just dashes (dot) com

[IRKillroy]

so I called them today to find out what it would cost to re do my '88 ranger dash and they quoted it at $660 dollars in black, and $700 if color matched.



does anybody else think this is expensive as hell??

 

[irishblessing]

to redo your whole dash?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The cluster or the pad?

Either way that is a lot of money for what you are getting... no way I would pay it.

 

[IRKillroy]

it's to re-do the pad.

the cluster is a project I'm working on doing a total upgrade in technology.

the center lights box (alerts and stuff) is going to be upgraded to a image display so I can program alerts into it, and if I'm good enough I'll have things like a trip meter, diagnostic tool, and GPS direction display integrated into the nice conveniently placed box.

then I'm going to upgrade my radio to HD radio and have a USB and aux connection eject out of the tape dispenser for use.

this will make the truck look stock but have updated conveniences.

 

[irishblessing]

it's to re-do the pad.

the cluster is a project I'm working on doing a total upgrade in technology.

the center lights box (alerts and stuff) is going to be upgraded to a image display so I can program alerts into it, and if I'm good enough I'll have things like a trip meter, diagnostic tool, and GPS direction display integrated into the nice conveniently placed box.

then I'm going to upgrade my radio to HD radio and have a USB and aux connection eject out of the tape dispenser for use.

this will make the truck look stock but have updated conveniences.

dude that sounds like alot of work but it sounds sweet good luck with that

 

[IRKillroy]

the radio thing is easy... just gut the whole thing... haha.

the display will be the tricky thing as I'll have to get something that fits the size of the opening... the programing will be easy as I won't need an OS in a general sense and solid state memory is so easy to work with... all I need is a "project" box from an electronics store and some basic components and I got me a working display.

 

[baxtej44]

the radio thing is easy... just gut the whole thing... haha.

the display will be the tricky thing as I'll have to get something that fits the size of the opening... the programing will be easy as I won't need an OS in a general sense and solid state memory is so easy to work with... all I need is a "project" box from an electronics store and some basic components and I got me a working display.

document this.. i'm sure many will be amazed and happy you did it

 

[IRKillroy]

It's gonna be a while, as I said I'm gonna have to find a display that fits the opening, and all the ones I've found are either too short or too wide.

the electronics are the simplest part as I'm not good at programing... so I'll probably ask some friends for favors.

 

[Psychopete]

the electronics are the simplest part as I'm not good at programing... so I'll probably ask some friends for favors.

Are you going to try and use a PIC?

 

[IRKillroy]

um, are you talking about what electronics I'm gonna use or you asking about a picture using caps?

I'm not heavy into acronyms for electronics, but I'm working with a friend of mine who's an electrical engineer for help on the components I need.... he knows where I can get them 'cause radioshack is only good for so much.

as for the screen, I'd like to use a TFT screen 'cause it can be all black with colored warning lights. But that's where my problems for the screen is, I haven't found a TFT screen that fills the whole opening... it's either too wide and short or so close that you start imagining ways to make the hole smaller.

 

[Psychopete]

um, are you talking about what electronics I'm gonna use or you asking about a picture using caps?

It's a programmable microchip. It can be programmed in assembly (not very easy ), PIC Basic, or I've heard of some even writing code for it in C.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIC_microcontroller
http://www.microchip.com/

Pete

 

[IRKillroy]

my brother knows the programing in C and C++ so, knowing that it's simple input - display image@loc#,# is easy enough with the images uploaded to a solid state memory of some kind (that's easy enough) and the electronics are easy with the help of my electrical engineer friend... I'm gonna have a hard enough time finding that dang screen

but I find your links informational and I do appreciate them... thanks pete.