if this and the trim does well ill probably move onto making brand new fender flares for our cars
Gauging interest: Making new VSS cables and antenna ferrule
I was told recently that these cables tend to go bad and the clips break apart over time, so I thought I would see if anyone would be interested in a new one of these. I'm not taking pre orders I'm just seeing if there is enough of a market for these to be worthwhile. I will be making a new cable along with the clips, these clips can be purchased separately for people who just need those. I will be making these out of the same plastic used on the trim that I am making.
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For those who have not had the digital dashboard apart, this cable runs from the Vss (Vehicle Speed Sensor) and drives the odometer and trip odometer.
The Vss has an Infrared light and Infrared Sensor along with an encoder disk that creates a pulse train for the speedometer display.
I cannot guarantee that this is the cause of a very common problem with digital dashboards, but I strongly suspect that this cable not being anchored securely helps to cause the speedometer speed reading to jump at certain speeds. The following photos show the cable end-adapter clips broken off, and I think that the fingers interfering with the gear rotation cause the VSS to bounce. Having changed the speedometer cable and the right-angle transmission gear adapter with no improvement leads me to this conclusion.
I would be interested in either a new cable or cable adapters, but I am not sure how the adapters are fastened to the cable itself. It could be a press fit, but I think that it's molded onto the cable itself.
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Broken clip
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Broken clip. One can see that it is very close to the worm gear on the Vss assembly.
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Actually touching in this view.
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Odometer side of cable.
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These parts are ALL broken by now.
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Dale
The Vss has an Infrared light and Infrared Sensor along with an encoder disk that creates a pulse train for the speedometer display.
I cannot guarantee that this is the cause of a very common problem with digital dashboards, but I strongly suspect that this cable not being anchored securely helps to cause the speedometer speed reading to jump at certain speeds. The following photos show the cable end-adapter clips broken off, and I think that the fingers interfering with the gear rotation cause the VSS to bounce. Having changed the speedometer cable and the right-angle transmission gear adapter with no improvement leads me to this conclusion.
I would be interested in either a new cable or cable adapters, but I am not sure how the adapters are fastened to the cable itself. It could be a press fit, but I think that it's molded onto the cable itself.
Broken clip
Broken clip. One can see that it is very close to the worm gear on the Vss assembly.
Actually touching in this view.
Odometer side of cable.
These parts are ALL broken by now.
Dale
You weren't supposed to discourage him Jocelyn! We were supposed to tell him to make up a batch of about 100, enough to fix every surviving digi-dash Supra. Then for the next 30 years, every time somebody came on the forum looking for the solution, we'd point him to Fritz. 
Though, I bet the part isn't limited to just Supras. Think of all the other cars that came with digital dash displays back in the 80s. Just like poor Fritz, Toyota would not likely have engineered a little plastic part like that specifically for just a handful of digital dash Supras. I'm sure they made the most profitable component based partly on design work they'd already done for other cars using subcomponents from suppliers they'd already sourced. Or even if the Supra came first, it wasn't the last. I wouldn't be surprised if the same little plastic cable ends weren't used in dozens of other digi-dash cars. Cable lengths probably different but the ends probably the same. You might do some research on other 80s/90s car forums and see if other digi-dash cars are having the same sort of issues.
Though, I bet the part isn't limited to just Supras. Think of all the other cars that came with digital dash displays back in the 80s. Just like poor Fritz, Toyota would not likely have engineered a little plastic part like that specifically for just a handful of digital dash Supras. I'm sure they made the most profitable component based partly on design work they'd already done for other cars using subcomponents from suppliers they'd already sourced. Or even if the Supra came first, it wasn't the last. I wouldn't be surprised if the same little plastic cable ends weren't used in dozens of other digi-dash cars. Cable lengths probably different but the ends probably the same. You might do some research on other 80s/90s car forums and see if other digi-dash cars are having the same sort of issues.
thanks! yea there might be some more people looking for those clips, I'm still gonna make these anyways because I already got about 5 people interested. I bet Nissans share similar clips, I think ill once these are done ill try selling some on eBay under all cars and see if that does well. Would be pretty cool to start making parts for multiple cars if there is a market.You weren't supposed to discourage him Jocelyn! We were supposed to tell him to make up a batch of about 100, enough to fix every surviving digi-dash Supra. Then for the next 30 years, every time somebody came on the forum looking for the solution, we'd point him to Fritz.
Though, I bet the part isn't limited to just Supras. Think of all the other cars that came with digital dash displays back in the 80s. Just like poor Fritz, Toyota would not likely have engineered a little plastic part like that specifically for just a handful of digital dash Supras. I'm sure they made the most profitable component based partly on design work they'd already done for other cars using subcomponents from suppliers they'd already sourced. Or even if the Supra came first, it wasn't the last. I wouldn't be surprised if the same little plastic cable ends weren't used in dozens of other digi-dash cars. Cable lengths probably different but the ends probably the same. You might do some research on other 80s/90s car forums and see if other digi-dash cars are having the same sort of issues.
I would suggest something that may be of interest for most Mk2 owners.
The power antenna ferrule.
This is the part that helps attach the power antenna mast to the body up at the top of of the body on the inside.
If you replace the antenna with a stock mast, you can reuse the ferrule on the original mast.
HOWEVER, obtaining a replacement Toyota antenna mast is extremely difficult now.
There is an aftermarket antenna that works very well, but it comes with several generic ferrules which do not match the profile of the rear quarter panel of the Supra.
Metra 44-PW22
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Metra 44-PW22 with Generic Ferrule
There is a link to fitting this antenna to our car, but you have to modify the stock ferrule, which most people (at least me!) hate to do.
Need to fix my power antenna but cant find a Mast with cable replacement
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Ferrule mounted on the Toyota Antenna
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Stock Ferrule on the Metra Antenna. The ferrule sits too far up the mast. The bottom of the ferrule has to be clearanced to make it work.
It can be done, but grinding what is becoming a relatively rare part, offends me...
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Gamble's modification to make the ferrule fit on the antenna mast. I did the same thing and it works, but a 3D printed ferrule could be scalloped to fit perfectly!
You can see that the ferrule is a two part assembly, with only the lower one requiring modification.
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The chrome nut comes with the Antenna. It's not part of the ferrule.
3D printing the whole assembly would be great for people who, for whatever reason, do not have the ferrule at all (Perhaps in a foolish moment, getting rid of the the antenna entirely!...!...! Dear god, who doesn't love a power antenna!!!)
While on the topic, and project, 3D printing a custom base for this Metra antenna which holds the base in proper alignment would make a whole antenna installation package.
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I made this up in aluminum, and it works pretty well. It needs a bit of adjustment of the slot on the vertical tab to allow more fore/aft adjustment.
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The Toyota Antenna is held into left/right alignment with this simple L-bracket. It does not fit the Metra.
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The stock mount can be bent to allow the correct alignment, but again, modifying the stock part just seems 'wrong'.
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I think that 3D printing a 'finessed' version of this and coupling it with the modified ferrule would make a great turnkey package.
I could be off base, and I don't need one myself, but I think that the antenna is a part of the 80s feel of our car. Being able to keep one working is going to be more difficult as time goes by.
I think people may be interested.
I'd be curious to hear what everyone thinks, and also is this something that is buildable?
Dale
The power antenna ferrule.
This is the part that helps attach the power antenna mast to the body up at the top of of the body on the inside.
If you replace the antenna with a stock mast, you can reuse the ferrule on the original mast.
HOWEVER, obtaining a replacement Toyota antenna mast is extremely difficult now.
There is an aftermarket antenna that works very well, but it comes with several generic ferrules which do not match the profile of the rear quarter panel of the Supra.
Metra 44-PW22
Metra 44-PW22 with Generic Ferrule
There is a link to fitting this antenna to our car, but you have to modify the stock ferrule, which most people (at least me!) hate to do.
Need to fix my power antenna but cant find a Mast with cable replacement
Ferrule mounted on the Toyota Antenna
Stock Ferrule on the Metra Antenna. The ferrule sits too far up the mast. The bottom of the ferrule has to be clearanced to make it work.
It can be done, but grinding what is becoming a relatively rare part, offends me...
Gamble's modification to make the ferrule fit on the antenna mast. I did the same thing and it works, but a 3D printed ferrule could be scalloped to fit perfectly!
You can see that the ferrule is a two part assembly, with only the lower one requiring modification.
The chrome nut comes with the Antenna. It's not part of the ferrule.
3D printing the whole assembly would be great for people who, for whatever reason, do not have the ferrule at all (Perhaps in a foolish moment, getting rid of the the antenna entirely!...!...! Dear god, who doesn't love a power antenna!!!)
While on the topic, and project, 3D printing a custom base for this Metra antenna which holds the base in proper alignment would make a whole antenna installation package.
I made this up in aluminum, and it works pretty well. It needs a bit of adjustment of the slot on the vertical tab to allow more fore/aft adjustment.
The Toyota Antenna is held into left/right alignment with this simple L-bracket. It does not fit the Metra.
The stock mount can be bent to allow the correct alignment, but again, modifying the stock part just seems 'wrong'.
I think that 3D printing a 'finessed' version of this and coupling it with the modified ferrule would make a great turnkey package.
I could be off base, and I don't need one myself, but I think that the antenna is a part of the 80s feel of our car. Being able to keep one working is going to be more difficult as time goes by.
I think people may be interested.
I'd be curious to hear what everyone thinks, and also is this something that is buildable?
Dale
Attachments
2
For those that are interested in the pieces the little plastic one is done and the rubber ring around the outside is still in the mold, ill tackle the thing that screws on to the top tomorrow
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Here’s the finished piece:
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