see where you get off saying that. Their EL gauge overlays look a thousand times better than the stock Elise gauges. What is there to possibly dislike about doing, say, red numbers on a black background? It's a standard scheme in many cars. How is that "ghetto"? If you're talking about all the wild graphics... to each his own. I don't think anyone here wants to put checkerboards or flames on his instruments. Speedhut obviously caters to a wide group of auto enthusiasts.

If you think the stock pale-yellow-twin-moons-in-your-face-theme looks good, then great. More power to ya.

I think they look like utter crap, especially in an exotic car.

They look cheap. There's no way you can escape that, even if the standard designs are pretty simple. The standard Elise gauges are pretty simple too, and I would say that they too are cheap. I expect more, especially for an aftermarket modification.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Originally Posted by darkSol

I've been trying to identify the LCD part number/manufacturer to see if there is another drop-in part with different backlighting, perhaps blue/white/green or even blue-fluorescent on black. That would be the ticket with the LCD.

Get one of the dozen electroluminescent companies to make a cut plain white glow-sheet with the same dimensions of the stock orange one and you're golden (no pun intended)

I believe the LCD is a readily available part, but I can't remember who the manufacturer was. In fact I seem to recall at least two manufacturers making nearly identical ones. I don't think you're going to find it with different backlighting though.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Originally Posted by clopi2000

Tools: Scanner, vectorial graphic software that support layers, like Adobe Illustrator (no pixels here), and hi-res commercial printer that can print on backlit substrate, or silkscreen installation (I have both at my company).

Material: flexible lexan textured on one side only (like the one we use for industrial keybords).

And the hardest to get: time. Lots of it.

What about aluminum? If I go with front lighting and disconnect the electroluminescent panel, there's no reason for me not to go with an aluminum graphic insert. Can you print on that? Can you do it in grey for the area surrounding the LEDs? Does anyone here know anyone who can precision cut the pieces?

[Chili Red]

Originally Posted by MyFutureSelfnMe

What about aluminum? If I go with front lighting and disconnect the electroluminescent panel, there's no reason for me not to go with an aluminum graphic insert. Can you print on that? Can you do it in grey for the area surrounding the LEDs? Does anyone here know anyone who can precision cut the pieces?

You would probably have to cut the aluminium with a laser, its probably the only way your going to get accurate enough cuts that small. A water jet may work, but Im not sure if it can cut that small or not.

[clopi2000]

Originally Posted by MyFutureSelfnMe

What about aluminum? If I go with front lighting and disconnect the electroluminescent panel, there's no reason for me not to go with an aluminum graphic insert. Can you print on that? Can you do it in grey for the area surrounding the LEDs? Does anyone here know anyone who can precision cut the pieces?

1/32" anodized aluminium, silkscreened and routed (using a numeric router) would work: cutouts for needles centers, LCD display. For each LED a round cutout (or rectangular with rounded corners); it would still need a lexan on the back with the symbols printed on it.

But I'm not sure about front lighting. Not easy to craft, and light distribution will always be uneven.

Thanks for sharing your ideas. I am now considering to replace the black (opaque) part of my design with a thin sheet of aluminium. (I have a numeric router at the shop !)

[Arno]

Originally Posted by MyFutureSelfnMe

I guess I'm going to have to get an older Euro cluster from UK/Europe, and steal the blue electroluminescent panel and whatever else it is using for lighting (notice the lighting is super uneven in the pictures).

Older original STACK units use simple LED's that are hidden underneath the black parts of the glass you can see in the photo and reflect light back onto the dials. No electroluminescent background or such electronic gizmo's.

The later SHURLOK units (when Lotus dropped STACK as a supplier) also started out this way AFAIK as an almost 1:1 copy of the STACK versions, but the Toyota-Elise versions are different in this respect.

Bye, Arno.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Originally Posted by clopi2000

1/32" anodized aluminium, silkscreened and routed (using a numeric router) would work: cutouts for needles centers, LCD display. For each LED a round cutout (or rectangular with rounded corners); it would still need a lexan on the back with the symbols printed on it.

But I'm not sure about front lighting. Not easy to craft, and light distribution will always be uneven.

Thanks for sharing your ideas. I am now considering to replace the black (opaque) part of my design with a thin sheet of aluminium. (I have a numeric router at the shop !)

It will still be necessary to do something for the LED indicators. i guess it would be necessary to use a rectangular clear piece of plastic in that area and print grey over most of it, leaving the indicator shapes clear?

I think I want to just steal the lighting outright from a Stack cluster. It's uneven, but it's more even than the homebrew one above, and I would even say the unevenness looks good.

I gotta do this project now but I have to get it done before April, when my car goes back into regular use...

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Originally Posted by Arno

Older original STACK units use simple LED's that are hidden underneath the black parts of the glass you can see in the photo and reflect light back onto the dials. No electroluminescent background or such electronic gizmo's.

The later SHURLOK units (when Lotus dropped STACK as a supplier) also started out this way AFAIK as an almost 1:1 copy of the STACK versions, but the Toyota-Elise versions are different in this respect.

Bye, Arno.

Yes I already figured out that Stack (or early Shurlok) is solely using LEDs. Hopefully they are set up in such a way that I can steal them outright and install them in a Toyota/Shurlok cluster, along with the front "glass".

Can you point me to a source for used parts in the Netherlands or anywhere in Europe?

[Arno]

Drop a line to 'junks' on SELOC.

He has dismantled several Elises already and may have some (dead) STACK units.

Bye, Arno.