Gauges! More Gauges!

This is a photo showing my effort to create a dashboard panel to install in the Allegro. After much searching and screwing up the dashboard thinking I could just use a hole saw to install the gauges (silly me!) it turns out that the dash has a metal plate in it that already has holes. Those holes just mess up your location on the drilling so much you ruin that part of the dash. Instead of trying to get the hole exact I figure it's easier to drill a patch panel and install that over a larger hole. So, what to use for a panel?? It has to be strong enough to take the drilling and be attached to the dash with gauges in it. Finally settled on these "lavatory" signs you stick onto doors! The plastic is clear with a painted back with the letters. Using the Rust-oleum Accents paint (dark walnut satin) it etches the smooth plastic to create just the right texture on the surface. 

It took about 4 coats but the chemicals in the spray paint softened up the clear plastic and created a very fine pitted finish that was PERFECT! Not shiny and looks intentional! Next I will drill small screw holes in the corners or use 3M tape to secure the panel to the dash. I'm leaning more towards using screws as the main dash panel is built that way.

The gauges are for monitoring as much of the RV engine/drivetrain as I can. After the fiasco with the LH1 as noted in the previous posting I am installing as many gauges as I can.

The one bummer is the Ritchie in-dash compass. The unit is TOO sensitive to any metal near it and I just cannot install this in the dashboard without it shifting 30 degrees off the true heading. It's stupid! The thin metal sheet in the dash does this and I cannot pull the entire dash panel out to install this compass. Total waste of money!

So the LH2 will have extra gauges for tachometer, transmission oil temp, oil temp, and a new fuel/vacuum gauge to monitor the fuel efficiency.

More later!!

UPDATE: Here are the gauges set in the dash. Not too happy about the back panel but it works. I have the tach, transmission temp, oil temp, and the vacuum (gas flow) meter in the upper right corner to replace the crap compass that didn't work at all. I'm looking to replace the green digital clock with a weather center or GPS/ map screen.

Little Projects: RV Shakedown

These bits are amazingly cheap! Guess folks just don't bother but it makes a big difference when you swap out old worn out parts.

Managed to steal some time and do some Amazon shopping for the RV. Some of the projects involve fixing some of the small stuff that's just old and worn out. Cracked roof vents, plumbing vents, swap out energy hog bulbs for LED's. That sort of stuff.

The new, new replacement alternator. These are like transmissions for me.....

Well the new alternator the PO installed isn't working. No charging at all from it so it kills the battery after about 5-6 starts of the BIG 454. Tested it and verified the gauge does work on the dash. The YouTube is great for finding out how to figure this stuff out, as my Dad would say! So, $50 later and I have a new 95 amp alternator sitting on my desk waiting to go in.

I also started up and ran the Onan generator for a while this weekend and managed to bust the starter solenoid. Yea. Found one at Jack's Small Engine Parts site and ordered that and I should be good to go for that part. When running the Onan did provide charging and power for the RV. Really cool that it was still in the RV and in working shape!

The doohickey-thingamabob with all the wires is the starter solenoid. Yeah, crazy what they name things.

All in all, the LH2 is in pretty good shape. Richard spent yesterday stripping off the rest of the crispy vinyl trim inserts in preparation for the new orange striping I painted (see the video on my YouTube channel, lots of fun!).

We need more gauges. There is still some space on the dash.

As part of the "disaster prevention" approach and because of my aeronautical engineering past, I like lots of gauges. I've bought a tach gauge and transmission oil temp gauge (just a generic Bosch temp gauge) to install on the dash. I'd like to find a working turn-and-bank indicator to swap out for the existing bubble gauges.... thought that would be a cool touch. The original P30 panel has gauges for alternator, water temp, oil pressure, and fuel. With the bad experiences in LH1 (the Tioga) with the bad wiring/alternator I do not want a repeat of losing gauges, turn signals, brake lights and such like we did going to Staten Island!!!

I'll be posting how-to vid's of the install on the YouTube channel, time permitting. Have a garage addition to finish and other stuff in the house to do.

Thanks for reading!