E21 Project Thread - Part 2

[Bassboy3313]

I feel so accomplished for the smallest things today. Finally figured out why my tach wasn't working. All the threads I read on m20 swaps into e21 say to wire the ecu tach output to the e21 fuse box tach pin and it should work. Well not for me. I then learned that the e21 tach runs off a 12v pulse signal and the e30 ecu (or in my case megasquirt) sends a 5v sine wave signal to the e30 tach. Brian and a few others mentioned to run it straight off the ignition coil to test it. I did it while the ecu signal was still attached and all that did was prevent the car from starting. Removed the ecu signal and the tach works! Straight off the coil. So that's how I will be running it.

Also, my temp gauge wasn't working either. Retraced the harness I made to connect the e30 c101 connector to the e21 fuse box plug and sure enough, the temp gauge wire solder points came undone. Resoldered them back together, better this time, and that works great now too!

Now to just get the speedo to work with the vss when the new diff goes in. Paging Mike (hipmf)

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[Bassboy3313]

The recent project ...

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[Bassboy3313]

I've gotten into a soldering kick lately and decided to revamp my dim tail lights. The old incandescent bulbs just don't cut it, especially since the e21 doesn't have a third brake light either. So, I started making my own led panels out of led strip lights. I will be doing the turn signals, brake lights and tail lights. The reverse lights don't work anyways right now (probably should look into that with the e30 trans swap connectors and such) so I'll deal with those another time.

Soldering started

Led panel installed without lens

Led panel installed WITH lens.

Should be nice and bring now! I finished up all the soldering for both turn signals, 2 out of 4 brake lights (2 per side) and the tail lights. I will be trying out a 100 ohm resistor to see if that lowers the light output for the tail lights so they aren't as bring as the brake lights. I ordered more red strip lights to finish up the remaining 2 brake lights as well as an led flasher that will plug into the stock location. Eliminating the fast blinking normally caused by leds. Hoping to have these done for the Oct 15th cruise.

[YoungCR]

Preventing mayhem like this!

[Jdesign]

Im am totally digging the quik-latch in the roundel. Brilliant.

[Bassboy3313]

Tail lights are done except one brake light on each side. Waiting on more strips lights to come in mail. The individual leds in the brake light show up more in the camera then they do in person, just an fyi.

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[Daggerty]

Bassboy3313 said:

Tail lights are done except one brake light on each side. Waiting on more strips lights to come in mail. The individual leds in the brake light show up more in the camera then they do in person, just an fyi.

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Now I should know when you are braking next time I'm behind you lmao. Didn't want to call you out on the way to veloce I figured you knew, and you did.

[Bassboy3313]

Daggerty said:

Now I should know when you are braking next time I'm behind you lmao. Didn't want to call you out on the way to veloce I figured you knew, and you did.

Its all good. Snap called me out on the previous cruise and I just forgot about it. I found that the brake light switch wire was pulled very taught, which was causing it to intermittently pull away from the switch. I fixed that wire and now did these LEDs, so I am hoping it should stay A-OK now.

[Bassboy3313]

Messed around with some cheap red digital gauges to match the volt gauge I installed in my tach. Took them apart and made my own face plate decals to hide what I didn't want shown. Going for the simple look. Put them back together and you'd never know I messed with them once lit up.

Waiting on the oil temp gauge to arrive so I can give it the same treatment. Then I'll just have to figure out something for the wideband to match these. Hhmmmm.

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[Bassboy3313]

Got the last 2 gauges in the mail and put my custom touches to them. So all 4 are done and ready to install.

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[Bassboy3313]

I had finished my led taillights and front turn signals in time for the cruise and also ordered some led license plate bulbs too, but clearly I didn't make the cruise, lol. Figured I would install the license plate bulbs and see how everything going looks. I'm digging it!

Taillights on

Taillights and brakes

Brakes on

I also got an led bulb for the trunk light too and figured out why it never worked. +12v wire was removed from inside the trunk lid. Ran a new one from battery and done.

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[Jdesign]

Where did you order the LED panels for the taillights and How much did they cost ? I would totally be interested in doing something like that and would want to know your process.

[Bassboy3313]

I actually made the led panels myself using strip lights. It was a heck of a lot cheaper than buying the panels themselves and also aided in keeping them the same brightness and color. You can see partly how I did it a few posts up. Or just click this link and it will take you to the post. 

[Bassboy3313]

Led trunk light, yay!!

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[straight6pwr]

love the orange paint idea and the emblem pin idea was genius.  you could even paint the roundel colors over the new pin and it would completely disappear

[Bassboy3313]

Crazy how a little piece of rubber can make the doors open and close so much nicer and easier!!!

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[KaiserRolls]

Bassboy3313 said:

Crazy how a little piece of rubber can make a difference

Same thing applies to having kids

[B C]

[Jeff]

Snap said:

Do you think he meant to do that or was it an accident?

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[Jdesign]

Looks intentional to me. " Stupid arm"  (sets it down and moves along)