Dakota Digital Dash.

Dakota Digital VHX Series Dash

"The new VHX Systems fit directly into the stock instrument bezel of a 1970-72 Chevelle Malibu without modification, adding a wealth of features to this iconic vehicle.

Fully lit needles, backlit faces, and highly visible LCD message centers are a few of the things that you can see which set the VHX Series apart from yesterday’s traditional approach to instrumentation. A few of the features which you don’t normally see are the micro-controlled precision stepper motors, solid state sensors for unparalleled accuracy, and user-customizable display feedback, all supported by an unrivaled limited lifetime warranty which has become the standard for Dakota Digital instrumentation systems . Completely engineered and manufactured at our facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the VHX Series has completely revolutionized the instrumentation industry!"

Originally I was interested in SS-version with round gauges and that SS-dash, but then I had to have that SS-dash, but that would mean that I need to buy SS-dash, which starts from 300$, used. So when I saw that Dakota Digital made this a VHX Series Dash that would adapt straight to my sweep style dash, I was sold. And this one gives you those analog round gauges! This is by far top on my wishlist.

Wishlist.

So I was browsing the net and came across this product:

Detroit Speed Selecta Speed Wiper kit

"A downpour of rain will no longer hinder you ability to clearly see the road. This kit provides you with the performance and convenience of a late model wiper system in a package that easily and cleanly mounts in your car.

The wiper motor contains a low profile, seven-speed wiper motor with 5 delays, low speed, and high speed, rotary switch with a billet knob, adapter plate, and wiring harness. The CNC aluminum adapter plate mounts the wiper motor to the stock firewall bolt pattern. The low profile wiper motor mounts to the firewall and clears the valve covers and brake booster."

It doesn't rain that much in here, but when it does it's mostly a light rain so that I have to switch wiper on and off constantly. I have bought a "China"-aftermarket delay kit from local ebay-website three- four years ago and haven't installed it yet. Problem has been how to install it on the dash so that it doesn't stick out too, since I would like to have dash clean and appear as a stock.

Since this would be an ideal solution to my problem, but 550$ is way too much at this moment for me. So, I bookmarked it and there it will be waiting till I win lottery or something. Problem is that I tend to forget links to my bookmarks and it's so disorganizated that it takes a while to find what you are looking for. Then I thought why not share these things with you and that's why I have created:

Wishlist page

I try to make a new post on products that I come across and then I'll update it to Wishlist page.

Numbers of the year!

56899 miles.

The year is ending and El Camino isn't moving anymore this year, so it's time to see what and how far we rolled this year. Out of the garage in April and back to (different) garage in November. So that 7 months of driving around and we rolled 3614.3 miles(5816.7 km). A bit over 500 miles per month, not bad as we didn't take any longer trips this year. Last year we did trip to Northern Finland and rolled 1300 miles on a single trip and month! 

Average mileage is around 18 litres per 100 km. A increase from last year's ~17 l/100km. I bought a new tires with wheels last year and had to install them under El Camino in September. Originals were 14" wheels and I'm not sure were those tires 215/60 or 205/65, The new set was 15" wheels with 215/70 and we drove with the new tires only two months so it didn't affect that much on last year's mileage, but I hoped it would show in this year, but no. Okay, we had more in city drives than longer drives so that is a one reason why mileage increased. One thing that should help getting lower mileage is installing a insulator between manifold and carburetor, by lowering carburetor heat energy and thus eliminating excess fuel vaporation in carburetor.

Garaged.

Yesterday I drove to the garage and settled in the spot. It's a bit of tight spot but few back and forth movement, it was in the spot. First thing was to disconnect battery for the winter. Basically that was it. As I have a problem with the water seeping on passanger side of the car, both back and front of the seat, I opened both windows so that it would evaporate before I start to take interior a part.

Hibernation.

 

Garage spot.

So, I got a spot on a garage for this winter. It's close to home, warm and rent is below average around here.

Shelves were empty but those are now filled with dashes, vents, exterior trim, interior stuff and all the small things I might need during long dark night. I just can't wait to go in to the garage and start working on something. Just about anything!