Interior Exterior
Q:
I never use my radio, so I figure I'll eventually remove it and put gauges there. Anybody tried this? Comments?
A:
I think Sleepless has this setup.
A:
I though about it. I'm not a radio freak. You could put the radio below the dash. I plan on making a gauge panel to bridge the gap below the dash to the console. It'll be about 6" long and join the console below the door look button. It will have a raised rolled lip (rails) that extend lenghtwise with about the same radius as the dash lip. I need to see the sheet metal guy about that. I'll try to get the part anodized to match. It should be wide enough for 2 gauges across and long enough for maybe 3 down. If less gauges are needed, then they could be used for switches. I might possibly design this to have replaceable inserts for various number of gauges so extra unused holes aren't showing. And the insert could be anodized black for contrast. This is a near term project but not next week or the following. Still settling my mom's estate, business comes first.
A:
My plan (I really will do it someday) is to make an aluminum panel the size of the radio face to fit the opening. I never use the radio, nor do I plan to, and the location is ideal for gauges as it's easily seen from the driver's seat. The only real question is how to secure the panel and not have the result look like Frankenstein's monster.
A:
I have this in my Evo.
http://www.42draftdesigns.com/lancer.htm
Its made of aluminum and fits in a DIN spot exactly. I relocated my radio down below on it. I supposed you could polish off the paint to get a bare alum look.
I have the Blackwatch racing gauge setup in the Elise, and I enjoy my radio too much, so it stays.
-Dave
A:
I have this in my Evo.
http://www.42draftdesigns.com/lancer.htm
Its made of aluminum and fits in a DIN spot exactly. I relocated my radio down below on it. I supposed you could polish off the paint to get a bare alum look.
I have the Blackwatch racing gauge setup in the Elise, and I enjoy my radio too much, so it stays.
-Dave
Thanks, that looks like exactly what I want. I might just paint it black, but as you say I could sand it for a natural finish.
A:
Might want to double check and see what the dimensions are. I know the front is DIN sized by I think it has a lip behind it.
You can also get a plastic din plate with 3 52mm gauge openings from egauges.com.
-Dave
A:
Might want to double check and see what the dimensions are. I know the front is DIN sized by I think it has a lip behind it.
You can also get a plastic din plate with 3 52mm gauge openings from egauges.com.
-Dave
I ordered the egauges DIN plate to play with, thanks for all the help! I'm still not sure how I'll get it to stay attached to the dash, but I'll figure something out.
A:
Here is a picture of the gauges in place of the radio on a friend's car. The installation was done by Don at Newport European.
A:
Here is a picture of the gauges in place of the radio on a friend's car. The installation was done by Don at Newport European.
Thanks! That looks great, I wonder if he used the same DIN plate I ordered.
A:
That looks like wood grain. Great mod. I like the 3 guages with the 3 knobs. I would like to see a full pic of the interior.
A:
That looks like wood grain. Great mod. I like the 3 guages with the 3 knobs. I would like to see a full pic of the interior.
It is solid black. I don't have any more pictures, but the rest of the interior consists of a Lotus Trim Shop black leather console cover, a polished Sumo Ball shift knob and a stock, but polished e-brake handle. The shift knob and e-brake handle look very nice. Oh, and a micro-mirror.
A:
I added some in the 'parcel shelf' under the dash.
On the US models you have the heater controls there though...
Bye, Arno,