Gauges used for LSx swaps

[kevmac]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Dakota Digital VHX with their PCM interface. The speed, RPM, Water Temp, etc are feed to the gauges via the PCM.

Crash, you have any trouble with the tach signal? I want vhx for my swap but had trouble with my 67 Camaro with vhx getting a tach signal. tried pull up resistor and all, no luck. had to tap off the coil. just didn't want to go through that again.thanx

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by kevmac

Crash, you have any trouble with the tach signal? I want vhx for my swap but had trouble with my 67 Camaro with vhx getting a tach signal. tried pull up resistor and all, no luck. had to tap off the coil. just didn't want to go through that again.thanx

No problems, using the Dakota Digital BIM module, it connects to the PCM and receives all the tach, speed, water temp, etc digitally from the PCM.

[imsuchaman55]

We used a cluster out of a 01 camaro. Cost $60 and the PCM controls everything but the fuel gauge. We epoxied the original fuel gauge armature into the camaro one. A piece of lexan cut to fit, and painted black from behind and ready to go.

[rcrahn]

That's SWEET!

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Dakota Digital VHX with their PCM interface. The speed, RPM, Water Temp, etc are feed to the gauges via the PCM.

So if I understand you correctly, you didn't use any of the sensors provided with the gauges? You just pulled everything from the PCM using the BIM? What year is your motor and computer? What EFI wiring harness did you use?

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

So if I understand you correctly, you didn't use any of the sensors provided with the gauges? You just pulled everything from the PCM using the BIM? What year is your motor and computer? What EFI wiring harness did you use?

The only sensor used was the oil pressure. Everthing else comes from the PCM (speed, tach, and water temp). 2005 5.3, with the factory harness I modified.

[sunk99]

Interesting thread, taking notes
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[SamMargritz00]

I made my own dash. Used the phantom gauges and was really easily (except fuel gauge, but thats the sending unit thats bad) Used bolts with green led's for the turn signal and just a simple blue led for the brights to make it look clean.

[jorgensensc]

I just got My Gauges in the mail today!! Can't wait to build the gauge panel!!
Speedo (with high beam indicator)
Tach (with check engine light)
Fuel level (can bus)
Oil Pressure (can bus)
Tranny Temp (can bus)
Water Temp (can bus)
Volts (can bus)
Looks to be super simple to wire it all up!

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by jorgensensc

I just got My Gauges in the mail today!! Can't wait to build the gauge panel!!
Speedo (with high beam indicator)
Tach (with check engine light)
Fuel level (can bus)
Oil Pressure (can bus)
Tranny Temp (can bus)
Water Temp (can bus)
Volts (can bus)
Looks to be super simple to wire it all up!

Those look great! I'm curious though on how the "can bus" gets the fuel level?

[jorgensensc]

I'm going to use a late model stock fuel pump modulator with a fuel level sender on it. That gets run through the wiring to the computer, that then sends it via can bus signal out. At least that is the way it's supposed to work according to PSI. they verified for me that the fuel level signal was sent to the computer and then out to the gauges via can bus rather than coming to the gauges a different way.
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[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by jorgensensc

I'm going to use a late model stock fuel pump modulator with a fuel level sender on it. That gets run through the wiring to the computer, that then sends it via can bus signal out. At least that is the way it's supposed to work according to PSI. they verified for me that the fuel level signal was sent to the computer and then out to the gauges via can bus rather than coming to the gauges a different way.
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Sweet! That should be a clean setup, .

[jorgensensc]

Thanks! The wiring looks really simple. I would have gone with a can bus speedo and tach, but they don't have them in the right size yet. And no amount of bribing by me was going to get them built anytime soon.
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[Operatorfailure]

I figured out my gauge cluster, it was a little misunderstanding of the wiring list. I was using a post that TchncnDen put up (thanks man) and pin B5 says " B5---ppl/wht----fused ignition feed" and it actually just needs to be hot only when the starter is engaged, I had it hot at all times when key was in run. Cut that wire, and it is all good to go, except my fuel gauge but that is a separate problem. I have the third member out welding it up, since I spin everytime I look at the gas pedal now. (I know most people are 100% against welding up rear ends, but I have had great luck with it in the past and will run it until it breaks)

Originally Posted by TchncnDen

Between my crappy camera and limited space it's hard to get a good picture, but these are a little better. I think I am going to redo my plexiglass face and bring the mask in a little tighter, but other than that I'm very happy with these. Here is a pinout on how to wire them up.

Pin color use
A1-2-not used
A3---pink------fused ignition feed
A4---not used
A5---tan/wht--brake warning indicator lamp input NOT USED
A6-7-not used
A8---brwn/wht-SES light
A9---not used
A10--orn-------fused battery feed
A11--not used
A12--lt blu------left turn input
A13--ppl/wht---seat belt indicator NOT USED
A14-16-not used
A17--lt grn------high beam indicator

B1---brn--------park lamp feed
B2---not used
B3---gry--------security indicator input
B4---not used
B5---ppl/wht----fused ignition feed
B6---gry--------Class 2 Serial Data ***********
B7---orn/blk-----rear compartment lid ajar indicator NOT USED
B8---dk grn/wht--vehicle speed signal
B9---gry---------instrument cluster lamp feed
B10--dk blu------right turn indicator input
B11--blk----ground
B12-13--not used
B14--tan---------oil pressure gauge input
B15--blk wht------ground
B16-17- not used

I unplugged the ribbon cable to the message center otherwise the security light will always flash when on. The oil pressure switch is different for 99-02 and 03-06 so you have to use the switch of the same year as the cluster. The 03-06 gets its oil pressure from the PCM and the 99-02 is wired direct as above.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

The only sensor used was the oil pressure. Everthing else comes from the PCM (speed, tach, and water temp). 2005 5.3, with the factory harness I modified.

Hey Crash - can you use the gear indication from the computer to push to the VHX Gauges? Why didn't you use the oil pressure indication? I thought the 2005 harness/computer captured that. TIA.

Rob

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Hey Crash - can you use the gear indication from the computer to push to the VHX Gauges? Why didn't you use the oil pressure indication? I thought the 2005 harness/computer captured that. TIA.

Rob

Rob,

It may be captured in the PCM, but it appears that the DD gauges does not have a the ability to use it. It was not an option on the oil pressure setup in the DD VHX menu. This may have changed since I did mine, if so please let me know.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Rob,

It may be captured in the PCM, but it appears that the DD gauges does not have a the ability to use it. It was not an option on the oil pressure setup in the DD VHX menu. This may have changed since I did mine, if so please let me know.

Will do!

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Rob,

It may be captured in the PCM, but it appears that the DD gauges does not have a the ability to use it. It was not an option on the oil pressure setup in the DD VHX menu. This may have changed since I did mine, if so please let me know.

Were you able to pull up the oil pressue on the "Message Center" window?

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Were you able to pull up the oil pressue on the "Message Center" window?

No..

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

No..

But you still have the factory sensor and wiring?

[ArkGL01]

I did Dakota digital and they work great!

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

But you still have the factory sensor and wiring?

Yes and no.. I did have both, but removed the sensor to add the DD oil gauge.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Yes and no.. I did have both, but removed the sensor to add the DD oil gauge.

Was the sensor there when you originally tried to pull up the oil pressure via the BIM-01-1?

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Was the sensor there when you originally tried to pull up the oil pressure via the BIM-01-1?

Yes...

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Yes...

Mark - I hope I didn't come off as questioning your intellegince on this. I'm just trying to figure why you couldn't get the oil pressure to show up. I spoke to DD and they told me that if the engine and computer capture the parameter, then it should be able to be seen in the message center. I'm should have my setup running in the next couple of weeks, and hopefully I will be able to figure this all out. Thanks for the info!