HUD installed - gauges painted
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Seekonk MA / RI border
HUD installed - gauges painted
Over this past weekend I completed installing a heads up display system into my 2000 coupe. While I had the dash and cluster out I did the painted bezel mod. Both came out really good thanks to the tremendous ‘How To’ pages by Hurricane Z (Josh). His instructions and pictures are invaluable. He even performs the public service of making for you (at a reasonable price), the infamous eleven pin wire harness (that GM doesn’t sell) that runs from the switch (HUD controlling buttons) to the cluster. - a couple of things that I did differently was to shorten the bezel legs with my Dremel and screw the bezel into the dash...and my 3/8" swivel was no substitute for a 1/4" so I didn’t totally remove the glove box.
The HUD is way cool.
I drive a lot with my chin in my hand and elbow on the console...many times I have to raise my hand to see the speedo. - no more.
Special thanks to forum member FREDERICK (Ewald) for his assistance from far away.
Pics are here
The HUD is way cool.
I drive a lot with my chin in my hand and elbow on the console...many times I have to raise my hand to see the speedo. - no more.
Special thanks to forum member FREDERICK (Ewald) for his assistance from far away.
Pics are here
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,869
Likes: 2
From: San Diego CA
Strong work. Any problems with the sharpness of the HUD? If I understand correctly, factory HUD cars come with a windshield that has an extra coating or layer of some kind.....however, some have said it's not necessary. Any truth to this or is it rumor?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Originally Posted by Hoosier Red
Strong work. Any problems with the sharpness of the HUD? If I understand correctly, factory HUD cars come with a windshield that has an extra coating or layer of some kind.....however, some have said it's not necessary. Any truth to this or is it rumor?
Thats an awsomee job man! Id be wayyyyyyy to nervous to do all that to the dash!
congrats
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,665
Likes: 56
Originally Posted by Hoosier Red
Strong work. Any problems with the sharpness of the HUD? If I understand correctly, factory HUD cars come with a windshield that has an extra coating or layer of some kind.....however, some have said it's not necessary. Any truth to this or is it rumor?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,665
Likes: 56
Originally Posted by PaceThis
It's not necessary and I couldn't tell the difference...but apparently you'd notice if you were driving into the sun as it wouldn't be as crisp...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Seekonk MA / RI border
Thanks muchly.
I don't have a HUD windshield but it looks pretty darned good to me.
I'll admit, I was kinda scared when I was taking that Dremel to the dash to cut that hole out...but I just paid attention to Josh's instructions, cut inside the lines, then cut it a little more until the bezel went in....I cut the top surface of the dash back slightly more than the underside to fit the bezel.
I don't have a HUD windshield but it looks pretty darned good to me.
I'll admit, I was kinda scared when I was taking that Dremel to the dash to cut that hole out...but I just paid attention to Josh's instructions, cut inside the lines, then cut it a little more until the bezel went in....I cut the top surface of the dash back slightly more than the underside to fit the bezel.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Really nice work 
Took a lot more courage then I'll ever muster to do something like that. I'd love to have both on my 97 but unless I find someone willing to do the project for me it'll never happen. 
Paul
Took a lot more courage then I'll ever muster to do something like that. I'd love to have both on my 97 but unless I find someone willing to do the project for me it'll never happen. Paul
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Seekonk MA / RI border
Thank you all.
Talon - It's really not that hard to do. On '97's, '98's and many '99's you'd need to change the cluster which puts a different financial spin on the project.
I think the real key for 2000's and up is to get the projector for the right price. It lists for over a grand and GM parts direct wants about $650 before shipping (and their shipping can be steep for something of that value). I got mine on e-bay.
Talon - It's really not that hard to do. On '97's, '98's and many '99's you'd need to change the cluster which puts a different financial spin on the project.
I think the real key for 2000's and up is to get the projector for the right price. It lists for over a grand and GM parts direct wants about $650 before shipping (and their shipping can be steep for something of that value). I got mine on e-bay.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,136
Likes: 24,734
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Congrats. The HUD is what I consider to be one of the best options you can get on the car.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Seekonk MA / RI border
Hi Derek - It is the following 2 pages that gave me the 'courage' to do the job. You probably already have them set as favorites.
http://joshker99.home.comcast.net/hudinstall2.htm
http://joshker99.home.comcast.net/paintedbezels.htm
Make sure that your 7mm socket grabs very near the bottom. My Huskey set was too recessed. I had to use the one from a cheap made in China set that I had kicking around.
Good luck.
...and if you're gonna paint the gauge bezels, have a shot of some Tennessee Mash to steady the hand.
(hick-up)
http://joshker99.home.comcast.net/hudinstall2.htm
http://joshker99.home.comcast.net/paintedbezels.htm
Make sure that your 7mm socket grabs very near the bottom. My Huskey set was too recessed. I had to use the one from a cheap made in China set that I had kicking around.
Good luck.
...and if you're gonna paint the gauge bezels, have a shot of some Tennessee Mash to steady the hand.
(hick-up)
