Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
- Jonymoto
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- My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
My Tercel is the DLX model. So it isn't fitted with a tachometer and I always wanted one, but I couldn't find a proper mounting bracket off the shelf to mount it somewhere convenient where I can see it. So I decided to make my own cluster for 4 gauges out of an old wooden eucalyptus fencing post (that we call red gum here) that would've ended up as firewood. Attached are photos on how far I've got. It's going to be mounted on the dash board where the inclinometer is on the SR5 model. So far I've got rpm, oil pressure and vacuum gauges. I'm not sure what the 4th one will be. Has anybody got a good suggestion on a gauge that will be useful, please?
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Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
go for water temp gauge
- Jonymoto
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- Posts: 296
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
- My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
Thanks Jim, I was thinking about that, but the Tercel already has a water temp gauge that gives you an indication of the temperature, although not the actual temperature in deg C or F. What would be the advantage of a more accurate temp gauge?
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
- Mark
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Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
Battery voltage!
- Jonymoto
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- Posts: 296
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
- My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
Yes, I think that would be useful unless there are better suggestions. The other thing I was thinking of is a 2" warning light that will light up if the oil pressure is too low or the water temp is too high. Is there such a thing?
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
- Jonymoto
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- Posts: 296
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
- My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
The hole in the cluster is only 2" in dia. Is there a 2" inclinometer gauge available? If so that would be fun to have.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
- Petros
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Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
an altimeter would useful if you live in a mountainous area, there should be 2" altimeters available.
Another useful engine gauge in a race car is engine oil temp, which tends to rise with higher engine rpm. for most street driving it seldom gets very high, but if you do a lot of hill climbing you can watch the oil temp rises with sustained rpms.
You can also make it a simple "4wd" indicator, just for fun.
Another useful engine gauge in a race car is engine oil temp, which tends to rise with higher engine rpm. for most street driving it seldom gets very high, but if you do a lot of hill climbing you can watch the oil temp rises with sustained rpms.
You can also make it a simple "4wd" indicator, just for fun.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
- Petros
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Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
you should finish off the interior with a few other paces of that same wood such as on the door panels, or perhaps around the radio or ash tray, just to make the instrument cluster fit into the interior trim.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
- Jonymoto
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- Posts: 296
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
- My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
Yes I do live in a mountainous area which is why I got into cycling. I'll check if a 2" altimeter gauge is available. If anybody else have any ideas, that would great. I will post a photo of the finished product in the car when I'm finished.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
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Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
Exterior ambient temperature gauge, great for knowing when to keep an eye out for ice.
Analog clock would look sharp.
AFR gauge, useful for tunning.
Fuel pressure gauge.
Shift light.
No wait... Boost gauge for your turbo, hahahahahahaha
Analog clock would look sharp.
AFR gauge, useful for tunning.
Fuel pressure gauge.
Shift light.
No wait... Boost gauge for your turbo, hahahahahahaha
- Jonymoto
- Top Notch Member
- Posts: 296
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
- My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
Ext ambient temp and Fuel pressure gauge sound good. But I really like the AFR gauge idea. Thanks Tim. I'm going to look into this. Where would you install the sensor (on the inlet manifold?)?
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
- Jonymoto
- Top Notch Member
- Posts: 296
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
- My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
Oops, I meant exhaust manifold.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
- BaileySims
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Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
I think it runs off of its own o2 sensor. Not sure if the stock one is suitable?
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- Jonymoto
- Top Notch Member
- Posts: 296
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
- My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Instrument Cluster From an old wooden Fence post
"Not sure if the stock one is suitable?"
Now some of your posts are starting to make sense to me. So the T4wd in the US/Canada are fitted with stock o2 sensors? What do they do? Modern cars have o2 sensors to adjust the fuel mixture by the cpu. But our Tercels don't have EFI, MAF and CPU which incidentally is why I love it (Toyota's equivalent but slightly more powerful 2CV).
My Tercel has no o2 sensor and no catalytic converter. It is pre unleaded petrol here in Australia. I will have to weld a bung in the exhaust to mount the o2 sensor. Where about is this bung located on the Tercels with o2 sensor?
Now some of your posts are starting to make sense to me. So the T4wd in the US/Canada are fitted with stock o2 sensors? What do they do? Modern cars have o2 sensors to adjust the fuel mixture by the cpu. But our Tercels don't have EFI, MAF and CPU which incidentally is why I love it (Toyota's equivalent but slightly more powerful 2CV).
My Tercel has no o2 sensor and no catalytic converter. It is pre unleaded petrol here in Australia. I will have to weld a bung in the exhaust to mount the o2 sensor. Where about is this bung located on the Tercels with o2 sensor?
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama