triple progress, now with carbon fiber Options

[worn]

I was hoping to have this put together but had an argument with a bag of concrete mix and now I have either a herniated disc or a stress fracture. L4 - my favorite. So, it is all I can do to sit at the computer for a half hour. I still am hoping to do WCR, but that is 4,000 miles for me in a 914. Heal faster (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Anyway here is what we got:

Started with the dies from an earlier attempt. Smooth out the old and mill the new


I bought a rotating table and the mill for this project. Well and other things too


First step was making the clamps.

I also made a punch so the I can start with the holes for lights and maintain registration


That gives me this:


Ready to press. I spent a lot of time setting things up for a pin router to cut out the gauge windows, but that didn't work out. So I have the dies and the sheet ready to form.

[John]

It takes a little more time to remove the bulb holders, but what I do is to cut the original baking plates close to the holders and then carefully break out the bulb holders. Once separated from the old destroyed backing plates, I insert a close fitting mandrel into the bulb holder and remove the original crimp from the bulb holders.

Then I simply insert the straightened out bulb holders into my new backing plates and re-crimp.

What I use for a crimp is a home made tubular mandrel that the main bodies of the bulb holders fit into, then I expand the tail of the bulb holder with an appropriately shaped tool like a small 1/4" socket. This re-creates the crimped bulb holder into the backing plate.

My backing plates are zinc plated steel similar in thickness to the original backing plates.

I know the time I save by not soldering the tubes makes up for the extra time it takes to harvest the bulb holders from the donor gauge backing plates.

I looked back at my timeline, and I guess I have been making my version of these things for close to 12 years. I never did inventory complete kits since everyone wants different things.

[worn]

Well, closing in on the first one that will go into my six conversion car.

The light tubes are clear, so color filters are added. This allows more customization. Colored LEDs are possible for the brake and oil pressure lights, but the generator bulb must be at least 2 watts to get the alternator windings fields started.


Then put together with a face that has lettering at last


Note that on either side are original 911 gauges. The earlier ones had "Temp" and "Press" in vertical lettering, while the later style is what I copied. The earlier warning lights match what the 914s came with, so I am going with that style light, although mine are solid acrylic instead of the original thin color filters.
I am curious what people think. Which lettering style and which warning light style looks better.
Time to light them up. I made a mistake and put the green filter for the brake warning and the red for oil pressure.


I decided to match the red filter with a red LED wedge bulb. That is why it is brighter. Also, I moved the oil pressure warning light to the right hand spot. I am average height, and for me that spot is the most visible, and catches the eye better. You see the other spots, but they are behind the steering wheel a lot of the time.
Here is how it looks with a flash photograph. In person they are all bright in daylight.