Custom gauge install [Archive] - The Subaru SVX World Network

redlightningsvx

01-03-2009, 05:22 PM

Well I ordered a digital transmission gauge and am in the process of putting this and a water temp gauge (very soon) in the stock gauge cluster. I ,dremeled out the housing for the AT TEMP light and the FWD light down, then dremeled out the black bezel a little to accomidate the bigger gauge. I left the sock coolant temp gauge in for now untill it gets ordered.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0035.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0040.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0047.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0001.jpg

NikFu S.

01-03-2009, 06:32 PM

Well that's neat. Seems like something I would probably do somewhere down the line.

redlightningsvx

01-03-2009, 06:59 PM

I just ordered the coolant temp gauge now as my pera-cool filter is leaking a bit. When its all done it's gonna be sweet, but the wiring uhhh...........

LetItSnow

01-04-2009, 06:56 AM

svxash

01-04-2009, 09:21 AM

LetItSnow,
Do you have any pics of your install?

redlightningsvx

01-04-2009, 09:47 AM

The one thing you'll probably wish you did is alter the black part of the cluster after you had placed both gauges. In my install, I raised the center of the top hole to the point that the top of the gauge's bezel actually cuts into the top of the black part! It keeps the gauges from overlapping and still allows the gauges to fit the cluster well.

Well I have 2 gauge clusters to mess around with and I did what you decribed on the first on but I didnt like how it laid. I got a plan to get the bottom one to fit nice so we'll see when it comes in.

LetItSnow

01-04-2009, 10:51 AM

Do you have any pics of your install?
Don't wanna hijack, so I'll just post a <link (http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w187/LetItSnow_photos/SVX/projects/gauges/test_fit.jpg)> or <two (http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w187/LetItSnow_photos/SVX/projects/gauges/IMG_1530.jpg)>. Respect for red's thread. ;)

redlightningsvx

01-04-2009, 11:54 AM

That's cool. When I do the lower gauge i'm going to cut enough to fit it and then groove the edge so it sets down in the ring so it clears the plastic cover.

LetItSnow

01-04-2009, 11:56 AM

Gets tight down there, huh? :D I'm looking forward to your results.

redlightningsvx

01-04-2009, 03:44 PM

Yea its really tight!

ensteele

01-04-2009, 07:09 PM

Be sure to post a pic or two when you get the install done. I would like to see the results. Good luck. :)

redlightningsvx

01-04-2009, 07:16 PM

Will do, just waiting on the gauge to arrive probably in the next 3 days. These gauges are very easy to read and are brighter than normal but not too bright.

redlightningsvx

01-07-2009, 04:59 PM

Well I got both gauges mounted and put in place with some LORD Fusor plastic adheasive. We use this stuff when repairing bumpers and such at work because it's super strong and sandable. Right now it's sanded and looks rought but i'm going to spray some trim black paint over the whole thing to make it match.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0050.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0049.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0048.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0056.jpg

Freeman

01-08-2009, 09:51 AM

Great, now I wanna do these as well.. Better add it to my list of crap to buy, thanks..

Oh by the way, I can't wait to see the finished product in the vehicle.. Take lots of pictures!!

redlightningsvx

01-08-2009, 04:52 PM

Here are some pics. I put some seam sealer around the gauges to smoothen up around the edges and srpayed the whole bezel with some chip guard VERY heavily so it would fill in the imperfections and give it a semi-textered look then sprayed some trim black over that to dull the look a bit.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0038.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0037.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0036.jpg
The only thing left to do is make a wiring harness for both gauges, install sending unit for both, and calibrate the gauges afterwards. Here's the candidate for the harness.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0035-1.jpg

redlightningsvx

01-08-2009, 08:19 PM

Here's some pics with the other gauges on.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0037-1.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0036-1.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0035-2.jpg

redlightningsvx

01-08-2009, 08:24 PM

These gauges seem taller than normal because they are placed exactly where LetItSnow has his and they hit the plastic. They seemed about 2-3/8 taller so I had to cut the hole big enought to fit the whole gauge bezel and recess it lower so it would fit.

LetItSnow

01-08-2009, 08:31 PM

The larger diameter makes it challenging, mostly because the two top holes are so ridiculously small. The only way to make them look 100% natural by size is to replace them with smaller, mechanical gauges, and none available have any sort of style match. I don't find it offensive.

Freeman

01-09-2009, 06:42 AM

Fit or not, they still look amazing.. I'd like to know how hard it is to wire those things in also. That is, if you wouldn't mind being descriptive..

redlightningsvx

01-09-2009, 05:03 PM

I'm hoping to start the wiring soon as my dash is apart and the gauge lights are a little bright without the bezel in front of them. I'm going to try to relocate the FWD light also. Right now I cut out a space in the dummy light bar and put in the FWD Faceplate which was removed when I added the new gauge in the empty space to the right of the STEERING light.

redlightningsvx

01-09-2009, 10:42 PM

Quick question. For my trans sending unit I'm going to drill and tap a hole in my perma-cool filter mount. When it's tapped will the sender get a good ground from that and will it leak do to not being able to teflon tape it?

redlightningsvx

01-12-2009, 07:34 PM

UPDATE: I got the sending unit wiring for the water temp done and both grounds for both gauges done. All I need to do now is look over my FSM and find a suitable power and dimmer wire to hook up to (probably the cluster buttons) and then drill/tap a hole in my perma-cool filter mount for the other sending unit and run the wire for it. Then i'm done. I'll try to take some pics of where my wires are tomorrow.

redlightningsvx

01-14-2009, 05:08 PM

I got my Coolant temp gauge up and running so now all I need to do is drill/tap the tranny filter mount.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0002.jpghttp://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/redlightningsvx1/Gauge%20mod/PHOT0006.jpg

redlightningsvx

01-19-2009, 04:32 PM

I'm Stuck still on the wiring for the power. I looked at my FSM and seen there is 2 wires going from the fuse box to the ignition switch but I can't seem to find them. Any Idea where exactly under the fuse box their located? Thanks

svxash

01-19-2009, 09:32 PM

Those temps seem high.

redlightningsvx

01-19-2009, 10:18 PM

Yea the gauge is off a lot whenever I turn on any accessory. It needs rewired hence my question above.

redlightningsvx

01-24-2009, 04:49 PM

Well I emailed cyberdyne and told them my situation and they said leave a phone # so they can further assist me. I think they have no clue because I told them everything in detail. Also both of the f@#kin gauges cracked along the face because it got to hot in the speedo cluster:mad:. So i'm now thinking of just getting a non-digital, accurate gauge and mounting them in a pillar pod:bash:

jcimos

01-29-2009, 01:18 AM

Sorry to hear that it didn't work out. I was hoping for the fully functional final setup.:(

redlightningsvx

01-29-2009, 03:57 PM

yea I hoped for it to work to. Cyberdyne did e-mail me and said it was a bad ground which is bs because it was grounded directly to the engine block.

LetItSnow

01-29-2009, 04:50 PM

If you're considering other gauges, what kind?

redlightningsvx

01-29-2009, 08:08 PM

Well I don't know as of yet but i'm probably going to just put them in a piller because there was just too much heat from the gauges and speedo cluster to mount them in there again. I can always paint match the piller to match the existing one.