doublenut9

3sACROWD

As I understand it, you need a new IPC (Instrument Panel Cluster), a HUD unit, and HUD bezel. I don't know the cost but you can do some research for those items. Note: the IPC is where the mileage is stored. Changing it out you will lose the actual mileage unless you find a company to change it.

Road Runner

rrwirsi

I suggest just look for a Corvette with HUD display.

FYI, the HUD was on my list of 'must haves' when I bought my C5 four years ago. After having it on for a few months I found it to distracting and now no longer use it all. IMHO, it is just another gizmo I do not need (along with A/C/powered windows/power locks/ auto seat/telescoping steering wheel/etc). I long for my '72 4speed with nothing but power steering.

jcgunn

Search the forum, there are lots of great threads (with pix) on how to do the HUD conversion.

JR-01

I agree. The HUD is the least desirable accessory for me. I would buy the best car for the money, HUD or not.

acuevo

JR-01

Not me. All my other cars don't have it, so I just look at the gauges. I'm kind of old school. Don't care for all the modern gizmos. Just something else to break.

wayne_69_427

After awhile you want even notice the HUD

Vetteman Jack

The '99 and newer C5s came with the HUD enabled cluster since the '99 was the first year it was offered.

In addition to the above items, you will also need the HUD controller that is located on the left side of the gauge cluster. Parts will cost you less than $1K and if you do the work yourself, it is quite reasonable to convert your car to having a HUD. I use mine all the time and at least for me, would not have a Vette without one anymore. Here are some files that talk about adding a HUD to a car that did not come with one.

K-Spaz

Unless things have changed, Vetteman Jack above is way high on the price.Same here, I can't live without it.


not true. The change took place somewhere late in the 98 model year but if you have a 98 it's hit or miss.

What year is the car? That's your first question you need to answer.

back years ago you could get a hold of a brand new NOS projector and mounting hardware from GM parts house, Gene Culley. A vendor here. I bought mine from him for around three hundred bucks shipped. Maybe not quite 300. I pulled the dash and installed it myself. It was super easy and the hardest part was making the new cable because the cable to connect to the IPC was not available and still isn't.
My car was a 98, and it had the connector on the IPC for the projector. Unfortunately the firmware in that IPC did not drive the projector correctly, so the mode switch did not work and the modes did not work, it would cycle about every 25 start Cycles to a new mode. And whatever it was in the mood to show you was what you saw. It was rarely what I wanted. I bought a new IPC with extremely close mileage to my actual mileage in the car and I installed that. From that point forward everything was perfect.

my install looked absolutely Flawless like Factory and it was not difficult to get it that way. The dash even on my 98 already had the shape molded into the framework for where the projector was supposed to go. All I needed to do was drill for holes and cut the hole in the dash with a utility knife. Even that was easy, the fiberglass material underneath was very easy to cut and very easy to trim when you cut ever-so-slightly less than what you wanted.

if Gene can't hook you up with a new projector, let me know and I may be itmay be able to find you a used one.

Dixie Sasquatch

it was neat when i first got it, but now i just leave it off. like the fellers say above, I found it to be more of a distraction.

2k2wranglerx

i added it to mine. i like having it.

it was probably a 4 hour install. pulling the dash isn't hard and there's a couple how to's on youtube. what WAS hard was figuring out how to drill the 2 holes to mount the hud unit. it's really tight with the windshield. I ended up just running in 2 self tapping bolts with my electric ratchet. I have an 01 so my cluster was HUD enabled. everything was plug and play and i got everything off ebay for like 250 bucks.

02BlownZ06

I love having the HUD esp. in spirited driving situations. It allows you to keep your eyes up and looking out ahead and still knowing your speed and rpms. It it were me, rather than go through all the conversion hassle, I would just find a car that already has it.

dleibman

stingray71

I had a 99 coupe and mine was "HUD-ready" but not installed. I had to buy the HUD unit and controls.
The job is do-able if you have enough skills and instructions to remove the dashboard. Cutting the dash for the HUD is the point-of-no-return. I took pictures to document as I went so I would not forget how to re-assemble. Check out the instructions on the forum and in the previous post to see if you feel comfortable going through the steps.

Mayor111

larney

Didn't really care if it had it or not. BUT since it came with it I like it.
The first couple days I drove with it off. The I decided to turn it on
and give it a try. Wouldn't say I can't live without it but I do like it.
Modern "gizmo's" don't break anymore that older"gizmo's". Sometimes
no, most times less.

Grandpa1

I like mine in my 03 vert. It's kind of hard seeing it in the bright daylight but you will get used to it.
I don't believe I would go to the expense of adding one.
Do what you want!
Good luck!

MetalMan2

As with all '01 Z06s, mine didn't come with HUD. But I retrofitted it in a month ago. As mentioned above, hardest part for me was getting the dash holes drilled. I also used the self-tapping screw method, except I lack an electric ratchet so I did it with my fingers...

Managed to get the dash cut out perfectly, and trimmed the posts on the HUD plastic dash trim so I could secure it with screws to the dash.

Prior to install I was [mistakenly] under the impression it would give a readout on oil temp, so I was a little disappointed to learn it doesn't. But still it's nice to have speed readout on the highway.

Lastly: my polarized sunglasses make the HUD very difficult to see especially when the road's asphalt color has faded.