'73 Resto & Suby 6 Conversion, or a primer on "How to convert your 914 to a Subaru 3.0" Options

[914forme]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I have drawers full, and $$$$ in these things. Evn for me I can make almost any gauge combination I want. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) I keep going back to speed hut and building a set of gauges.

I like them, they come with the sending units, GPS speedo, tachs that can do almost any signal, and customizable with graphics, etc....

For me the biggest issues with gauges is getting the faces to come out correctly. The lines, the fonts, the overall look and feel. Its about quality.

I love building things, but as I get older I have started to realize I will pay for some else's experience. I love being a CSOB, but look at things I have done recently and being CSOB, has not been paying off.

My rotisserie for example. Doug had one for $450, does everything mine does. Oh sure, I could hook up a motor to it ,and rotate it all day long with almost zero friction. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I should use it for my next whole hog project! But in the end to get it where and the way I wanted it, I have spent way more than the $450. But I will say it was all kinds of fun.

I was going to build my flares, looking at the Metal Surgeon Threads I realized, I did not have the skills, to shape metal that well. But I really like the idea of a mostly body filler free car. So I hired a guy to make me a few flares. I don't expect him to be able to configure Cisco, HP, Aruba, PaloAlto networks and Firewalls. I don't expect him to know the details on how VMWare, or Hyper-V work. And I sure as heck would not have him do custom IP sub netting or IPV6 work. But build me parts, he is one of the best out there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

I will be welding in the flares, and spending a lot of time with a hammer and dolly, and easy grind wire. But it is a balancing act.

I could have built my cradle, I have the skills to do that, in the end, I would have purchased more in tools to do the project. Ian made it easy. Same thing with the shifter, I haven't even opened the box yet. I am sure it will be great looking time, much nicer than I could do!

Now, I did my own sway bars. They roll in roller bearings have no binding and no rotational friction. I built all these mounts and sourced my parts, used NASCAR bits, and bearings and retainers from TSC. Less than $100 I have a better system than I could buy. CSOB was worth it!

You win some you loose some. Some times you do it just because the mountain was there.

Now lets get back to building this car and getting it on the road. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) I need to live vicariously through you, Chris, and Doug! My conversion is at least a year out! Okay two, my boss says I'm to optimistic. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[76-914]

Your right, Stephen. I have no problem with getting back on the horse. And I'm certainly no stranger to failure. My craziness comes from wanting to try it myself which is an open invitation to failure. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) About 20 yr's ago I built an airplane. After that I pretty much got over having to do things 2,3 and 4 times (or more). Some journeys are longer and some are more difficult. It's the journey missed that I fear. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[904svo]

I think you are looking at the wrong sender for the speedo, it works off the VSS
sending unit mounted to the trans and is a 5 volt pulse. It is normally has three wires.

This is what confuses me. I have a single lead from the ECU (smallcar harness) that is tagged for the tachto but the tach is the same set up as the speedo with 4 wires as shown below. Also a pic of the circ board they came from. Any idea which post are used and which are not?

Think I'm starting to migrate back towards the original direction of Speedhut gauges. I want something a little newer looking and those are so easy to set up. I'm not as good with small electrical stuff as you all are.

Kent I have the same Impreza gauge pod (manual trans so no PRND321 on it) and a tach adapt to change the tach to 6 cylinder readout. The speedo should connect to the vss on your trans. Probably would let them go for less than I paid (which is not much) if you decide you want to go that way.

Don't feel obligated, just telling you so you don't go buy 'em somewhere else for more. I think I got the gauge for ~$40 and the tach adapt for $65.

Shit, me too, Chris. I don't have a problem with cutting my losses. I checked my circuit board and it is cracked in a few places so that door is closed. If it weren't I'd take SVO's advice and hide the board. All I need is a speedo and tach so I may go the Speedhut or Dakota route. I'll keep your adp in mind if I go that route.

You must supply power and grounds to the instrument panel for it to work, the gas gauge gets its power from the cluster and must be wired to the 914 gas gauge W
lead and ground lead.

[JRust]

I love my speedhut guages! I highly recommend them with suby conversions. Look good & they come setup to work. A little info from you & they are ready out of the box. Of course setting them up was even easier for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[BIGKAT_83]

Look at SPEK gauges, the best out there. Kind of costly

Bob

[76-914]

Look at SPEK gauges, the best out there. Kind of costly

Bob

Hey Bob Robert, how ere ya? They look nice but they're too big. They're 5" and I'm maxed out on the 4.5" hole. On another note I thought I would tinker with the Suby gages. If I put 1.5v, 3v or 4.5v (I didn't want to exceed 5v) to COS+ & COS- the needle jumps to about 40mph indicated and stays there. And if I do the same to SIN+ & SIN- it does the same thing; 40mph indicated. However, if you hit a very quick tap of power to the gage the needle will jump to the other side where it wants to remain. That is until I energize S+ & S-. Now the SIN side pulls the needle back to 0. Negative influence that previously was positive. I think these 2 work in harmony with some dampening effect upon each other. Whatever, I don't think or know for that matter, if the sender from the Suby trans will work with the gage in it's present condition. So, I believe those Suby gages shall become lamps. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) I'll re-use the 914 tach with an adapter (thx ChrisH) and order a Speedhut Speedometer. On that note, do you guys think the Swiss Font looks more stock or the Euro Font? To me the Swiss Font seems closer.

[Chris H.]

Hey 15% off sale at speedhut this weekend!!!! Woooot! That settles it. BTW Kent I got your paypal. Will send that tach adapt out to you tomorrow.

I personally like the eurostile font but that style really matches the later Porsche gauge font. Hold the tach up to the screen and see what works best.

[76-914]

Great tip on that sale, Chris. Ordered my GPS Speedo tonite!

[euro911]

Pretty cool. Which one fits the standard 914 hole, the 4.5"? click here

[76-914]

That depends. The small gage is 100mm and the large gage is 115mm. Your hole size may be slightly larger if you use the OEM rubber ring. No wrenching for me this weekend. I wrenched my back a bit so I'll give it a rest this weekend.

[Chris H.]

Yeah I was just measuring that myself....looks like 4" is the diameter of the smaller gauges (speedo, combo). I had heard 3 3/8 before. Hey Kent, just FYI in case you ordered 3 3/8!

Bummer about your back! Take it easy!

[76-914]

Nope, 4.5". Check post #347. I ended up with 2 large and one small opening after my gage follies. Heck of a deal, thank you. $260 shipped.

[Chris H.]

Oh right, duh...you stayed with the modified opening.

[euro911]

Just measured the inside of the speedo's rubber ring. 4" looks to be right diameter for a stock 914 dash panel (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Font Style: Century

[76-914]

I missed that Mark but I did read the 4.25" gage size before ordering. With my panel I'm good.

[euro911]

I ordered a 4"-er for the 'BB'.

When I get it, I think I'm gonna black out the extra 'ticks' so it will look more like a stock VDO speedo. Also went with the 'Century' font ...

Will look like this when modified:



(IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[Chris H.]

Mark speedhut MIGHT take those tick marks out or print a face without them for you for cheap. They do a lot of custom stuff. I know Chris (my928s4) added a redline on his tach.

Finally bought mine!

4" quad



4.5" tach



4" speedo



Eurostile font, blue night lighting.

$602 with shipping. Can't beat that since the quad gauge comes with temp and pressure senders, speedo is GPS, tach can be set up with any engine you might use going forward. The GPS converter I needed for the 911 speedo I was going to use was like $15 less than the gauge.

[euro911]

Thanks for the suggestion, Chris. I just sent them an e-mail and attached the pic (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll let y'all know what they say

(I also blacked out the Speedhut made in USA lettering) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hide.gif)

[76-914]

Well, I'm 10 days from a gage but I decided to keep moving. What started off as a quick modification to the fuel filter location led to, testing which meant adding gas which led to this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) No fried wires, yet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
I give up, here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg9OiDWLab4...eature=youtu.be

[Chris H.]

Sounds great! Awesome!!!! FYI the magic smoke usually happens pretty quickly so you should be fine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg9OiDWLab4


Ah there we go...a 9 kept sneaking on to the end of the embed code.