Digital Dash [Archive] - DMCTalk Forum

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knightjp

11-05-2011, 07:31 PM

One of the things that were in fashion during the 80s to the early 90s were the appearance of digital dash in cars... Some of us thought those were cool and futuristic; others thought it was lame idea bound to fail.
These days some high end cars like the new Jag XJ does come with a digital dash that displays in a dial format which is cool.
We all know that the analog cluster in the Delorean does have a few complaints in terms of look and brightness. I was wondering if anyone has thought about putting in a digital dash and if anyone already has...

Farrar

11-06-2011, 12:26 AM

Short answer: yes.

There were a couple of Ds with Dakota digital dashes back in the 90s. Not sure if they're still around. I know one of them was wrecked -- so there may only be one left, unless its current owner went back to stock form.

Farrar

JoeyGowdy

11-06-2011, 12:43 AM

Doesn't Rich W's D-Rex have a digital dash?

Think there is a quote somewhere saying he did.

*****EDIT - it was a quote from him on his site*****

http://www.entermyworld.com/images/11.gif

"The interior has been cleaned up
immensely since I bought this car.
Notice the custom steering wheel,
which is only functional since this
DeLorean has power steering. Other
notable modifications are a digital dash."

http://www.entermyworld.com/gallery/dmc-custom-d-rex

louielouie2000

11-06-2011, 01:19 AM

My first DeLorean had a Dakota Digital dash. I thought it was cheap & cheesy looking and had it removed.

Patrick C

11-06-2011, 10:56 AM

My first DeLorean had a Dakota Digital dash. I thought it was cheap & cheesy looking and had it removed.

I think they looked like garbage too.

dvonk

11-06-2011, 11:32 AM

anyone have a picture of these Dakota Digital dashes?

knightjp

11-06-2011, 03:38 PM

I'd like to see these dakota digital dashes in pics too...

I'm thinking more along the lines of this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLaDOBptFlY&noredirect=1

ssdelorean

11-06-2011, 04:07 PM

Mike Conrad in Cincinnati, OH area is currently making/programing one.
Check out the 5th pic here (http://ohiodeloreans.com/gallery-11-July4th.htm).
Not sure if he is on DMCTalk or not.

knightjp

11-07-2011, 08:19 AM

Has anyone got any ideas on a good digital dash mod instead of the dakota digital.

dmc6960

11-07-2011, 08:37 AM

An "analog" dash with all digital control systems.

SIMid

11-07-2011, 04:58 PM

Could look worse, it could good.

I nearly went through and did a digital dash many years ago on my Opel Calibra, but chickened out. Became too much of a headache to get it work properly.

Even though, there are some cool digital dashes (& bad ones out there).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Digital_dashboard_of_my_1992_Fiat_Tempra.jpg

http://pic.phyrefile.com/c/cr/crazyrussian540/2010/02/06/digidash_fiatuno.jpg

http://pic.phyrefile.com/c/cr/crazyrussian540/2010/02/06/digidash_subaruloyale.jpg

http://pic.phyrefile.com/c/cr/crazyrussian540/2010/02/06/digidash_toyotacorolla.jpg

I'm sure there's a few Vector W8 Vector Twin Turbo digital dashes lying around ....

knightjp

11-08-2011, 09:30 AM

Great pics. However I would like to see pics of a digital dash on a Delorean or pics of digital dashs that would actually fit in the binnacle..

Farrar

11-08-2011, 09:46 AM

No offense, but how much money are you budgeting for your DeLorean? By my calculations, you're up to about $100,000 before the digital dash.

Farrar

knightjp

11-08-2011, 09:53 AM

No offense, but how much money are you budgeting for your DeLorean? By my calculations, you're up to about $100,000 before the digital dash.

Farrar
Wow... sounds like alot.. Didn't know it would come to that much even.
Perhaps I should consider another dream car... :lol:

Farrar

11-08-2011, 10:01 AM

Wow... sounds like alot..

Well, if you buy a full-blown replica already done for you, that's about $70k, then you're paying $30k for someone to convert the car to V8 (drivetrain, cooling system, frame alteration/fabrication). You could save money by doing the work yourself, but I don't know your background and I am just guessing that you're perhaps on the young side since most of your references come from BTTF and the TV spinoff. Again, no offense. I am just trying to give you an idea of how much money you're talking about. If you have the money, go for it! Or if you can do the work yourself that's an option, too, it will just take a lot longer. :)

Farrar

dvonk

11-08-2011, 10:13 AM

check out this link of an article (and videos) of 12 Digital Dashes (http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature/lists/Motive_List_A_look_back_at_dozen_digital_dashes.sh tml?1980s).

one they fail to mention is the Cadillac Allanté. my friend had one and it had a pretty sweet digital dash. not sure if any of these would fit in a DeLorean binnacle though, since its been 15 years since ive seen the interior of a D. :frown:

Cadillac Allanté dash (hard to find a good photo):

6674 6673

knightjp

11-08-2011, 10:35 AM

Well, if you buy a full-blown replica already done for you, that's about $70k, then you're paying $30k for someone to convert the car to V8 (drivetrain, cooling system, frame alteration/fabrication). You could save money by doing the work yourself, but I don't know your background...
My plan was to find a Delorean which needed engine work or some kind of repair and start from there... A sort of project vehicle. If it takes time, I don't care.. I'm in no hurry. Also I plan on doing most of the work myself with the help of friends. I'm no mechanic, but I have friends who are expert mechanics and aircraft engineers; so no shortage of assistance and guidance when I need it. Plus I will be returning to this forum for advice too..
The plan is to build a Delorean with a V8 and a custom digital dash.. Nothing else... I like the BTTF cars, but I don't need to have a flux-capacitor in mine.. :lol:

I am just guessing that you're perhaps on the young side since most of your references come from BTTF and the TV spinoff. Again, no offense. I am just trying to give you an idea of how much money you're talking about. If you have the money, go for it! Or if you can do the work yourself that's an option, too, it will just take a lot longer. :)
If you call 30 yrs young, yeah I am... :lol:
Don't worry, I took no offense at all with any of the comments. I understand where you're coming from... However I feel money shouldn't be an object when building the car of your dreams.
There are people who have done crazier things... Ever heard of a guy who build a house in shape of Dodge truck that actually moves??? It exists, I've seen it. How about the same guy buys 25 Mercesdes S Class cars and has them custom painted in the colours of the rainbow just 'coz he was getting married.

knightjp

11-08-2011, 10:36 AM

Nicholas R

11-08-2011, 11:17 AM

Mike Conrad in Cincinnati, OH area is currently making/programing one.
Check out the 5th pic here (http://ohiodeloreans.com/gallery-11-July4th.htm).
Not sure if he is on DMCTalk or not.

His is definitely my favorite concept.

His uses a horizontally mounted LCD screen with a trapezoidal angular mounted mirror. It's pretty awesome. Plus he can change the dash to look like whatever he wants.

robvanderveer

11-09-2011, 03:30 PM

Saw this, Topgear posted a nice lineup for gauges throughout the years. It was an inspiration for me to get back to my original project of digitizing my dash.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/chevrolet-speedometer-design-2011-11-09

knightjp

11-09-2011, 03:42 PM

I like this one...
http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/chevrolet-speedometer-design-2011-11-09?imageNo=24

Timebender

11-09-2011, 05:16 PM

I had a 1985 Corvette (back in 1990) and actually really liked the digital dash on that.
If it could fit in the D's binnacle, that would be not only look pretty cool, but since it's from that general era, stylistically it's not a stretch.

If you know a good app designer/graphics person, you could theoretically get an LCD screen that fits in the area, have the gauges designed however you want, and have the app get readings from different sensors - lots of options for bluetooth sensors these days so you really don't have to do a lot of wiring, and run the whole thing off an iMac - or even an iPad (as they are using for the new Volkswagen Transporter..).

Just a thought.

robvanderveer

11-09-2011, 05:41 PM

If you know a good app designer/graphics person, you could theoretically get an LCD screen that fits in the area, have the gauges designed however you want, and have the app get readings from different sensors - lots of options for bluetooth sensors these days so you really don't have to do a lot of wiring, and run the whole thing off an iMac - or even an iPad (as they are using for the new Volkswagen Transporter..).

Just a thought.

Actually, before i bailed out on the project last winter, I was working together with a graphics designer. I've been scourging the entire internet in finding a proper PSTN LCD screen driven by a low-cost microprocessor to replace the gauges with new inputs. My project was halted because i was not able to come up with the required electronics. I am a software guy, that's where I knew my limits.

If only I could pair up with somebody knowledgable with 12v electronics I am confident some prototype would be feasible, I have the embedded hardware in stock already.

Timebender

11-09-2011, 06:02 PM

Yeah, problem with doing something/anything modern is no OBD-II. However there are ways to get data from the pulse of the ignition wires so you could get RPM's. Also, years and years ago (1983 or so), I hooked up a car computer to my Datsun 1971 510 wagon, which got MPH from 4 magnets that were strapped onto the driveshaft (and a sensor nearby), and MPG from a small device that was installed in the fuel line which read the amount of fuel passing through it.
Pretty high-tech for the time.

knightjp

11-12-2011, 02:34 PM

Here is a vid off youttube which shows Dr. Delman's Electric Delorean. I like the screens he installed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRRJHdZLxmU&feature=related

knightjp

12-05-2011, 03:40 AM

I'll be frank. While the Delorean's shape does look contemporary, the dials on the dash don't. They look like they're from the 70s. Its more reminiscent of my dad's 83 Mazda 323 than a luxury sports car.
And OK the same can be said for the Mustangs, camaros and Corvettes of the 60s, but the 60s dials are making a comeback and look cool. And there are aftermarket gauges to update them.
I want to know if anyone has tried to do the same for the Delorean.

knightjp

02-01-2012, 09:51 AM

Just found a nice looking digital dash... :)
Looks awesome I think... Very 80s... LOL

A few more digital dash pics...

Sorry for the loads of pics guys.. I'm just nuts about digital dashboards...
Hey since the binacle is around the same design as the Lotus Esprit, if there are digital dashboards for the Lotus, perhaps those may be good enough for the Delorean... ;)

Jimmyvonviggle

02-02-2012, 10:44 AM

I like the original analog dash, its clean and simple. If I wanted digital I would have bought Kitt from "Knight Rider".

knightjp

02-02-2012, 10:54 AM

I like the original analog dash, its clean and simple. If I wanted digital I would have bought Kitt from "Knight Rider".
Haha... I love KITT's interior.

tyb323

02-03-2012, 07:25 PM

DeloCamaro64

02-04-2012, 12:59 PM

I think a digital dash in a delorean would be awesome. I have one in my camaro and i love it!!

sdg3205

02-04-2012, 06:13 PM

So I'm getting confused now, do you want a DeLorean or not? There's like 8 threads running that you've started about swapping one thing or another. I'm just wondering if you're really sure you want the car if you want to swap the power plant, interior and/or anything else?

Yeah, in all honesty it sounds to me like you'd be better off getting custom stainless steel body panels made for a mustang or something similar, which would be killer awesome btw!

Is there anything you actually like about the car? Perhaps I've missed it somewhere but I can't remember reading you saying you actually like any aspects of the car.

knightjp

02-04-2012, 09:37 PM

Is there anything you actually like about the car? Perhaps I've missed it somewhere but I can't remember reading you saying you actually like any aspects of the car.
The Delorean's shape. The design still looks awesome today and I wouldn't trade in those gullwing door for anything. I absolutely adore these aspects of the Delorean.

sdg3205

02-05-2012, 07:50 PM

The Delorean's shape. The design still looks awesome today and I wouldn't trade in those gullwing door for anything. I absolutely adore these aspects of the Delorean.

Ahh, cool beans.

Ron

02-05-2012, 08:39 PM