DC2 Backyard Special (literally) cluster

[Wlee2]

we should next time go out for a drive with a camera to Video the Gauges in action =P..

[Jamezy]

thats gona be on my xmas list nice work

[Jingers]

Hi there,

It's my first time to post in this forum.
This project took me more than 6 months to complete!
I had my defis on the dash before, and was thinking of a better place to mount them, and thought what better place than where the factory dials are :P

Mounting the Defis and making the cluster housing etc was easy, but the hardest part was the fact that I had to make my own speedo/fuel/trip and odo because Defi doesn't make them.

The guy who taught me how to DIY on Hondas back in Japan gave me the initial idea:

http://www.orangeball.jp/english/index.shtml

He does it using carbon fibre plates (I used MDF as it's a lot easier to cut circles!) and they look awesome.

Thanks for all your positive feedback! It almost makes me feel it was worth it after 6 months of my gf being grumpy because I was spending too much time on it lol

Shin

hey mate

how did u end up hooking up the fuel gauge? Does it just go straight to the stock fuel level sensor?

[shin78]

Sorry I haven't obliged to the request

Left to right:

• Defi Water Temp
• Defi Oil Temp
• Defi Tacho (80mm)
• Defi Warning Strobe (connected to Tacho and Oil press)
• Custom Digital Speedo (3 digit blue LED) above
• Custom LCD Monitor (odo, trip A/B, fuel and speedo warning)
• Defi Oil Press

And various warning lights.

• Turning signals (two green LEDs at the top)
• Door Open
• Boot Open
• ABS
• Parking Brake
• High Beam
• Battery

I've omitted the SRS and maintenance indicators as I don't need them and oil pressure warning as I've got the Defi oil press.

With the Speedo/Custom LCD, I run a C program on a micro chip to count the number of speedo signals coming from the gearbox to work out the odo/trip, interval of the signals to work out the speed. Also the signal coming from the fuel sending unit to measure the amount of petrol in the tank.

All of this can be done with a bit of knowledge in electronics/programming, lots of parts from JayCar lol and most importantly lots of patience!

[shin78]

hey mate

how did u end up hooking up the fuel gauge? Does it just go straight to the stock fuel level sensor?

Yep. The fuel sending unit in a DC2 gives you variable resistance (100ohm when empty, and 2-5 ohm when full, I think), so by hooking it up to a constant voltage source and measuring the voltage, you can work out how much petrol there is. This is how the stock fuel gauge works too.

[Wlee2]

its almost time for you to post an intro thread here yeh shin?

time to take some photo's...

[ChargeR]

Damn that cluster looks horn Shin.

I hope that you have the warning light on the defi oil pressure gauge set to a reasonable value . Speaking from experience, a guage does not do you much good when you lose all oil pressure since you rarely look at it when cruising, but a light flashing in your face does .

[shin78]

Sounds good Wayne. I haven't taken any decent photos of my car yet :P
Let's do a photo shoot some time soon.. but I have to give my car a wash. Haven't washed it in ages :P

Yeah shift timing lights are very useful, especially on the track.
At the moment it flashes in red at 7000 RPM, and in green when oil press is below 1.5, I think. It beeps too so it works even when it's bright outside.

[.::F[L]Y::.]

fark that awesome!

DIY at its best. props to you.

[Chi]

omg thats nice !

[air23box]

after the poor show of HOW "SAFE" winton is i dont know..

she said if we could prove its safe.. she will let him track..

she gets there and 1, silvia s15 does a 360 and keeps going, a EG civic Ploughs into a wall, and what else.. i just remember we didnt leave a terrible good impresion of how safe winton is.. granted it was very WET that day =P

Its just not the track Wayne.....its the ppl bro......
Welcome to the forum Shin.....haven't see you in ages too....we should get the 08 1st meetup happening soon so we can all take some pic....but allow me to have anyother week or 2 coz I am getting the paint job fix......

[ley]

wow that looks awesome! props to ur friend mugs!

[Sp00n]

that thing looks awesome! far out!

[shin78]

Thanks guys

[daz]

That looks great Shin. Wayne was just telling me about it while we were washing cars tonight. Can't wait to see it in person. You need to come around more on sundays lol

Darren