[aharrin1]

Ready for the verbal beating, but i'm interested in creating some digital gauges for my 84 300SD. Currently everything works except the clock. I do like the original style instrument cluster and i'll probably keep it, but just for shits and giggles, i want to make a digital cluster.

I plan on using either a Raspberry Pi - Raspberry Pi | An ARM GNU/Linux box for $25. Take a byte!
or an Arduino board, as they already have places for pin in/out. Then i'll probably use something like this https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8335 24 bit color screen (maybe 2) to display speedometer, tachometer, and clock data and maybe a small monochrome screen or two to display fuel, oil pressure, coolant temp, and anything else i have access to.

Does anyone know or have any data in terms of pinouts, voltages, and types of signals that come from the digital connectors already plugged into the back of my instrument panel?

Thanks!

Oh, in case there are questions as to my technological know how. I'm an aerospace engineer and deal with technical stuff (and programming) all the time.

 

[mclare]

Ready for the verbal beating, but i'm interested in creating some digital gauges for my 84 300SD. Currently everything works except the clock. I do like the original style instrument cluster and i'll probably keep it, but just for shits and giggles, i want to make a digital cluster.

I plan on using either a Raspberry Pi - Raspberry Pi | An ARM GNU/Linux box for $25. Take a byte!
or an Arduino board, as they already have places for pin in/out. Then i'll probably use something like this https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8335 24 bit color screen (maybe 2) to display speedometer, tachometer, and clock data and maybe a small monochrome screen or two to display fuel, oil pressure, coolant temp, and anything else i have access to.

Does anyone know or have any data in terms of pinouts, voltages, and types of signals that come from the digital connectors already plugged into the back of my instrument panel?

Thanks!

Oh, in case there are questions as to my technological know how. I'm an aerospace engineer and deal with technical stuff (and programming) all the time.

Hi there, I'm Michael and welcome to the board.

Let me start off with my credentials: I too am an Aerospace Engineer (Electrical and Computer, my daughter is an Aeronautical Engineer at Northrop) and worked for MIT Lincoln Labs, GTE and Gould Nav/Com systems. I have two 560's, an SEC and SEL. I have done numerous 'modernization' upgrades and have published most of them here.

I have toyed with the idea of doing to a purely digital system and installing all of the modern sensors that cars have today (Distance controls, glass cockpit, yadda yadda) but really found that the amount of effort just wasn't really worth it. I have a fully restored 560 SEC and have added almost 60HP and 75 ft.Lbs of torque. Having said that, and being a tech junkie since age ten, I just could not justify the amount of conversion work needed. D/A's, A/D's, a completely separate processor and OS and of course the custom made plasma displays. I had toyed of using my Android tablet replacing the ACC panel and radio and ashtray. If you are going to do it, might as well do everything. I also toyed

With me, I was doing a comprehensive motor rebuild and also a chassis rebuild/refresh that took 20 months all on its own, and I didn't want to delay that even a single day. I documented it all in my thread "A Trek Up North"here and you can read about it. I had the entire car completely apart down to the firewalls on both sides. A LOT of wires, a lot of A/D's and D/A's and I just didn't want to cope with that then.

So I compromised and upgraded what I could. I have a modern radio with DVD/NAV/Sat Radio with front and rear IR cameras, and I am upgrading that to the new Sony 701 unit that is double din and will look more factory installed. I had also toyed with doing a HUD since I came out of the Naval Air. I wanted to have the front IR camera overlay onto the windshield along with important data such as speed and RPM.

At this point what I really want to upgrade is the transmission to a newer electronic version so I can have paddle shift! That is HiPri right now.

I have all of the schematics of course that are on the disks, and I also have the paper manuals of the entire car, which include many schematics that are NOT included in the disk sets. Mainly for the A/C system, but other systems as well. If you PM me your email, I can send you the electronic media.

Lastly, (and I don't want to sound like a conceded prick, but I know I will) why do it to a '84 SD? This scope of a project should go into 'show car'. IMO. But if you decide to tackle it, I will help if I can.

Take care,

Michael

 

[aharrin1]

Thanks Michael. I am a new 300SD owner. This is not only my first diesel, its my first Benz, and only the second car i've ever paid for! I just got the Service Manual CDs and plan on digging around in there. I dont really plan on adding any sensors, just using what the car already has, just making digital displays for them. My buddy at work was also like "make a HUD!" but as you properly stated, this is no show car. Although, maybe someday i'll have the only 300SD show car out there ;-)

 

[mclare]

Well if I can help you, LMK. I am one of the few that has actually taken their car completely apart and put it back together, twice. I know the electrical systems fairly well, so if I can answer anything, just ask.

 

[aharrin1]

thanks! I'm sure i'll be sending you a message or two in the not too distant future