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Thread: A Modern, Backlit, All-Electronic Cluster

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  1. #1
    Senior Member
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    A Modern, Backlit, All-Electronic Cluster

    Well, it looks like I need to start this now...

    I received my Dakota Digital 6 gauge kit today, and it is the perfect size for our cluster. I will be redesigning a few things in photoshop for the the one-piece, plexiglass face. The designs can applied using thin lexan, which is basically the same stuff used for the AC fascia decal.

    Here's a few pictures of the the cluster I bought. It came with a speed sender, tempurature sender, and even an oil pressure sender.

    BTW, the tape is for the calibration of the needles.





    Early 81 5spd conversion- DMCH Ground Effects, Double Din, Custom Instrument Cluster, QA1 Suspension, 3.0 PRV with MS3

  2. #2
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    I'm made a paper printout of an original style design. I temporarily tested it on the gauge to check the sweep pattern and hole cutouts.

    Early 81 5spd conversion- DMCH Ground Effects, Double Din, Custom Instrument Cluster, QA1 Suspension, 3.0 PRV with MS3

  3. #3
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    Cluster design done.

    Early 81 5spd conversion- DMCH Ground Effects, Double Din, Custom Instrument Cluster, QA1 Suspension, 3.0 PRV with MS3

  4. #4
    Member OZ DMC's Avatar
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    Cool Cluster Design

    Quote Originally Posted by 81dmc View Post
    Cluster design done.

    This look great, well done.

  5. #5
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    Today, I decided to sloppily put together my own "label." I used 4 sheets of transparencies, three of them with colored "invisible" icons and one with greyed out "invisible" icons. I decided to do this after receiving a quote of $300-$400 from a professional.

    Here's the result.
    image.jpg

    Here's a few backlit with an led flashlight.
    image.jpg

    Here's the center icons backlit, and I know, bad picture quality...
    image.jpg

    Notice the icons disappear when not lit.
    image.jpg

    Please mind that these sheets were put together in 30 minutes and the printer was an inkjet. I'll probably use my laser printer to print in the future...

    Also, if anybody knows an individual with an industrial printer that can print on lexan, please let know.
    Early 81 5spd conversion- DMCH Ground Effects, Double Din, Custom Instrument Cluster, QA1 Suspension, 3.0 PRV with MS3

  6. #6
    Senior Member Ras12's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 81dmc View Post
    Today, I decided to sloppily put together my own "label." I used 4 sheets of transparencies, three of them with colored "invisible" icons and one with greyed out "invisible" icons. I decided to do this after receiving a quote of $300-$400 from a professional.

    Here's the result.
    image.jpg

    Here's a few backlit with an led flashlight.
    image.jpg

    Here's the center icons backlit, and I know, bad picture quality...
    image.jpg

    Notice the icons disappear when not lit.
    image.jpg

    Please mind that these sheets were put together in 30 minutes and the printer was an inkjet. I'll probably use my laser printer to print in the future...

    Also, if anybody knows an individual with an industrial printer that can print on lexan, please let know.
    Looks promising. Great job. Any update?
    ---------------------------------
    SEARCHING FOR VIN #16664
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  7. #7
    Senior Member Timebender's Avatar
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    Neat! You'll have to share more like what you ordered, install process, cost, etc. can't wait to see it lit up!

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Timebender View Post
    Neat! You'll have to share more like what you ordered, install process, cost, etc. can't wait to see it lit up!
    I ordered a gauge kit from Dakota Digital. Here you can find the specific model I purchased.

    For the construction, I'm using a piece of plexiglass that I bought from Ace. I just brought my cluster with me to find the best thickness.

    First thing I did was disassemble the unit as shown in the first post. The disassembly was made easier since the needles stop if they are rotated clockwise. The needles just simply popped off, and I was on my way to the design process. Scanning from my copier was a breeze since the speedometer and tachometer gauges use the same sweep pattern. This also applies to the other gauges, which have their own mini sweep. Once that was completed, I used "Bebas Neue," which is a font very similar to the original. Each tick is simply a dash from that font resized.

    Next, I will attempt to print onto a piece of lexan that I bought from here.
    Last edited by 81dmc; 07-23-2016 at 12:43 AM.
    Early 81 5spd conversion- DMCH Ground Effects, Double Din, Custom Instrument Cluster, QA1 Suspension, 3.0 PRV with MS3

  9. #9
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    Update

    I'm scrapping the lexan plan, and am waiting to here back from a professional for printing. Otherwise, I now have completed the final design. Resolution is 4630 × 1260.
    Last edited by 81dmc; 07-25-2016 at 01:30 PM.
    Early 81 5spd conversion- DMCH Ground Effects, Double Din, Custom Instrument Cluster, QA1 Suspension, 3.0 PRV with MS3

  10. #10
    Senior Member BladeBronson's Avatar
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    Why have the speedometer go so high? Presumably, 100% of the time you'll only ever use 50% of the gauge.

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