In a message dated 5/27/07 1:02:14 PM, jbange@GMAIL.COM writes:

> You know, I bet if someone took all the various indicators, switches,
> gauges, and buttons we've all collectively added to our vans and equipped
> one van with all of them, they'd end up with a really cool control panel ,
> like the nav/engineer panel� on the right side of this photo of the cockpit
> of a C-141:
> <http://tinyurl.com/2x4ps7>
> 
> Personally, that is my goal...
> 
> 
When I first saw this post, I thought that here was a comment from a kindred 
soul who enjoyed the movement of carefully ordered dials singing the refrains 
of a well engineered vehicle. Now I see that the thread has degenerated (!) to 
the mirthful reminiscences of formerly airbound transport professionals 
musing about the lack of size and speed of their Vanagon rides.

But the insight of the first poster should not go unlauded. As I move through 
the night with my gauge array (described and illustrated at Alistair Bell's 
site) both within the custom instrument cluster and distributed about the dash 
and heater fascia dutifully wiping away the seeming boredom of the well 
functioning machine, I marvel at the yellow backlit gauges, periodically flick the 
radiator, oil cooler and intercooler fan override switches to check the 
function of the monitoring lights and once again consider how I could adapt real time 
tire pressure monitors into the information array. 

But this note is belated triggered by a blatant commercial email I received 
from Speedhut.com announcing a new group of custom 2 5/8 inch gauges that mount 
in 2 1/16 inch gauge holes and a new EGT gauge and sender with sufficient 
length to mount in the Vanagon (and support TDi conversions). These are the best 
gauges that I have ever encountered with 270 degree sweep, built in 
microprocessors and data output capability (settable output triggers for emergence 
warnings). They are pricey, but the outfit is offering a 15% discount with 
promotion code: "0526MEM". Their website: www.speedhut.com. Except for my 12 gauge 
purchase, I have to fiscal interest in the operation.

Hope this is of some value ... love to support US high tech entrepreneurs!

Frank Grunthaner

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