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RookieVanner · 05-04-2008, 03:11 AM

I was going to do the same thing. But .......

The solution you are about to use has a few draw backs. The OBD 1 computers run at 160 Baud (at least my 1990 Chevy Van, but if I recall correct chevy didn't change the car until 1995) and have about 20 words (160 bits). So would get approx. 1 reading per variable per second.

For stuff like RPM and MPH that isn't good enough I think. So the OBD way isn't the best, for a dash replacement at least. For all the fault codes it is off course. There is a posting by someone here at mp3car uploading all datastream definitions of chevy ECU's. (if you can't find them search for my postings and you can)

The other drawback already mentioned is startup time. A PC can be fast I know, but I think you don't want to wait more than 3-4 seconds before the dash comes alive.

For "real" real time data you have 3 options in our cars (at least I think so)
1. Get the digital dash from another car e.g. the chevy icon of the 80's Corvette C4, if I am correct the dash of the chevy is at least electrical, but with analog displays. Problem is I can't tell how you should connect it, it probably won't be plug and play.

2. Get the electric feed from the dash and build yourself a pic to convert the electrics to programming. Make an embedded device so to speak.

3. Have a look at this link: http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=4250 There is some java code I haven't tried yet. I really want the OBD to work correctly first and after that this is what I am going to try.

4. OBD

The order I am going for is the following:
4, 3, 1, 2. If I could get the C4 dash to work that would be very sweet I think, retro but still modern. If you do want to proceed with OBD and you can program java, you could look at the code made by 84regaldriver. I am working on a newer version of these gauges inspired by his program, but from scratch. When I have something working I am going to open a source forge project.

BTW there are some guys here in The Netherlands trying too messing around with digital dashes in chevy vans.

05-04-2008, 03:11 AM	#8
RookieVanner Newbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	I was going to do the same thing. But ....... The solution you are about to use has a few draw backs. The OBD 1 computers run at 160 Baud (at least my 1990 Chevy Van, but if I recall correct chevy didn't change the car until 1995) and have about 20 words (160 bits). So would get approx. 1 reading per variable per second. For stuff like RPM and MPH that isn't good enough I think. So the OBD way isn't the best, for a dash replacement at least. For all the fault codes it is off course. There is a posting by someone here at mp3car uploading all datastream definitions of chevy ECU's. (if you can't find them search for my postings and you can) The other drawback already mentioned is startup time. A PC can be fast I know, but I think you don't want to wait more than 3-4 seconds before the dash comes alive. For "real" real time data you have 3 options in our cars (at least I think so) 1. Get the digital dash from another car e.g. the chevy icon of the 80's Corvette C4, if I am correct the dash of the chevy is at least electrical, but with analog displays. Problem is I can't tell how you should connect it, it probably won't be plug and play. 2. Get the electric feed from the dash and build yourself a pic to convert the electrics to programming. Make an embedded device so to speak. 3. Have a look at this link: http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=4250 There is some java code I haven't tried yet. I really want the OBD to work correctly first and after that this is what I am going to try. 4. OBD The order I am going for is the following: 4, 3, 1, 2. If I could get the C4 dash to work that would be very sweet I think, retro but still modern. If you do want to proceed with OBD and you can program java, you could look at the code made by 84regaldriver. I am working on a newer version of these gauges inspired by his program, but from scratch. When I have something working I am going to open a source forge project. BTW there are some guys here in The Netherlands trying too messing around with digital dashes in chevy vans.