G
Guest
·I’ve been studying this mod for some time now and found out that the main problem wasn’t just an overlay that can easily be fitted on the gauge cluster but how to make the speedo display the correct reading without affecting VSS signal that’s going to the PCM.
After reading what other members had to say about this mod and their suggestions to how it might be done, I decided to just focus on modifying the odometer itself rather than playing with the generated signal at the sensor.
I already knew that I need to reduce the signal by %25 so that it could reflect the added 50mph to the new overlay. So I started hunting for a company that would manufacture a device that could reduce the incoming signal by the %25 we’re looking for. The biggest obstacle here was finding one that could do a small run and at the same time be cheap enough to be affordable to us.
After sending tens of E-mails to deferent companies I finally found one that looked promising. It’s a small electronic company located in Europe. After few E-mails explaining what I need, they sent me the first prototype device for testing (it’s half the size of a pack of cigarettes). I installed it (4 wires in total: negative, positive, original VSS signal-in, processed VSS signal-out) and took the SS for a spin, it worked flawlessly. Although I didn’t have a 200mph overlay, but it was clearly showing that it was off by %25 on the current face gauge compared with a GPS (Speed on gauge 30mph , speed on GPS 40mph)
At this point I shifted my attention to the 200mph overlay, I tried looking for any custom faces that I could find for the 93-96 Z28 gauge cluster. And I was especially interested in the ones that Fleetwood SS made, from the feedback that some posted on his thread, it was obvious that they were high quality designs. But that was four years ago, and none of the links and pics on those threads are still active. I E-mailed some members that were interested back then in the 200mph overlay hoping that they might have saved any pics on their hard drive, but with no luck. The only 200mph I saw was for the 97+ Z28 gauge clusters that were made by Granatelli (pic) although it was missing few numbers (90, 110, 130) but never the less it gave me an idea how it might look.
So I started looking for someone to design and produce a custom overlay. I made sure that my standards for the final product were high by insisting that it must equal or exceeds the stock gauge face in terms of functionality and looks. This was the only way I could rollout any low quality company and guarantee that I won’t have any illumination problems (low transparency issue) with the new overlay or none accurate speedo number printing. I E-mailed few companies and also some E-Bay sellers, finally was lucky enough to find one special company that can do the job. What made this company so special is that they are the same guys who designed and produced the Granatelli cluster face and also did all the faces for Dale Earnhart's Intimidator, SS Camaro and many other specialty faces.
The final product isn’t yet confirmed. But basically it’s going to look like the 97+ Z28 gauge face that they made for Granatelli but numbers at 20 mph increments and it will show thicker line at every 10 mph and thinner line for every 5 mph. I’m also interested in telling them to highlight the RPM range from 2800 – 4200 and call it “Power Band”.
I still didn’t confirm to both companies exactly how many I’m planning on ordering as I wanted to check if enough members are interested in getting a kit (This will be a huge factor on determining the final price).
I’m shooting for $120/- a kit, after all it’s just an appearance mod but I can’t promise anything yet before knowing "basically" how many are really interested in getting one.
So please tell me what you think?
Edit: I received few inquiries and one of them pointed out something I forgot to mention, because we modified the incoming VSS signal the odometer will not reflect the real mileage. It will always be less by %25.
After reading what other members had to say about this mod and their suggestions to how it might be done, I decided to just focus on modifying the odometer itself rather than playing with the generated signal at the sensor.
I already knew that I need to reduce the signal by %25 so that it could reflect the added 50mph to the new overlay. So I started hunting for a company that would manufacture a device that could reduce the incoming signal by the %25 we’re looking for. The biggest obstacle here was finding one that could do a small run and at the same time be cheap enough to be affordable to us.
After sending tens of E-mails to deferent companies I finally found one that looked promising. It’s a small electronic company located in Europe. After few E-mails explaining what I need, they sent me the first prototype device for testing (it’s half the size of a pack of cigarettes). I installed it (4 wires in total: negative, positive, original VSS signal-in, processed VSS signal-out) and took the SS for a spin, it worked flawlessly. Although I didn’t have a 200mph overlay, but it was clearly showing that it was off by %25 on the current face gauge compared with a GPS (Speed on gauge 30mph , speed on GPS 40mph)
At this point I shifted my attention to the 200mph overlay, I tried looking for any custom faces that I could find for the 93-96 Z28 gauge cluster. And I was especially interested in the ones that Fleetwood SS made, from the feedback that some posted on his thread, it was obvious that they were high quality designs. But that was four years ago, and none of the links and pics on those threads are still active. I E-mailed some members that were interested back then in the 200mph overlay hoping that they might have saved any pics on their hard drive, but with no luck. The only 200mph I saw was for the 97+ Z28 gauge clusters that were made by Granatelli (pic) although it was missing few numbers (90, 110, 130) but never the less it gave me an idea how it might look.
So I started looking for someone to design and produce a custom overlay. I made sure that my standards for the final product were high by insisting that it must equal or exceeds the stock gauge face in terms of functionality and looks. This was the only way I could rollout any low quality company and guarantee that I won’t have any illumination problems (low transparency issue) with the new overlay or none accurate speedo number printing. I E-mailed few companies and also some E-Bay sellers, finally was lucky enough to find one special company that can do the job. What made this company so special is that they are the same guys who designed and produced the Granatelli cluster face and also did all the faces for Dale Earnhart's Intimidator, SS Camaro and many other specialty faces.
The final product isn’t yet confirmed. But basically it’s going to look like the 97+ Z28 gauge face that they made for Granatelli but numbers at 20 mph increments and it will show thicker line at every 10 mph and thinner line for every 5 mph. I’m also interested in telling them to highlight the RPM range from 2800 – 4200 and call it “Power Band”.
I still didn’t confirm to both companies exactly how many I’m planning on ordering as I wanted to check if enough members are interested in getting a kit (This will be a huge factor on determining the final price).
I’m shooting for $120/- a kit, after all it’s just an appearance mod but I can’t promise anything yet before knowing "basically" how many are really interested in getting one.
So please tell me what you think?
Edit: I received few inquiries and one of them pointed out something I forgot to mention, because we modified the incoming VSS signal the odometer will not reflect the real mileage. It will always be less by %25.
