Metal Monkey Dial Faces

[Elanlover]

I've started a project to replace the dial faces including the primary speedo/tach/fuel/temp dials as well as our beloved "FB3" dials with those from "Metal Monkey" situated in Wales. I've followed Monty's detailed instructions on removing the faces from FB3, broken 2 gauges in the process and have purchased a hefty amount of crazy glue to repair them

I appreciate all the work that went into getting the Lockwood dials done but I could never get myself to like the white faces preferring to stick with the OEM black faces and a more red look as opposed to the orangey colour (too much time in an Audi I supose ). If you have a look at their products I think you'll be impressed.

For the primary cluster I've used the Vauxhall Astra MK3/ Calibra/ Cavalier MK3 - Turbo dials and asked them to make some modifications. This includes setting the redline to 7200, the fuel dial to show "E" and "F" and the temp to show "C" and "H". Below is a pic of the inital cut they sent me. I won't have a sample for FB3 until they get the dials at the end of next week. I've also asked them to try to go with the OEM font (which they'll see when they get the dial faces I've sent them). Unfortunately, I couldn't name the font so if someone can tell me what its called I'd appreciate it.

I'll inquire about a group buy if there's interest. Let me know if anyone has any questions and please feel free to jump on the bandwagon.

[Enright]

Bearing in mind PaulP's post here, it might be worth seeing if you can get the arc re-calibrated from 170 to 160.

[Elanlover]

Bearing in mind PaulP's post here, it might be worth seeing if you can get the arc re-calibrated from 170 to 160.

No need. The speedo comes with a 160mph calibration so i think it will be much more accurate than the original. By the way, the OEM font style for the dials is Microgramma EF Medium Extended.

[Nige]

I've also been dealing with Metal Monkey on this (as you know) and so we have a group buy of at least 2 . My preference is to keep to the 170mph on the speedo for originality also i don't seem to have quite the same degree of underreading that some do when checking the speedo against GPS, just enough undereading to help keep the points at bay.

1. Elanlover
2. Nige

[Elanlover]

I've also been dealing with Metal Monkey on this (as you know) and so we have a group buy of at least 2

1. Elanlover
2. Nige

I wasn't exactly sure who it was but now I do

Here's a pic with the OEM font. Keep in mind these are just mock ups. The real stuff looks 10 times better than these pics. Nige, did you have a preference for the OEM fnt (like me) or something else? I think they can put almost any font on it at no additional charge (if they have it "in stock"). They make these up at time of order instead of stocking them on the shelf.

[Nige]

My preference is for the OEM font like you as its clear and simple. I've also lived with it for the last 12 years without a problem so it's ok with me, but I've never really liked the red on black as it's difficult to read in bright light. I'm not hard over on the speedo and if 160mph keeps the cost down then I'll happily go for it.

[Elanlover]

My preference is for the OEM font like you as its clear and simple. I've also lived with it for the last 12 years without a problem so it's ok with me, but I've never really liked the red on black as it's difficult to read in bright light. I'm not hard over on the speedo and if 160mph keeps the cost down then I'll happily go for it.

What I've asked for with "my" set is their "double silver" coluring. This means that in the daytime, the numerals are a whitish-silver colour. At night, the numerals are red. The double silver shoes this silver colour when not backlit but red when lit from behind. I've asked for red, not the orange-red colour of the OEM dials but you should be able to ask for any colour they have on their site at no additional cost. They'll sell us the LED replacement buld for the panel as well. Naomi has a donor Calibra pod she'll use to let me know how may bulbs we need.

The 160 mph speed is the exact one from the Calibra which is reportedly more accurate than the OEM speedo. This saves us from having them redo an entire speedo face.

On another subject, the Calibra Fuel and Temp guages came with markings to indicate the actual fuel level in litres/gallons and water temp in C/F. I asked her to replace them with the standard E/F and C/H mostly because I didn't know if the Calibra numbers matched the Elan. I'd be ok with having them in the appropriate numbers if you knew what they were.

[GeoffSmith]

The fuel gauge is bound to be different as the tanks/senders will have different characteristics.

[Elanlover]

The fuel gauge is bound to be different as the tanks/senders will have different characteristics.

Yes, but the marking's don't change. Half is still half. I think the Calibra gauge on their site has an "E", a "30" where the halhway point is and a "60" where the F would be. I'm not sure if that's the capacity of our tanks. I'm sure the temp gauge numbers would not be the same as ours. Who knows what the actual water temps are relative to the notches on the current guage? If we knew that we could insert those instead of the basic "C" and "H".

[GeoffSmith]

Fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate and non-linear so I think you're better sticking to E&F. I've had cars that will have another couple of gallons at empty and others where you're running on fumes: some that stay full for mile after mile and others that drop as soon as you drive away from fuelling up. It's hardly surprising when you look at the technology - float (in a non-uniform tank with fuel sloshing about in it) on an arm with a variable resistor to a current meter.

[Elanlover]

Fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate and non-linear...........

That's funny you should say that. On virtually every car I've ever owned I've always gotten more miles from the first half of the tank than the last half. In some cases as much as 30% more. Go figure. I know some of that is due to overfilling right up to the neck but you also have to think the opposite is true to some degree in that there's almost always a reserve in the bottom of the tank worth 3 - 5 litres or so.

[Nige]

What I've asked for with "my" set is their "double silver" coluring. This means that in the daytime, the numerals are a whitish-silver colour. At night, the numerals are red. The double silver shoes this silver colour when not backlit but red when lit from behind. I've asked for red, not the orange-red colour of the OEM dials but you should be able to ask for any colour they have on their site at no additional cost. They'll sell us the LED replacement buld for the panel as well. Naomi has a donor Calibra pod she'll use to let me know how may bulbs we need.

The 160 mph speed is the exact one from the Calibra which is reportedly more accurate than the OEM speedo. This saves us from having them redo an entire speedo face.

On another subject, the Calibra Fuel and Temp guages came with markings to indicate the actual fuel level in litres/gallons and water temp in C/F. I asked her to replace them with the standard E/F and C/H mostly because I didn't know if the Calibra numbers matched the Elan. I'd be ok with having them in the appropriate numbers if you knew what they were.

I'm also going for the double, probably double white in my case, white when not backlit and green when backlit with the km/h and redline in straight red. Happy with E/F on the fuel gauge and with H/C on the temp gauge. I also intend to replace bulbs with LED while the istruments are out and apart. Naomi referred to the 2 instrument panels under the dials, do you know what she means?

[GeoffSmith]

Naomi referred to the 2 instrument panels under the dials, do you know what she means?

Left and right tell tales?

[Nige]

Naomi referred to the 2 instrument panels under the dials, do you know what she means?

Left and right tell tales?

Possibly, but there are a row of tell tales below the main instruments (CEL etc) and these are part of the clear instrument shroud/face, I know as I have a replacement as the clear cover on mine has been cracked almost as long as I've had the car.

PS. Did you see my e mail, we won the stand, I've paid and am trying to sort out collection.

[GeoffSmith]

Missed the e-mail.

Does this help?

[Elanlover]

She was referring to the two banks of tell tale lights as Geoff suggested. She's sent me a layout from the Calibra but they clearly don't match. I'm going to have a look at them on the weekend. Here's one other thought. I'll bet they could do the fan/heater control face as well to match. Have any interest in that?

I believe she's quoted me 85GBP for the main cluster and FB3 faces which drops to 75 for an order between 2 and 4 people.

[tigerdog]

Here's a pic with the OEM font.

This looks great. I may just have to dig into the level of effort to see if I might join the buy.

[Nige]

She was referring to the two banks of tell tale lights as Geoff suggested. She's sent me a layout from the Calibra but they clearly don't match. I'm going to have a look at them on the weekend. Here's one other thought. I'll bet they could do the fan/heater control face as well to match. Have any interest in that?

I'm not convinced the tell tales lend themselves to the metal monkey treatment (particularly if you go for black dial faces) I'll dig out my replacement main cluster face which incorporates the tell tales and post a photo to try and explain why I think this. The fan and heater control are certainly an option but again if in black I don't see the point, if however in some other colour such as white or brushed stainless then the co-ordination with similarly coloured dial faces would probably make it worthwhile.

[Elanlover]

Hi Nige, the look of the tell tale lamps would definitely be different. Instead of a "square" or light with a darkened icon (check engine icon for example) like we have now you'd get the exact opposite look. A black square with a bright outline of the engine light. I'm sure you've seen the look on other cars where the warning lamp icons are not in a panel per se like ours but are instead embedded in the speedo face in a variety of locations and light up when activated. Think of the low fuel warning lamp when it gets lit and you'll know what I mean.

Its funny you should mention the heater controls. They can definitely do them. I'm starting a project that will see a complete redesign of the fascia panel and the relocaiton of all the switches, etc. One project will be relocating that bulky heater control. So, I'm thinking I may have them do that face for me too. Although, my rather ambition plan would see me taking a saw and cutting the control box into its 3 separate pieces and remounting them separately so I'll need the face solit into 3. I'm sure they could replicate the standard face though.

The changes to the warning lamps and heater controls may not be as noticeable as those for the gauages but they would tie it all together nicely.

[Nige]

What I like about the tell tales as they are is that they are virtually invisible until illuminated, if the metal monkey treatment reverses that then the tell tales will be somewhat in your face all your time. I like it the way it is but this very much a personal preference and I fully accept others may want something different. I admire your bravery at a full scale fascia redesign (Marie did a very good job on this). The federal layout (left hooker) is different to the UK layout (right hooker) and I am not even considering something as drastic as you I just want instruments that are easier to read on a sunny day with the top down.