Leven Stainless Steel. comments please.
Discussion
Your opinions here please.
After two wooden dashes that cracked both within three years I have taken the plunge for a Leven Stainless Steel.
At the same time moved a couple of buttons to allow for a START button which illuminates blue but extinguishes on engine start, piggy backed from oil pressure light. Had to get billet aluminium bezel machined up for this.
Though some of the classic look has gone, so has changing the dash every three years. I think it looks sharper and cleaner.
Your comments are most welcome and yes I see it won't be to everyone's taste. Just want to know what you think.
Regards, Retro
Edited by retroptvr on Saturday 19th September 22:04
Been going through same thought process for my Griff dashboard but will stick with veneer.
I have a light trim (doe skin) and S/S doesn't do it for me as a combination. The big thing that put me off was, that I sat behind one when the sun was bouncing off the dash, blimey it was blinding.
I have a light trim (doe skin) and S/S doesn't do it for me as a combination. The big thing that put me off was, that I sat behind one when the sun was bouncing off the dash, blimey it was blinding.
Thanks for the comments guys and especially for sorting out the pics Byker / Al.
I really was in two minds being a bit of an originalist but feel it compliments all the other Leven Tech and I really now like it. But there again I would (wood) (no pun intended) say that.
One thing I did find was that the Plasma cuts around the small LEDs left some burn marks and roughness, which needed metal polishing out, leaving evidence that this had been done, however in the vertical plane this cannot been seen.
Yes I imagine it will dazzle a bit with roof off and sun behind, will see as going to Plymouth today and it looks a roofless day.
It does uplift the interior and make it all lighter and brighter inside.
I really was in two minds being a bit of an originalist but feel it compliments all the other Leven Tech and I really now like it. But there again I would (wood) (no pun intended) say that.
One thing I did find was that the Plasma cuts around the small LEDs left some burn marks and roughness, which needed metal polishing out, leaving evidence that this had been done, however in the vertical plane this cannot been seen.
Yes I imagine it will dazzle a bit with roof off and sun behind, will see as going to Plymouth today and it looks a roofless day.
It does uplift the interior and make it all lighter and brighter inside.
Edited by retroptvr on Sunday 20th September 09:02
Not sure yet, I've done cad renderings with an extra 2, 3 and 4 dials, plus different buttons on the lower piece. Due to Caerbont/SpeedyCables' utterly useless and slow business though, I may just stick with the two extra that I have now (AFR and boost). Might have fuel press and oil temp as well but I'm not sure if I really need them as my ultimate plans for the car have changed (less track work now). At the moment I'm just learning how to use pic microcontrollers and am building up a control box to control the new and replacement buttons. Also looking to do a window lowering box al la cerbera to lower and raise the window as you open the door as I'm sick of the windows catching on the rubber up top! (If I lower them I get wind noise).
tbdgriff500 said:
quite like the dash, but very impressed with the push button start, how hard is it to fit one of them!
that would make a great finishing touch to my griff.
The only 'hard' bit is a requirement for a bezel, machined in billet aluminium to fit and match the switch purchased from this link: that would make a great finishing touch to my griff.
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/billet-aluminium-switch...
There is a larger switch available which although will make life easier will not match existing being a non billet alloy (bit chavish IMOH)
So to mount the switch in the link above, which fits in a 22mm hole and then needs to cover the 28mm+/_ hole in the Leven dash, a plain and simple disc of total diameter 32mm is centred drilled to 22mm, then polished. Cost me £15 Quid.
I had the hazard warnings moved under the dash and the fog moved to the hazard warnings position, leaving 'real estate' for the 'UNLEASH' button which is marked 'START' for some reason. This is piggy backed off the keyed terminals. To make it glow blue when there is a requirement to press when engine stopped but ignition on, take a signal from the oil pressure light, stall indicator as well!
All in all, it was a simple task though painstaking over two days racking up the hours. Takes your choice really!
Tim,
The engine will turn over if the button is pressed at anytime but will not fire, a bit like in days of old when there was a rubber button on the back of a starter solenoid which could be pressed until the battery went flat.
The button is only 'live' and illuminates blue accordingly when so (i.e able to start the engine) if the key is inserted and turned ignition on and blip used to prime and run fuel pump deimobilising the car.
I haven't considered the insurance aspect and doubt it will increase premium as immobiliser circuit is untouched and primarily still is the category protection.
Retrop
The engine will turn over if the button is pressed at anytime but will not fire, a bit like in days of old when there was a rubber button on the back of a starter solenoid which could be pressed until the battery went flat.
The button is only 'live' and illuminates blue accordingly when so (i.e able to start the engine) if the key is inserted and turned ignition on and blip used to prime and run fuel pump deimobilising the car.
I haven't considered the insurance aspect and doubt it will increase premium as immobiliser circuit is untouched and primarily still is the category protection.
Retrop
Edited by retroptvr on Monday 21st September 21:08
It doesn't have to be wired like that... On mine, the blue light only comes on when you turn on the ignition, and the button will only work when the igntion is on, immobiliser disarmed *and* there is no oil pressure, so if someone were to press it with the engine running, it won't try and engage the starter and cause things to break!
Tim if you want a hand with it give me a call, its a pretty easy job to do and I'm not very far away
Tim if you want a hand with it give me a call, its a pretty easy job to do and I'm not very far away
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