Can't stop looking at the clock

C'mon, isn't there anyone else out there who's willing to give it a go? You were all clamouring for this harness a few weeks ago.

 

Well, I have sold 3 so far, and have an additional on hold for someone. For those folks who might be considering this in the future, I suggest not waiting too long...there is only one source for these connectors and terminals and they are older parts which may go obsolete and become unavailable.

I know the price seems high for a cable, but these are hand made and soldered individually, and there were quite a few hours spent researching and testing for an item that has a very low sales potential. It was a labor of love ....I am not getting wealthy on these.

 

I can confirm what WhiteXKR says. His cable is of high quality and he has clearly spent a lot of time both researching and making them. It has taken me six months to get rid of my satnav and replace it with the gauges and in this time I have done a lot of research myself. I had almost given up on the whole project because of the unavailability of this harness, so get in quick before they're all gone.

Remember that you are actually buying 3 working gauges, not just a cable

 

Does anyone have a good source for the 3-gauge clusters? I need one of the newer ones with the silver/chrome dials.

I'd like to either buy one or trade for my 3-gauge cluster with black dials... I'm willing to pay postage both ways.

 

I wasn't aware there were different models of the gauges themselves. Are you referring to the chrome bezel? If so, these are supplied separately and fit on to the veneer panel. They are not part of the gauges. Mine came with the CF panel I have installed temporarily and can easily be removed (they are glued on but not very strongly). I will be putting them on my elm panel when I get it back in a couple of weeks.

 

Yes, there are two versions. One has the center needle cap or whatever you want to call it in black, the newer one has it in chrome.

 

I have just been to the garage to check and, yes, you are correct! I hadn't even noticed, but the centre caps on the 3-gauge cluster are indeed chrome and - fortunately - match the centre caps in the main instruments. Thanks

 

Still looking to buy a 3-gauge cluster with the chrome needle bases.... any info on who might have them would be appreciated.

 

I won mine on UK eBay back in February from this seller and he seems to have one up for sale now with a few hours left to run. Current bid is only £2! The photo seems to show the black version, but you could maybe ask him.

 

EXCELLENT work Steve! I'm waiting to drop her top and then maybe change her gauges. Keep me posted.

 

Hang in there my friend. The final protoype of the full function remote top control module went in my car last Saturday. It has been working flawlessly! It drops, raises, reverses and stops the top...all using the headlight button and the door lock and unlock buttons on the existng remote.....Very cool.

If I can stop playing with it I am going to get the first production run ordered this weekend. From there it will be about 3-4 weeks for the first ones to be available. If you are willing to drive down from Philly, I'll use your car to take pictures of the first install on 'virgin' car for the installation instructions.

Price is to be announced, but still under $200.

 

Let me know. I'll be there.

 

Some folks have been asking me how to deal with getting the wood center panel for the gauges. Here are my thoughts:

If all your dash wood is in good shape, I think the best approach is to buy a complete set of used dash panels with the gauge cluster panel on ebay or from a used parts dealer, and then sell your navigation set on ebay. Just make sure you get a matched set from the same car and arrange so that it is returnable in case there are cosmetic defects. Potentially you can recoup your costs this way.

If you are not too picky about exact color and grain match between the panels, then you can just find a used center panel. Do not pay much for this because it is of much less value separated from it's matched set.

Another approach is to just buy the center gauge panel, and have all your panels re-veneered to match by a quality shop like britishautowood.com. This is especially a good idea if your existing panels are scratched, cracked or faded anyway. It is also a good option if you have or want a less common finish (such as the elm veneer).

 

Just to let anyone interested in this conversion know, there is a new gauge set up on UK eBay with bidding starting at 99p. The seller is the person I bought my set off a few months back.

As for the wood, I sent my satnav panel off to some specialists in the UK for a good match. They sent me the 3-gauge version back, supposedly matched to my veneer, but TBH the match isn't that good. I have put the new panel on, but I considered leaving the CF panel I had bought as a temporary replacement.

 

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, in terms of buying a set of used, matched dash panels to retrofit my 2000 nav to three gauge, will the panels from any of the years 1997 to 1999 work?

I have some memory that the turn signals in my other XK8 10 years ago were different than my 2000, but perhaps I'm remembering wrong.

Thanks,

 

I believe they will fit, but if your car has a passenger side airbag deactivation indicator on the passenger side wood panel the older panels will not accommodate it.

 

Thanks- that's just the type of subtle but essential info I was looking for!

Anyone have sources other than eBay to consider? Not much there now.

 

Do you have an existing set that can be refinished? If so check out this vendor: Automotive Wood Restoration. They may also know where to locate a set.

 

+1, give Jeff at Madera a call and discuss your options. He is familiar with this conversion.

 

Marc, thanks, but my set is the post Y2K nav only configuration so I'd need a new one. Thanks for the tip on sourcing.

Can the car be driven without the panels? MadMax Jag?