Hey Cliff, any chance you would be up to making some more FDD-X1 digital dashes? I finally got to see one and it looks like it was the best one out there for the price. Please....Please....Please......Please....I'm on my knees now!.......Please....Please....Please......LOL!
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11:10 PM
PFF
System Bot
May 3rd, 2008
Cliff Pennock Administrator
Posts: 11808 From: Zandvoort, The Netherlands Registered: Jan 99
And in case you are wondering, yes, I already have a new steering wheel.
Seriously, I wish I had the time and space to make the dashboard again. It takes me about two days (which I don't have) to build one, but the main reason I don't is because it involves working with dangerous chemicals and with a 4-year old running around, I'd rather not.
Besides, I have other - even cooler - ideas for a dashboard.
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03:33 AM
linuxpowered88 Member
Posts: 1220 From: Johnson City , TN , USA Registered: Sep 2007
Wow ive never liked digital dashes but that is nice. Cliff maybe if you dont want to make it give the process to the forum for someone else? Just wondering.
[This message has been edited by linuxpowered88 (edited 05-03-2008).]
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04:23 AM
Chris Hodson Member
Posts: 3095 From: Carpentersville Registered: Aug 2006
Hey Cliff, any chance you would be up to making some more FDD-X1 digital dashes? I finally got to see one and it looks like it was the best one out there for the price. Please....Please....Please......Please....I'm on my knees now!.......Please....Please....Please......LOL!
I second the motion, yours is one of the best looking ones around....... I wouldn't mind one either. -Jason
Cliff, I will personally take care of the 4yr old baby sitting for a few days in order for you to whip one of those out for me Well just the plane trip over here will put them to sleep and back and forth would take a day so the duties would only be really 1 day of six flags amusement park then back on the plane to daddy!
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09:48 AM
rjblaze Member
Posts: 1159 From: Bethlehem, Pa., United States Registered: May 2006
Wow ive never liked digital dashes but that is nice. Cliff maybe if you dont want to make it give the process to the forum for someone else? Just wondering.
There's an idea! What if you made a complete instruction set to actually build them, just sell and ship us the instructions and the processor (as in your "resurection" thread), and we could make our own. I agree with anyone who has seen yours: It is definitely the nicest looking and within a persons normal price range. BTW, what was done with the aux. gauge panel?
Cliff, there are plenty of folks here who could pay homage to your genuis, and make these for you to sell to us. Think of your adoring fans, think of the great services this form has provided for the lesser mortals who lack the skills of one such as your-self. Help us Cliff........
(brushes off knees and wipes nose)
Ya' know , i'd really like a set of these....
------------------ I have hundreds of uses for for people when they're alive. There are only a few after they are dead.
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12:13 PM
Cliff Pennock Administrator
Posts: 11808 From: Zandvoort, The Netherlands Registered: Jan 99
I've been thinking about releasing the design to the public, but the thing that prevents me from doing so is that it will put some other people out of business. There are people who make a living making and selling digital dashboards for the Fiero...
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02:05 PM
linuxpowered88 Member
Posts: 1220 From: Johnson City , TN , USA Registered: Sep 2007
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: I've been thinking about releasing the design to the public, but the thing that prevents me from doing so is that it will put some other people out of business. There are people who make a living making and selling digital dashboards for the Fiero...
I admire your nobility Mr.P, but it's called business - The best product wins The prospective producer will not give them for free, you will get paid for your design and he will get paid for the production. The Fiero nation will get a great product for a good price
For the sake of fairness, here are 2 other digital gauges I found on page 1 of Google. Let's have a vote:
I've been thinking about releasing the design to the public, but the thing that prevents me from doing so is that it will put some other people out of business. There are people who make a living making and selling digital dashboards for the Fiero...
Wow I love the dash and would pay to get one of these. PUtting your stuff out there for up to try I dont think will put others out of business but might increass as there is quite a few people that will not even try to make it or want them even more and pay. BUt I for one would love to have your design in my car before the others. I think that it is cleaner and more pleasing to the eye, And if I got the opertunity to make one myself I would be pleased.
I've been thinking about releasing the design to the public, but the thing that prevents me from doing so is that it will put some other people out of business. There are people who make a living making and selling digital dashboards for the Fiero...
You could sell the design to them, they would be more expensive that way. Or you can sell a how-to manual, prompting markscustomkits to make a dash that reminds me less of the circus and tom could lower his prices. This is the first time i've seen your gauges and I believe it looks way better than any of the others. Whatever you choose to do, i'm still a big fan.
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12:47 AM
linuxpowered88 Member
Posts: 1220 From: Johnson City , TN , USA Registered: Sep 2007
Does the indicator on the speedo move top to bottom, so when you move..... the tach and the speedo both go top to bottom? That is freakin sweet.
That's selectable. The dash uses three buttons to control it. If you press the "menu" button, you get into the system menu where you can setup all kinds of stuff - amongst which how the speedo and tach move. Here's a snippet from the manual:
There are many things you can change on the fly. LIke engine type (V6/L4), units (imperial/metric), display (odometer, inside/outside temperature, clock, trip time, average speed). Etc. One of the cool options is to have the dashboard display 0-60 times. Even cooler is it only displays 0-60 times when it detects you are "really going for it".
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04:17 AM
Cliff Pennock Administrator
Posts: 11808 From: Zandvoort, The Netherlands Registered: Jan 99
Wow, I was sold on the looks of the FDD. But the zero to 60 timer, all the adjustable doohickeys, I must have one. I simply must have one.
Hey Mr.P, can you make some circuitry or software(i dont know how the FDD works) that would allow the tach and speedo to work with popular engine swaps like the 3.4 or the 3800?
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12:05 PM
May 7th, 2008
rjblaze Member
Posts: 1159 From: Bethlehem, Pa., United States Registered: May 2006
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: ...Besides, I have other - even cooler - ideas for a dashboard.
What are these so called cooler designs? I like the dash buut I prefer analog, but I really really hate the stock cluster. Looks like you're driving an airplane and not a car
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11:04 AM
May 13th, 2008
rjblaze Member
Posts: 1159 From: Bethlehem, Pa., United States Registered: May 2006
What are these so called cooler designs? I like the dash buut I prefer analog, but I really really hate the stock cluster. Looks like you're driving an airplane and not a car
A very CHEAP looking airplane dash. I say swap with a vette.
------------------ If you ever have a questions about the sincerity of the circle of Fiero owners on this site, take a look at: "In Memoriam: Fiero Members"
Pretty impressive.....
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09:24 AM
Xanth Member
Posts: 6886 From: Massachusetts Registered: May 2006
Just in case anyone electronically inclined is interested...
I haven't spoken with Cliff, but from the pic, it appears the FDD-X1 dash uses a couple of displays very similar to these for the 0-60 and odometer functions.
This is a great price considering that DigiKey and Mouser want around $35 ea. for these. They ebay ones are yellow though...
The FDD-X1 dash has inspired me to design my own. I yanked the pod from the Formula last night to make some initial determinations.
The preliminary design will probably be based on: AVR Mega32 as the processor (great free toolchain GCC WinAVR) as I already have an AVR JTAG programmer. 56 LEDs charlieplexed for each of the "analog" arcs (0-5500 by 100, 0-110 by 2) 4 x 7 seg displays for RPM (yellow) 3 x 7 seg displays for Speed (yellow) Some of the HDSP-2111 displays above Serial input from my Megasquirt for additional engine status (O2, MAP, MAT, etc) Need to work on design for VR conditioning from VSS and determine if I want to retain the stepper odo. See what the yellow looks like with different color plexi filters
If any of you artistic types would like to provide some styling input, I would be receptive! I have a small CNC gantry mill and plan on making my own bezel so the layout just needs to fit in white plastic shell of the pod.
P.S. Cliff, I really like the overall appearance of your design!
Originally posted by Mister: If there are more available please post.
Verhalen's old dash:
He said that he paid $12,000 for it from AEX Electronic, because it was one of twelve made..... Yeah I don't know.
Edit: for the sake that he said $1,200 and I just have trouble remembering because I used to think he paid too much for it. I swear it was $12,000, but just in case.
[This message has been edited by Emc209i (edited 05-14-2008).]
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07:19 PM
Riceburner98 Member
Posts: 2179 From: Natick, Ma, USA Registered: Apr 2002
Originally posted by lou_dias: I hope Riceburner98 is one of them. He does some cool stuff...
Not me... I love the look of Cliff's dash though, is there anything he doesn't do a great job at??? I'm currently swamped with making HVAC stuff, would love to make them but would never have the time. Turns out making 1, 2, or 3 pieces like this is fun and can be done, but when you try to turn it into a business... Good bye any and all free time. At least in my case. Also you always get more people that say "I love it, gotta have one as soon as they're done!" then actually follow through and buy in the end, something always comes up.. I've got a huge pile of LED displays and chips left from when I was going to make the HUD units.. After selling a dozen or so it completely dried up, and those were only $50-$60. I get pinged every now and then on those, but just don't have the time to stop and build one for the $. Hopefully the HVAC's sell as well as they should, I have 500 LCD displays in the living room that need a home. LOL
Hope to see these clusters in more Fieros in the future! (And I want to see what Cliff's other ideas for the dashboard will be!)
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07:37 PM
May 15th, 2008
savejonas Member
Posts: 31 From: Spartanburg, SC Registered: May 2008
After seeing Mandark's post the other day, I thought I'd bid on a Vauxhall dash on ebay, but it looks like the speedometer might not be accurate for a 2.8 V6. Anyway, they're going for like $50 and they look pretty neat.
Although, I'd much rather have Cliff's dash. You could always release the plans under an open source license so everyone with the know how could build their own.
[This message has been edited by savejonas (edited 05-15-2008).]
-Jason
