Quote: Originally Posted by gach2 [View Post] Very impressive! The attention to detail is fantastic.....i must say the 110 speedo alert button looks factory. I wouldve thougt most of the 'updated' technology would have looked very out of place on an 'out dated' VL dash but its spot on! Threads a great read keep at it mate. Thanks! Car is now mothballed until the TomTom dash goes in. I'm back in the UK and won't be back until October at this stage. I think I achieved a helluva lot this time around and to see that digital speedo work in line with the analogue needle was such a treat given that I'd invested so much in components and re-fabrication of the dash centrepiece and if it didn't work, I would have been in huge trouble. But it worked. I had an RAC guy take a look inside the other day and ask of the new bits added "Was this an option from the factory? I don't remember it being an option?" I think I've achieved my goal to date. I will keep posting updates on the other work I have planned for the car in the meantime.

Update: Digital Speedometer LED Confirmation from China that they are producing a small batch run of positive diode Ultra Green LEDs for me but will take up to two months or so to get to me. So am almost there on this.

since your such a gun with the electronics side of things, i have a pop quiz for you. Do you think it is possible to make the factory cruise control switch work with the ls4 engine management since the throttle body is fly by wire??

Quote: Originally Posted by osk [View Post] since your such a gun with the electronics side of things, i have a pop quiz for you. Do you think it is possible to make the factory cruise control switch work with the ls4 engine management since the throttle body is fly by wire?? Ok more information needed. If it's a VL cruise control switch, it's quite easy to modify the functions of the switch itself. Although I've made my switch from the blank plate I've decided to take a standard cruise control switch and modify mine for Speed Alert, that is converting an on/off to a three mode button - ie. click once, to mode 1 - speed alert set mode, click again to mode 2 - digital speedometer and click again to mode 3 - turn off alerts (a mate of mine is doing that actually as I'm back in the UK) If it's the entire end to end factory CC setup for a VL, I think it is BUT best check with your local sparky. I've never pulled one of these apart end to end so can't really say 100%.

i have been waiting on this writeup with baited breath, i didnt realise you had made a thread already. really going above and beyond here, and i believe this is a concept car exactly as manufacturers do. that is, you are doing a bunch of stuff, that all added together is quite over the top and too complicated for mass production or self installation. however i reckon that more than likely certain parts of what you put together here will start to make their way around to other vls. especially that digital speedo. glad its all coming together now and i just wanted to say that Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by TheChad [View Post] i have been waiting on this writeup with baited breath, i didnt realise you had made a thread already. really going above and beyond here, and i believe this is a concept car exactly as manufacturers do. that is, you are doing a bunch of stuff, that all added together is quite over the top and too complicated for mass production or self installation. however i reckon that more than likely certain parts of what you put together here will start to make their way around to other vls. especially that digital speedo. glad its all coming together now and i just wanted to say that Thanks! I've decided to come back in May for a week to round off the next lot of customisations. I should have the LED from China in a week or so and am sending that back to Perth. Starting to get the ball rolling for the paint and engine overhaul / detailing. All will be done by Easter. I simply can't wait until October to see this - I'm coming back in May to check it all out. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Mate what you are doing is inspiring! I appreciate the professional finish you are aiming to achieve with your dash upgrades. You have got me thinking. I'm putting an EFI 5L in my VL and am going to wire up the automatic pwr light as the engine check light. I was wondering how hard and expensive it would be to have a new instrument card made up to replace the pwr light with an engine symbol? Here's some pics of the setup: I'm not trying to hijack your thread just after your opinion. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by Farrout [View Post] Mate what you are doing is inspiring! I appreciate the professional finish you are aiming to achieve with your dash upgrades. You have got me thinking. I'm putting an EFI 5L in my VL and am going to wire up the automatic pwr light as the engine check light. I was wondering how hard and expensive it would be to have a new instrument card made up to replace the pwr light with an engine symbol? Here's some pics of the setup: I'm not trying to hijack your thread just after your opinion. Shouldn't be a problem actually getting that instrument card made up BUT how much are you willing to spend? It cost me around $800 to get my digital speedo panel made up. It may cost you less as they had to laser cut a hole in mine. Thing is places that make them don't do a one off - so you will probably get 20 - 50 pieces which they normally do for a production run (which you should be able to recoup re-selling them). The company I used said doesn't matter whether it's one or fifty - still the same price. Another thing you could do is cannibalise a symbol for another dash or another car (doesn't have to be Holden) and cutting the pwr panel out and sticking the Engine warning bit in - BUT it may not look right. OR cutting the panel to fit into the panel where I put my alarm light / speed alert light (to the left and right of the instrument cluster - under DEF or under the wiper button). Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Thanks EvilPet some good advice there. I think I'll check out some dashes and see what I can find. Keep up the good work with your dash concept, its looking good!

This thread is so fricken cool it should be renamed "VL Porn - please fap here ***NSFW***".

Quote: Originally Posted by Farrout [View Post] Thanks EvilPet some good advice there. I think I'll check out some dashes and see what I can find. Keep up the good work with your dash concept, its looking good! Thanks, not a problem. BTW: If you decide to go the "light under WPR or DEF", the bezel pops out so you can use that to trace around the engine symbol on the dash you find. There's a lot of room in there as I recently found out pulling them apart so mounting an LED in there is not a problem. That would be the easiest route to go. But if you're really committed and have the cash, get the panel above the cluster panel re-made. ---------- Post added 03-02-11 at 21:26 ---------- Quote: Originally Posted by 5spdvl [View Post] This thread is so fricken cool it should be renamed "VL Porn - please fap here ***NSFW***". Thats funny! - I think you'll blow when you see the dash fitted with SatNav.

What do you do for work EvilPet ?

Quote: Originally Posted by WeLLsY [View Post] What do you do for work EvilPet ? Project Manager / Consultant / Analyst. You name it I've probably done it, from establishing counter-terrorism procedures for corporates in the UK, devising alternate operation procedures for Holden from vehicle concept, design, manufacture, paint, testing all the way through to the dealer network and spare parts operations, emergency evacuation procedures for MGM Grand in Darwin, building business and IT recovery sites within Europe, Asia and Oz, assisting the setup of VirginBlue, Reviewing infrastructure for Vodafone and Telstra, backup operation procedures for the Perth Cup for Y2K, auditing corporates, reviewing drug documentation and distribution procedures for Pharmas, developing all the contingency procedures installing multi-million systems in manufacturing and banks for example. But I've done a helluva lot more. I'm just crap at pulling apart and working on cars. And I have the worse luck when it comes to cars. I'm great at designing and project managing the work but crap at doing which a lot of people on here are guns at and I look to for advice. The dash and various bits to the interior would be the closest I've ever done to actual work on the car (besides basic maintenance). That involved conceptualising, design / sourcing the information and parts and implementation. That's what I do best.

What place are you taking the HDT plate to, to be remade?

Quote: Originally Posted by Steve [View Post] What place are you taking the HDT plate to, to be remade? Still looking. I'm back in the UK now. Might look to contacts in Asia. I could strangle / punch the supposed "professional" car detailer that blanked it.

flick these guys an email maybe? http://www.colourworx.co.nz/ They're in NZ, but from the lengths you've gone to, I don't think it will be a problem!! They say "your image on anything" so they might be worth a try?

Quote: Originally Posted by NZ_GTS [View Post] flick these guys an email maybe? http://www.colourworx.co.nz/ They're in NZ, but from the lengths you've gone to, I don't think it will be a problem!! They say "your image on anything" so they might be worth a try? Hey thanks for the link. I'm onto it.

Forgive me if I've missed if EvilPet, but do you have a list of all the "upgrades" you're planning on having in the finished model? Tell me to GTFO if it's secret or you can't be bothered. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Long time reader, first time poster... It's good to see someone doing something a little different. I'm not sure I (or 99% of the human population) could be bothered going to the detail you are. I look forward to seeing this car complete!

Quote: Originally Posted by 5spdvl [View Post] Forgive me if I've missed if EvilPet, but do you have a list of all the "upgrades" you're planning on having in the finished model? Tell me to GTFO if it's secret or you can't be bothered. It's no secret buddy. Post 1 lists all the main things I'm doing. Only things that are outstanding right now is; - LED in the dash for the digital speedo needs to be swapped with one with the correct polarity. - TomTom in the dash (actually being worked on today) - Engine and gearbox out and wires hidden - Engine "dressed" / painted, any hose or clip that looks old replaced / heatshields and manifolds painted - Decided to NOT get the 6boost exhaust manifold as that will completely detract from a factory look so am extrude honing the manifold for increased performance (have to send it to Melbourne as only 2 places in Australia does it) - Turbo serviced - Engine bay resprayed - New radiator - 110 amp Alternator - Twin battery setup (one to only start the car, the other for all ancillaries) - Polarizer installed - Slight customisation to the centre console to accommodate an SD card for the boost gauge and some ancillary electronics (all hidden under the lid) and a 120GB hard drive for the Kenwood deck (again hidden) - Kenwood deck recessed for a factory look - will involve warping the heater box - Boot redone - getting slimline Rockford Fosgate subs to replace the ones in there - I want boot space back and the boot to look as factory as possible - Respray parts of the car that were damaged - pull out cup holder (still working on the design for this as needs to be latch / spring loaded as to pop out and go back in and part of the dash) - Might swap the white dash LEDs with green ones and play around with the light sources until I'm happy with it. - Toying around how I can use the Kenwood deck screen to get the car on the internet. That is, wireless keyboard / mouse setup. But again, if I cannot get everything to fit (keyboard / mouse hidden but accessible), I won't do it. - Get the front 2 seats re-upholsetered with the remaining original roll of Group A grey velour I have. So that's the current list. ---------- Post added 08-02-11 at 18:12 ---------- Quote: Originally Posted by NZ EVLHSV [View Post] Long time reader, first time poster... It's good to see someone doing something a little different. I'm not sure I (or 99% of the human population) could be bothered going to the detail you are. I look forward to seeing this car complete! Me too. I suffer from "slight OCD" when it comes to details. Hence why I'm going to all the trouble. I live in the UK and its a killer only being with the car a few times a year. As you can imagine, coordinating people to do things on the car remotely and get the car from place A to place B to place C from another country is a pain in the proverbial butt. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.