Dash

 

As far as gauges go I'd have to say I like the analog/electrical type better vs anything electronic or digital, BUT if you mounted this in the top din as a pop out/up like the new GPS head units or mounted flush in place of the AC controls, configured it as a touch screen for stuff like AC controls and such, and other gauge types like injector duty, intake air temp (before and after the IC), brake fluid temps, tranny temps, etc. might be cool.

Regards,
Frank

 

That Audi setup is pretty awesome IMO! We have The perfect space for the actual small-form-factor computer in a storage bin, and run the wires up to a touch screen....if DCrosby pulls this off and provides us with a writeup, i can see a future DIY project for me in the works!

-Zach

 

Not to mention, tuning would be DAMN easy....do you realize how many maps and WOT runs you could store on a 10gb hard drive?! Plus, you could datalogit constantly....the possibilities are endless

 

I have a double DIN DVD/CD/MP3/NAV/VCD player in my FD right now. Also has extra A/V inputs for somthing like you are talking about. Nice part about my unit is, it doesn't look rice like the flip up screens. It looks VERY factory.

Have you looked at the HKS Camp unit? I was thinking of getting it and interfacing it with my in-dash player. I think that would be pretty awsome.
HKS CAMP

 

I think i may need to try this.

 

The HKS unit sounds great, but I am wondering what it plugs into to get it readings !?? HKS Gauges... (Have None) and If I need to splice into the wireing harness I'd be a little squeamish... I'd hate to F anyhting up or change the resistance in the wireing loom....

-DC

 

You buy sensors for each item you want to monitor. Like a temp sensor that you intall for temp.

 

How do flip up displays look ricy? It looks more factory than having a screen take up both spots, since when closed the flip open ones look like any other head unit.

Many of the sensors for the CAMP are discontinued, don't bother buying the system unless you're sure you can get each one.

 

I agree with Neofreak on flip-up displays. www.digitalww.com sells VGA flip-up monitors.

When it comes to installing car stereos, I prefer the stealth approach.

I've been thinking about this project too, though I was thinking of using a Stack cluster and the PC to monitor and tune a standalone FMS.

 

Just my opinion that the flip ups look ricey. The whole flip up thing looks like you are trying to be cool. Plus the stereos don't look factory, even when the screen is away. To many bright lights and faceplates are usually colored and look out of place. Like I said though, just my opinon.

 

go ahead and give it a shot man!

 

that audi is nuts! thats hell-of-a project, but the pay off would be worth it

 

the cost is about $900 for the 7" screen and a 1ghz cpu, 128 mb DDR ram, 20GB HDD, and a dvd-rom. hell ya its worth it most in dash dvd+screen are $1200 and up.

 

The toughest part seems to 1 Get a stereo tuner that you can tune with software... on screen using the touchscreen, and 2 getting the software API to be able to design your own inteface through a media player skin or just as an application... that could be coded in C++

 

use media engine and a D-Link DSB R-100 USB FM tuner.

 

Wait a sec, Dave... You want to put a touch screen in the gauge pod, behind the wheel?

 

Those things aren't even beeing made by d-link anymore, and they don't have am tuners....

 

analog is much easier to read, especially if have you make very quick decisions. the computerized gauge would be nice too though, something fairly unique and one of a kind. if you want it, do it!

 

am

 

Allright allready !!! I'm off the digital gauge cluster idea, except for the one like in the audi, I think you can make that work without compromising the look of the interior of the car... and if you need extra gauges for things like AFR, Intake Temp, and Rad Temp, I would do it through the AEM, since it provides for analog aguges that are easy to read and you can even build alarms for them to alert you of an "Out of bounds" Value...

-DC

 

Don't know if you know this, but HKS makes a thing that makes it so you can read speed, etc. on a monitor... search for it on their site

 

yes, it was already mentioned in this thread.

 

It's not that I can't read them, it's that it seems wrong to do a replacement of the dash, unless you could replace it with a screen that fit exactly in the space of the main gauge cluster and you could put up whatever "Dash" Theme you wanted, most importantly the stock look, or '99 with boost but still have MPH etc... but that's not likely so I gave up on the dash, and am concentrating on the entertainment / GPS screen that's going to replace my Doubble DIN Stereo Opening.... and I can put some gauges from the AEM software on there If I wanted...

 

If you can or if you know someone that can do a little programming, you can pay them a little money and make yourself a voice com/multimedia center.