Shift lever handle

[F14CRAZY]

Earlier I noticed this '86 Riviera interior pic. I hadn't seen an '86 before, and I do note the differences on the CRT hard buttons, the extra soft button to the right of the date, and the extra tape player buttons.

But do notice the T handle on the shifter. That's cool! I want one! I'm sure it would swap in place just fine. Anyone agree?

[DeeBee]

I had a T-Handle on the Fiero auto and never liked it. Converted to a sitck Reatta Type. The T-Handle is a dead giveaway for an auto tranny, the stick type makes them guess a little.

I've put a boot in the stalk ala Fiero(I can figure out where reverse and drive are) and you can't tell it is an auto.

You shold be able to convert to a T-Handle though. The side button just operates a plunger via a wedge type design.

[F14CRAZY]

Hmm, good points. The big azz button on top of the Reatta shifter doesn't do much to cover up the auto though <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[DeeBee]

That is an easy one. Stick a Reatta emblem on it or better yet, put a shift gate pattern on it. really confuse them?

When anyone asks about the button, you simple tell them it is for the hydrozine injector. They won't ask you another thing, fearing they will appear ignorant. Just watch them, it's really funny.

Attached is a pic of my carputer in the Reatta. It mounts from the rear and is a quick detachable affair. It is touch screen, small, portable and readable in even direct bright sunlight.

[F14CRAZY]

Looks like a nice system. Maybe when I do get to it, I'll have my ECC bezel cut out for an 8'' or so LCD, and transfer the ECC down to the tape deck hole

[DeeBee]

Here is one thing I discovered about screen lighting. Although that one has a daylight readable screen, at night you still use a backlight. That can be distracting.

What I am doing is going to hook up some leds to shine on the display and then leave the backlight off. I'll end up with a very viewable display, even clearer since the outdoor viewables have a cloudy appearance but not when the backlight is off. Since the light will point towards the display and it is transflective, light will not come back toward the driver.

You can sometimes see drivers going down the road with their faces all lit up from the CRT or real bright LCDs of their navigation systems. That has to be distracting as all get out, especially when it's real dark outside with no street lights.

I've tested this out and no matter how much light hits the transflective display, light does not come back at the driver yet the display colors are vibrant and graphics are very clear.

BTW, this is a 640x480 resolution display. Over 40 eyes so squinting isn't for me.

[F14CRAZY]

Never thought of an outdoor LCD, but makes perfect sense. Have you tried like a Kensington Flylight as an LED to shine in the screen?

[DeeBee]

That's a good idea. Right now I have an led accent lamp with 5 in-line leds. Runs off the 12 volt system and are pretty bright so I'll run in a dimmer. Is that Kensington USB powered? If so that might actually be a much better solution since it wouldn't require another wiring hookup.

[F14CRAZY]

Yup, USB powered. Like a snake-light. Slight blueish tint but pretty bright.