Gauge Cluster Upgrade

Going to a KA24DE motor, I needed to upgrade to an electric speedometer so my ECU would function properly. My tachometer had been dead for sometime (power surge blew it out), so I decided to replace it as well. The housing for the gauges was still in tact and I wanted to keep a stock feel. With the Gas Gauge and Temp Gauge still 100% working (temp gauge hooked up a la the510realm), I wanted to keep them functional while integrating the new gauges into the dash.

FOR IMAGES SEE THE POST BELOW

First I completely disassembled the gauge cluster, removing the housing, PCB board, & the gauges.

As my gauges are 3.125" (the 3.375", would have fit better in the existing facia, but the original 510 illumination lights for the gas/temp gauges would have gotten in the way of the larger gauge. I got lucky as I chose blindly.)

For the TACH, I marked a circle around where the new gauges would hit the original gauges housing and slowly cut out anything that would interfere. (Image 2 below). The only things I had to cut out were the Idiot lights and the back end of the tach housing. The black support piece that came with the new gauges sat at a decent height(nearly flush with the outer surround) in the inner tach area, so I notched the PCB board to fit the screws and hooked it up. (image 3)

The speedometer was far simpler. I just tried to center the gauge as best I could. Rough marked the mounting screw holes, and drilled them out (ended up needing to move them a bit, so they became slots). Threw the back plate on, and it was ready.

At this point I realized there were some .25" gaps all around the gauges, and would like to make sure the lights for the Gas/Temp gauges were sealed properly, and the unsightly gaps would be hidden. (image 4)

I found some thin, black, polypropyinsulatelyrubber stuff (some type of foam insulation material that came in a sheet), and cut it to fit the gauges. The speedometer require I spray glue the foam material to the inside of the gauge housing, and slot the fabric for the gauge to slide through.(image 5) The Tach was easier as the outer surround was a separate piece. I cut a circle a bit smaller than the gauge and as wide/tall as would fit in the tach housing.(image 6) Attached the outer surround and we were done. (image 7)

Put the gauges together and ran the wires. (using the old tach light wires & ground was a quick way to get the new gauges illumination wiring connected).(image 8)

Gauge Cluster Upgrade (PICTURES)

1. Original 510 Gauge Cluster w/Mechanical Gauges.


2. Cut out 3 1/8" circle from the stock gauge mount.


3. Cut out 3 1/8" circle from the PCB board, notched/drilled screw holes.


4. Aluminum backing plate


5. Foam Insulation to hide gaps/seal in light for Gas Gauge (Speedo side).


6. Foam Insulation to hide gaps (Tach side).


7. Tach mounted


8. Finished gauge cluster with new electric gauges.

We've come a long way baby.

Hard to believe it's been a year since I last posted here. It would be impossible to describe the last 12 months efficiently with any brevity.

I started rebuilding a KA24DE engine around June '09. The Datsun then had a major power surge due to a faulty voltage regulator that blew out every light bulb in the car and destroyed the electronic ignition system. Instead of investing in the short term fix of the electric system, I invested what little money my unemployed self had at the time in going full-force at the engine swap.

Soon thereafter, my life changed dramatically (breakup, and HEY! A FULL-TIME JOB!). Finished the rebuild in September. Began the engine swap in September. Since then I have been working 9-5 during the week, and working 9-5 on the Datsun on the weekends.

As I began the final prep process in getting the car road worthy, a faulty bolt in the timing gears derailed my project and bent every valve in my rebuilt head. So I bought a new head.

Got it running again, hooked up the exhaust, got the intake and cooling systems fine tuned. Test drove it, and had no oil pressure. Pulled the oil filter and found a nice bit of metal debris in the oil, meaning my main bearings were being thrashed.

So I bought a motor from Japan Engines (with only 45,ooomi! Why didn't I do that in the first place!). Dropped the new/used Japanese motor into the Datsun over a 3 day period, and fired it up. Suffice it to say I am almost done. Just chasing a few strange electrical issues, and crossing my fingers.

IT IS FAST. I have driven the beast over the last couple of weekends without any major issues (yet), and pushed it to 70mph (on city streets, hehe). It's got amazing zip, quick off the line, and can get up to 50 in third gear without the slightest hesitation.

Pictures coming soon, post swap.