Calais Dash Conversion

[hocus]

just wondering if there is anywhere that does the conversion or is it better to do it myslef?? and where would i find the dash?? it is just a matter of searching though wreckers or can you get them new? and did the calais have the blueish color trim?

[lsprewell]

Well i thought the blue led was pretty simple so I went one better.

LOOK HERE
I Like My Vn


PS: Keep a lookout for this post as I will be putting in pics this arvo of the new custom design VN Calais Dash I have made at home ......

[NORTI]

OH boy..... theres a fair bit of work to be done in converting to a Calais dash.... What motor & box do you have??? there are so many sensors on the EFI 202 that will create havoc.

Im not sure anywhere would undertake this kind of thing for you, It just well might be something you will have to do yourself


I have a Calais & even my dash has bad days when it beeps 600 times on start up.... pretty sad when you have to reboot ya car in the mornings



D.

[NORTI]

Also the colour your refering to is 'Cerulean' its a bluey/green colour.... We once called it Grue or Bleen :P


Dashes arent available new anymore... but I think there was some around with manafacturing dates of around 94 or something?? Best off trying for a running wreck.... The dashes are well known to have problems. You will want to make sure it lights up at the very least.... & then ofcourse you will just have to have faith that the speedo etc... all works, thou thats usually more of a sensor thing than a dash thing...


On that note I have a working dash still in the car here.....



D.

[NORTI]

Well i thought the blue led was pretty simple so I went one better.

LOOK HERE
I Like My Vn


PS: Keep a lookout for this post as I will be putting in pics this arvo of the new custom design VN Calais Dash I have made at home ......

Unfortunetly the VN's & VK's are very different when it comes to Calais conversions.....


D.

[Mr Robbo - The General]

What about going the other way and getting rid of the digi? Not really worried mine actually works O M G lol. But im curious.

[lsprewell]

Unfortunetly the VN's & VK's are very different when it comes to Calais conversions.....


D.

Yes they are different, no @#$%!

But its possible, can be done, seen it done, and so on and so on!!!

[NORTI]

Yes they are different, no @#$%!

But its possible, can be done, seen it done, and so on and so on!!!

you didnt have to be rude.... I was pointing out that due to the differences between VN exec-Calais & VK exec-Calais, that your post may not be all that helpful.


D.

[Shifty1]

if your car isnt EFI, dont bother, itll simply require too much.. if it is, it'd be interesting to see the outcome..

[hocus]

might just keep with the ugly squares!
plus i have a 5spd supra box in the car, so that may not help with what ever it uses for speedo etc... i know i have prob with the speedo cable as it is, bloody thing keeps snapping! but i know how to fix it for good, just lazy!
one question thoough, my dash lights are real dim, does anyone else have that problem? i replaced all the bulbs, didnt make a differance, i'm thinking it could be lack of voltage getting to the dash but i'm not sure if thats the reason.

[V-ahhh]

yeh i 2 would like 2 no how 2 make the dash lights brighter?

[vkberlina]

Ok with the Calias dash conversion you can do the following.Including cruise control etc...

You can install the calais dash speakers into any VK dash you just need to trim out the holes for the speakers see my site for info.

To install the electronic dash you need the following

Digital instument cluster
Wiring harness for the dash cluster
Engine sensors arent as big a deal as people make out, transducer does the speedo for you, your normal engine temp, oil pressure guages will work just fine, you will need to install a low coolant sensor in your radiator, tacho is done off your coil via the normal wiring pretty simple really.
Dash facia with trip computer buttons
Trip computer module
Transducer with speedo adapter (transducer is used for 2 things cruise control & digital dash)
speedo cable from the gearbox tot he transducer
Cruise ocntrol Power unit - this is the vacume diaphram that controls the throttle body for carbie.
2 vacume switches for the brake & clutch pedals for the cruise control
cruise control switch for the steering column
Steering column to unless you want to drill a hole in your current steering column top.
a few meters of vacume hose.

Then its just a matter of plugging it all in and bolting it all up.

There are probably a few minor things I have missed but thats the guts of it.
I have a complete setup for my VK but I cant make up my mind weather to install it or not, im happy with my mechanical guages.

As for the mechanical dash lights, pull the dash cluster out and check to see if any globes are blown if they aren you can take the little condom things off the globes which will help a little, if not you can replace the globes with a higher wattage but watch you will probably need to beef up the tracks on the circuit board with some external wiring due to the extra current load.
There is glass dye that you can dip your globes in or you can buy coloured ones which tend to throw a better light.

there are other options such as using hi intensity LEDs which you could try they would produce less heat & use less power but I dont know how the light spread would be, i guess its just experiment time

cheers
Scott