Because I was bored and have no life:


I was trying to un-bling my interior and next in line to go was the big-*** shift light setting in my dash. I had some LED's setting around and figured with the outputs on the AEM EMS I could rig something up. Needed something in my line of sight and felt that the steering column was just too low.
I first tried a spade glass drill bit and ended up with a broken mirror:

So spade bit = bad

Diamond hole bit = good


Drilled some holes, did some wiring, bling. Breakdown is a follows:
Broadway mirror = 20$
LED's & resistors = 8$
Drill press = 110$
Spade bit = 4$
New Broadway mirror = 20$
Hole bits = 25$
AEM EMS = 1400$

A good 2 hour/ 30$ project that ended up taking 8 hours and 190$.......

BTW: I have four new diamond tipped hole bits left over (6$ shipped for those interested)

 

Sweet. Your lack of enthusiasm was the best part

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EnzoSpeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sweet. Your lack of enthusiasm was the best part </TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL its true.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EnzoSpeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sweet. Your lack of enthusiasm was the best part </TD></TR></TABLE>lol
Yes, I was very un-enthusiastic when I typed the post. What was suppose to be a Friday night project turned into a weekend chore.

 

Nice!

 

To do it all over again, I think I would simple drill some holes in the back side of the mirror through the plastic only. Then use a drimmel attachment to simple scuff the reflective coating off the mirror surface from the inside. Then secure the LED's to the rear. No drilling through the mirror.

 

waste of time.. just buy a automeater and call it a day

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by A- &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">waste of time.. just buy a automeater and call it a day</TD></TR></TABLE>

He didn't want a standard, large shift light. Hence, this project.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by A- &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">waste of time.. just buy a automeater and call it a day</TD></TR></TABLE>

"I was trying to un-bling my interior and next in line to go was the big-*** shift light setting in my dash."

I guess you missed that part jackass.

 

Maybe I should be a little bit more elaborate. (On why I chose to do the shift light project, not why your a jackass)

It is common for people to be attracted to blinking lights. When ever you see a light blink, your eyes have a tendency to glance that way. I noticed while using other shifts lights located near my gauge bezel or on my steering column, when my shift light would come on, I would tend to glance down at my bezel. Not really a big deal, but a distracting habit non the less.
Yes, I glance at all my gauge's when appropriate, but not in the middle of a shift.

I wanted something more directly in my peripheral vision without the bulk and sight blockage of a giant shift light like an Autometer.

Here is some footage of the shift light in action:
http://dwhrf.com/don/videos/VI...6.wmv

Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING that any of us do to our cars and with are cars can be considered a 'waste of time' by someone somewhere.
Now with all the other crap on HT about 'what color should I paint my rims' and other bs, why you choose to put me down for posting an original, actual tech related topic is beyond me.


Modified by mrlegoman at 8:02 AM 1/8/2008

 

Nice thread, I really like the inconspicuous Shift light idea. And the fact that you posted a vid of you on a track and not burning through gears on city streets....

 

looks good man. i did sort of the same thing with my autometer pro-lite shift light. i wanted to use some LED lights but didn't have any handy. the light is in the top of my gauge cluster and when it turns on, it shines the light down onto the RPM side of the cluster. if i decide to redo it, i will definitely be using LEDs next. great idea and good job. it came out really nice.

 

VIR