★★★★George Graves★★★★ Project Blog for e30 Gizmos and Gadgets - 2025 UPDATE

[franco90]

Oil temp, please. Holy crap make an oil temp.

1.Jordan325ic
2.clavinZERO
3.Franco90

[xLibelle]

1.Jordan325ic
2.clavinZERO
3.Franco90
4.xLibelle

[Jordan325iC]

I don't know jack shit about electronics, but if you're going with an oil-temp gauge, would it be possible to color-code the bar-graph lights? As in green at safe oil temperatures, yellow once it gets to the high end of acceptable, and then red once you get to dangerously high oil temps? So green bulbs to the left, a few yellow bulbs in the middle, and red bulbs on the right.

[george graves]

1.Jordan325ic
2.clavinZERO
3.Franco90
4.xLibelle

Wow you guys - one step at a time. It take more than you think to gear up for stuff like this...

I *THOUGHT* this was going to be a small project. I planned on it to measure battery voltage, and be a LC-1 wide band display from the LC-1's own output (yes a real wideband display- not a narrow band like the video - the LC1 just happens to have the perfect output for it).

I'd really like to sell a few of them(the above) and then dive into the oil pressure/temp and other stuff.

Since you 4 are all so ready - why don't you tell me what price you are shooting for? Keep in mind that I have to source hazard switches($5? $10? each? - and custom build them - test and ship with tracking - $4.60)

I'll try and pick up a VDO temp sensor soon. One thing that I have found is that anything you sell has to be painless to install. Here is what I have discovered so far for the 4 of you.

You can mount a temp sensor in a few places:

Option 1 - Have a "bung" welded to your oil pan - mount it there (very bad idea - costly, not true oil temp, PITA)
<<< EDIT I've since learned that this is not true - and oil temps are about the same not matter where you measure from

Option 2 - Get a sandwich plate and then you can mount both a oil temp and an pressure sensor later on - or just block it off the pressure for now.


Not bad for $33 bucks - quality piece...and it bolts right up - all you need is a wrench.


Option 3 - Or do like our fearless leader did (very nice set up BTW - this is what you want if you are only going for oil temp and on the cheap) - just drill and tap the oil filter mounting bolt.


$**Free**

It might look a bit odd - but with some Teflon tape, it is the best solution - all you need to do is drill and tap. Any shade tree mechanic could do it in an afternoon or less.

I'm working on getting a batch of hazard/defrost switches - but my source won't Pm me back (cough*funk*cough) - if you have a lot of them or know where to get them - let me know.

Just fyi, there is a good chance that the oil temp sensor is not a "linear" sensor - meaning that I'll have to convert it resistance and the circuit will have to do some math on it on the fly. That will call for a microcontroller. So - don't expect it in a few weeks.

Well time to order up some parts...and to get back to my main project...

[Jordan325iC]

Haha, I'm just yanking your chain really. I understand how time consuming a project like this can be. I'm certainly not trying to badger you or anything like that, just letting you know that you will have a serious buyer.

I personally was planning to go with option 3. BMP design actually sells a bolt on thing:

http://www.bmpdesign.com/product-exec/product_id/864/category_id/27/search_year/1988/search_model/36

Which couldn't be any easier.

Option two is also really nice. I had been under the impression that there wasn't a product like this for the m20. Glad I was wrong! I could end up going that route, But the only one I can find on racersmarket.com costs $65, not 33. ?

[george graves]

http://www.racersmarket.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_26&products_id=65But the only one I can find on racersmarket.com costs $65, not 33. ?

Try this link - it says $33

http://www.racersmarket.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_26&products_id=65

Thanks for the heads up on the BMP unit.



What are the threads on the oil pan drain plug ? M10x1 perhaps?

http://www.egauges.com/vdo_indS.asp?Sender=250F_120C&PN=323-088

If this one fits - it's only $17.

[clavinZERO]

I can wait, and I'm not a cheap bastard. So.... do what you gotta do George. Excellent progress. Keep us updated sir!

[devonjordan]

Yeah, I'd definitely be in for one or two of these as well, depending on what you get them set up for.

[xLibelle]

Haha, I'm just yanking your chain really. I understand how time consuming a project like this can be. I'm certainly not trying to badger you or anything like that, just letting you know that you will have a serious buyer.

;)

[franco90]

;)

+1

[george graves]

If anyone was wondering what that third window button did...I found an extra one

As far as I could tell it was ONLY a switch - I jumper'ed it directly across the terminals of a car battery - All I got was sparks - it didn't pop like a circuit breaker... So I took it apart.



The contacts are not that "bi-metal" material either (cooked it with a lighter - didn't move at all)...

[nefarious7907]

figure out how to integrate LED's into an M tech 2 ala Ferrari, and let me know.

[george graves]

Got a bunch of research done. Still waiting on some parts(cough, cough) - I'm running out of "free" time to do this - so sorry for the long delay.

figure out how to integrate LED's into an M tech 2 ala Ferrari, and let me know.

I don't know what to say???? ....I'll call you on the bat phone when done!!!!

[So Live]

Im totally in for at least Oil pressure and temperature. Possibly wideband o2 but well see.

Killer progress and idea dude.

Ill go for the econometer boost gauge too :)

[scott_is]

wow amazing...now I want one.