so i was on ebay lookin at random stuff and came across this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AUTO-...spagenameZWDVW

and i wondered if anyone here has done it or something like it? i wouldnt mind tryin it out.

 

I always thought it would be a cool thing to see retrofitted. Vettes as well as some mid 90's pontiac minivans (I think) came with HUDs. Just don't know how you'd interface them with the stock computer/guages...

 

I've seen some corvettes with those. They looked nice with them...not sure if a 3rd gen would...guess we'll never know until someone does it...

 

get on the bonneville or grand prix forums. they both came with them and they can tell you all about them

 

Well, the GTP cluster is electric. You will need to splice into the speedometer wire, get power to it.....and you will need a special windsheild. As the HUD equipped GTP's had a different windsheild than the standard GT or HUD-less GTPs.

Basically, it would cost alot. And alot of fab work, and not to mention, the HUD-hood is huge. You will take alot of visibility away. The 3rd gen dash is very close to the windsheild, so with something else on the dash you may run into a problem with fitment.

 

who said anything about putting it on the dash, we're talking in the dash. for a factory look.

 

There isn't much room behind the gauges for extra crap, but if you hack and slash long enough, you can probably make something work.

But... without the special windshield, it still won't work as well as an OEM setup. The special coating on the windshield provides a more stable image. Without it, you'll get 2 reflections... one from the inner piece of glass, and one from the outer. The result is a blurry image that can be hard to focus on quickly.

 

its funny your correct on this.

but have you ever looked at your rear view mirror really well. he "day" and "night" positions are basically angled filters. If you look at the mirror one way there are two reflections. That coating on the outer side if basically a reflective tent. Very directional.

Can easily be dont to a windshield as equally. Answer to the question is, clear, transparent, not shiny, book covers or tape. It will reflect off only the outside glass, and not the flat clear face.

its hard to explain but its all angles... the flatter the surface is the more it will reflect light towards your eyes, if you use a "flat" clear tape, it will reflect in many directions, little to your eyes to where it is almost ignored.

 

I hear they are horribly inaccurate.

 

I have one in my Corvette and it's great. There are two different windshields (one for the HUD and one without) but from what I've read people have put HUDs Corvettes that didn't originally have them and it worked just fine so I don't think the windshield will make that much of the difference. If you can find a way to incorporate it into the dash, THAT WOULD ROCK!

GM OEM HUD's are integrated with the vehicles on board computer, so using a GM HUD would be much more difficult to setup. I think your best bet is to find something in the aftermarket.

 

That's what you heard. It's linked with the speedometer so it's only as accurate as that.

 

I have one on my corvette as well, its neat (it also has a lateral G meter built in, a neat freature) but it does require the special glass to view it properly... also it is hard to get used to looking at it... I catch myself looking at the gages still... (Its just a weekend car) . if it was a daily driver I would get used to looking at it...

NOW the biggest issue for me would be if you install this unit and you stop looking at the gages.. if you for instance loose oil pressure, will you notice it as quickly? or stop charging? Just a potential hazard... the gm ones have the other gages and check engine all intgrated as well...

 

I seldom look at the gauges anymore. One good thing about the OEM HUD is if there is a problem it will beep and say “CHECK GUAGES”. I’m not sure how an aftermarket HUD would do that, unless it monitors everything.

Another thing to consider is brightness control. It needs to be brighter on sunny days then at night. You could probably tap into the Lights On circuit for dimmer control like some aftermarket radios do.

 

I've tried it. Yes you need a special coating on your windshield, but not a whole new windshield, if you can find some way to get that coating. I've done it with my PDA before. I put it in my defroster vent and angled it away from myself. It reflected back and appeared almost right in my line of sight. Three problems though: One, the image was left-right reversed. Two, although it was bright, I couldnt see it when pulled up behind another car's lit brakelights, and three, I still had to refocus my eyes to see the display. So if you're gonna do it, you have to make sure to get a good quality one thatwill actually focus it for you, and perhaps come with a coating for your windshield..

 

Had one on my '99 Grand Prix. I hated it and kept it off all the time. It sounds cool, but it's really not ... otherwise they would have caught on and all auto manufacturers would be putting them in all the newer cars.

They suck, so they only lasted from the mid to late 90s.

It can be a real nuisance to always have some red digital numbers in your face ... especially at night. Like any new technology: Just because you CAN do it doesn't mean you SHOULD do it.

 

Sad but true. When you drive a third gen... you look at the voltmeter and temp gauge every 10 seconds




Which is why my dad's 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP has one.

I'm affraid of anything with an auction page like that. Horrible cheap crap from overseas.

 

Okay, I got a HUD from a '93 Bonneville SSE. I have used HUD's in the Navy for a few years, so I know about the shortcomings/advantages. I was thinking about removing the left dash speaker and modifying that area.

Does anyone have access to the electronic/schematic views?

Jim.