HM-2030 Build Log - The Storm Ahead

[Bruce N]

Greg your wiring is immaculate! Glad you got to get back at it

[Greg K]

Thanks Bruce...more to come soon I hope.
I know some of you know what I'm doing and some don't for power distribution on my car and how I'm not using a premade wire harness. I'm laying it our myself and using a system from Switch-Pros. I have the 8 switch (also avail is a 12) model that is a fully programmable solid state module with a keypad interface. This system is popular with the off-road racing crowd and off-road in general for lighting and air compressors. Many use it for ignition, start function and also has external triggers to control fans and other items as well. For my setup, I'll be using it to power my ignition, start function, hazards, lo & hi beam lighting, turn signals and horn. Each switch can also be programmed to be on-off or momentary and other function where one switch can turn on others too. Other switch functions that can be done is dimming of lighting, flash and strobe functions. Power module will be located in the trunk area. Brake lighting, cooling fan and gauge power will be handled separately.
This part has been a fun project adopting it for my car, it doesn't provide everything due to limits of circuits. My inspiration for using this system was a highly customized austin healey bugeye sprite with all wheel drive, turbocharged honda, just wild on Switch Pros' facebook page back in March of 2018. Can see here at this link if you scroll down to the a March 4th 2018 post and see the 1 comment that is a video. https://www.facebook.com/DesigncraftFab/community/
The system also has bluetooth capability and this car had a tablet mounted in dash to communicate to the module for operation, will also work from mobile phones too, but I chose to use the panel that comes with the system. Programming is also done from app if you want to set switch functions and amp ratings to backlight color. Can be done manually as well. 4 switches are rated to 20 amps and 4 are rated to 35 amps, all programmable.
Pic of Switch Pro components below.

[Bruce N]

Thanks Bruce...more to come soon I hope.
I know some of you know what I'm doing and some don't for power distribution on my car and how I'm not using a premade wire harness. I'm laying it our myself and using a system from Switch-Pros. I have the 8 switch (also avail is a 12) model that is a fully programmable solid state module with a keypad interface. This system is popular with the off-road racing crowd and off-road in general for lighting and air compressors. Many use it for ignition, start function and also has external triggers to control fans and other items as well. For my setup, I'll be using it to power my ignition, start function, hazards, lo & hi beam lighting, turn signals and horn. Each switch can also be programmed to be on-off or momentary and other function where one switch can turn on others too. Other switch functions that can be done is dimming of lighting, flash and strobe functions. Power module will be located in the trunk area. Brake lighting, cooling fan and gauge power will be handled separately.
This part has been a fun project adopting it for my car, it doesn't provide everything due to limits of circuits. My inspiration for using this system was a highly customized austin healey bugeye sprite with all wheel drive, turbocharged honda, just wild on Switch Pros' facebook page back in March of 2018. Can see here at this link if you scroll down to the a March 4th 2018 post and see the 1 comment that is a video. https://www.facebook.com/DesigncraftFab/community/
The system also has bluetooth capability and this car had a tablet mounted in dash to communicate to the module for operation, will also work from mobile phones too, but I chose to use the panel that comes with the system. Programming is also done from app if you want to set switch functions and amp ratings to backlight color. Can be done manually as well. 4 switches are rated to 20 amps and 4 are rated to 35 amps, all programmable.
Pic of Switch Pro components below.

Love the high tech! I cant see not trying to accommodate some modern tech in these cars to make more functional, driveable, and enjoyable! it is 2022 Think your elect skills are above mine though:( I was lucky to get the EFI hooked up and working! But I am not afraid to try new things and learn as I go.....even if it means doing something more than once... next time is better!

[Bob Worley]

for my build I was considering Infinity Box  - www.InfinityBox.com - which is popular with the FFR crowd in the GTM - but its really expensive.  Kind of wish I had ....

[Greg K]

I also considered ECUmaster's power management unit and the Racepak smartwire system, but decided these are way overkill for what we are doing and 3-4 times more $$$. Some real cool systems and displays out there but doing my best to stick to some kind of budget.....ya right 

[Greg K]

Thought I'd add my wiring diagram, work in progress and not to scale. Will print out on a 36"x24" sheet.

[Greg K]

Finally got started on the dash today, didn't get as far as I had hoped but was able to preserve my gauge layout as planned. Mocked up the grab bar and drilled the mounting holes, five across the top and another at bottom left of steering. Grab bar will hold passenger side of dash.
With moving the speedo to the middle of the dash, the face of the frame was interfering and was not able to lower the speedo where it needed to be to allow the line of smaller gauges above it to achieve the 3" separation I wanted. Got the angle grinder out with cutting wheel and cut the frame in the center to allow my speedo to be lower on the dash panel. Rough sketch of gauge layout on back of dash.
Still want to sand edges of dash and get rid of extra material around the perimeter, Then I'll transfer layout to the front and cut the holes for gauges, switch panel and drill a few for indicator lights.

[Redstang69]

Greg and I discussed this some today. Looks like the newer frames may come with a bigger notch cut at the center. Here is a pic of mine.

[Bruce N]

Finally got started on the dash today, didn't get as far as I had hoped but was able to preserve my gauge layout as planned. Mocked up the grab bar and drilled the mounting holes, five across the top and another at bottom left of steering. Grab bar will hold passenger side of dash.
With moving the speedo to the middle of the dash, the face of the frame was interfering and was not able to lower the speedo where it needed to be to allow the line of smaller gauges above it to achieve the 3" separation I wanted. Got the angle grinder out with cutting wheel and cut the frame in the center to allow my speedo to be lower on the dash panel. Rough sketch of gauge layout on back of dash.
Still want to sand edges of dash and get rid of extra material around the perimeter, Then I'll transfer layout to the front and cut the holes for gauges, switch panel and drill a few for indicator lights.

What is the rectangle between the two big gauges going to be?

[Greg K]

Bruce...that will be the switch panel to the power distribution module. Pics of original concept layout and switch panel with custom bezel I was able to find. Will not need to cut that out, just 4 screw holes and 3/4" hole to pass cable thru. Oil pressure, water temp and volt gauge, no other gauges. Speedo is dual function with fuel level built in. Will also have 3 indicator lights above steering hole.

[Bruce N]

Bruce...that will be the switch panel to the power distribution module. Pics of original concept layout and switch panel with custom bezel I was able to find. Will not need to cut that out, just 4 screw holes and 3/4" hole to pass cable thru. Oil pressure, water temp and volt gauge, no other gauges. Speedo is dual function with fuel level built in. Will also have 3 indicator lights above steering hole.

Ahhhhh. Nice

[Greg K]

Worked on the dash a little bit today. Belt sander made quick work of the perimeter edge in getting it even and smooth. Roughed up the face of the dash by hand after using some prep cleaner on it before and after sanding. Wire wheel used on back side to rough it up a little to take glue better
Laid it all back out on the front and is now ready for the drill and hole saws.

[s_reynolds]

Good work Greg. Really enjoying the new innovations you and the other guys are doing on your builds. Very interesting.

[Redstang69]

You've got to be getting excited to see this dash starting to come together and for the warmer weather haha.

[Greg K]

Some more step by step progress...cut the dash today for my layout with a few adjustments prior. Pretty happy how it has turned out so far, covering it with vinyl is next.