Update:

My young programmer has pulled the pin unfortunately. He had a small window to work on this project and it's over. The challenge is to do this with the smallest cheapest microchip possible. This makes the coding more difficult. If all else fails, I'll make a prototype with a larger chip just to prove the concept.

But now I have to code this myself. It's been a while since I did any of that. I'm determined however.

For the techys, I'm using AVR chips. I might just get myself one of those pre-built boards with a mega chip and regulator and so on. This way I can flesh out the code and get it running. Then I can explore some cheaper alternatives and the code modifications required.

This will be a great challenge for me and a learning experience.

The Dawg

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You Dream it Up -- I'll Build it

Update:

Well, this project is on hold. I really wanted to do this, but I just can't find a way to keep the price down. The chips I need to use with my programming skills are way too expensive to go to market with.

Moving on I'm afraid.

The Dawg

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You Dream it Up -- I'll Build it

Well, I've recently been hoping to find a 150MPH speedo and high RPM tach (think SD4 and getrag 5-speed ) I made my own gauge face before. I did it on the *real* cheap. I created my own templates in vector graphics in Corel Draw. I just used an inkjet printer and, since that's not dark enough to be solid black, I printed and glued multiple copies together. That was almost 10 years ago. That was on a speedo that had the crystal changed. It was an '87 GT with a 3.4 V6 with an Isuzu 3.83 final drive transmission. I don't recall how accurate it was though..

O.K., wow, this is incredibly ironic. I just dug up the files. The last version was from March 2002. I had started my own business in computer consulting, but was very involved with my car projects. A friend has suggested I maybe market custom faces. Anyway, what's more ironic is the speedo is a 150MPH face. I'll have to review how I made the tick marks on the face, but, I know I went through a bunch of revisions to get it right and I did make a few different versions with more or less marks, etc.

With it being vector graphics, I could easily make different versions of the template. The first issue would be how to turn these into a good quality face. I don't recall everyone who has worked on these before, but, it seems like at least one member has been able to get these made into good quality faces. Dawg? Anyone?

The bigger issue remains the same, however - how to calibrate and adjust the accuracy so that it works with different setups, especially for the speedo, but, also for the tach for those that have much higher-revving engines than stock. For those that just go a little farther, moving the redline and adding a few more marks isn't that big of a deal, but, getting much over 6K much less closing in on or passing 8K RPM is going to require a lot more.

BTW, Dawg, was your programmer fieroluke? Or where is he now? Seems like he was skilled and ready to make this happen. Any chance we could revive this effort?

I'll try and get the images loaded with PIP here. First try at that, so, let's see

Posted before, last year, but I'll ask again..

Any chance you'd share the vector file to save me re-creating it? I don't care what format, .eps, .ai, whatever..

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Currently in the middle of my 88 + 3800NA swap

Actually, it was Dawg that posted a long time ago that he had created the files, faces, etc. I just posted to this thread for the first time today. I did create the files years ago, but, I had forgotten that I even made them, much less that they were 150 MPH, LOL.

The files are in an old native Corel Draw format. I got into using that years ago and just kept upgrading instead of moving to and learning a new product. I need to see what formats I can export to with the current version. Not sure how clean or accurate the end result will be after the multiple translations/filters it would go through. I'll test sometime when I get the chance.

Hello.

Nope, not Fieroluke.

As chance would have it, I just recently ordered a product that I will try and retro fit into the gauge cluster. I want it to be neat and tidy. There will be up/down buttons to adjust the speedo on the run.

Won't be cheap however. Which is why I wasn't going to mention it. Maybe $150+shipping installed. This will include the new speedo face of course.

I will do one locally and if it works out well, I'll put it out there that I have the ability to do this and see what happens.

The Dawg

quote Originally posted by Xantheon: BTW, Dawg, was your programmer fieroluke? Or where is he now? Seems like he was skilled and ready to make this happen. Any chance we could revive this effort?

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You Dream it Up -- I'll Build it

[This message has been edited by Dawg (edited 07-01-2011).]

I can import native corel draw.

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Currently in the middle of my 88 + 3800NA swap

Well, this post has come a long way since I started it in May of 2010. While I am still hopeful that someone can think up a correction device of some sort, I have continued to mess with the crystal method. I have concluded that there is no linear pattern for the frequency. However, I have found a frequency that works for my 140 mph speedo. A 4.9? mhz crystal is reading about 3 mph low. I am hoping that after I install the final tires, it will be very close (or close enough)! If not, I am hoping that Ryan can make it so. Anyway, those two formulas that were tossed around may be good for some speedos, but not this one! It never fails, aye?

Well homies, it works. I tested this board on the bench and it will convert the Fiero speed signal where it needs to go. I'm in the process of squeezing this thing into the available space inside the speedo. Not going to be easy. I have to customize the new board a little to make it fit.

I'll upload pics once I have everything finished.

Finally an adjustable 150 MPH speedo that looks totally stock, I can't wait!

The Dawg

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You Dream it Up -- I'll Build it

I know in the previous message I said it worked but I was testing the scaling circuit by itself on the test bench. When I went to actually cut into the Fiero speedo things got more interesting. But I figured it out and can say that I actually converted a speedo and it worked. In my mind, this is the only way to do this right.

Below is a 140 km/hr speedo that has been made to read double it's scale. Meaning it's now a 280 km/hr speedometer. This may not be very useful but it made it easier to test. You'll notice that I'm sending it a 70 hertz (cycles per second) signal which should read 100 km/hr normally. As you can see, it reads exactly 50 km/hr. Perfect.







Keep in mind that this unit has the up/down buttons. So I can easily set the conversion to whatever I need.

All that is left is to find a way to mount it all together and stuff it all back into the dash. Of course I need to replace the face also.


Yes I did it, but it's too much work to bring it to market I think. I have been playing around with Arduinos lately. I think I've found a way to make this work with one of them. If so, the price would be much better.

I'm thinking about $100 if I can do it. Is that a number anyone would be interested in?

The Dawg

Dawg, I am interested. Let me know if you got something together and a price.

[This message has been edited by race9887 (edited 04-06-2012).]