SPF Radar Detector Solution for P/2192

[Kim Petersen]

Here is the solution my brother Alan came up with when faced with finding a permanent mount for a Valentine One radar detector in P/2192. I wanted the detector fixed with optimum 'vision' forward and to the rear; at the same time, I wanted all of the controls to be near the dash and all lights and sound alerts to be remote from the detector itself.

As you can see from in the first photo below, he affixed it to the vent box located to the rear of the passenger compartment. In order to get the best exposure to hostile radar or laser, he attached the detector unit to some rubber bushings, which lowered the antennae below ceiling and aft deck lid obstructions.

[Incidentally, he also retrofitted an original Lucas 608 GT40 mirror to the windshield and off-set it as per the original race cars. This has the benefit of adding authenticity as well as removing the mirror from the center line of the car, where it would interfere with the center-mounted detector!]

The second photo shows how the V1's controls are arranged such that the visual light indicator (that shows the direction of the radar/laser) is mounted atop the steering column directly in front of and below the driver's natural field of vision. The audio controls had to be placed below the dash towards the passenger's seat to avoid being jarred by the driver's knee.

So far the results have been great!

[Kim Petersen]

Here is the offset mirror. Also note the closer-to-original stainless steel wiper arm assembly that replaced the all-black SPF unit.

[Jeff Mosing]

Great work on the Radar Detector! That's how I'll probably rig mine up. Where did you get the wiper arm?

[flatchat(Chris)]

Great detail for the radar installation --In our country (Australia) its an offence to have one --heavy fines and confiscation (I think) as our Gov't seeks great pleasure from us consumers, in the form of fines or taxing

[David Morton II]

In the UK, many radar driven "Safety Cameras" operated from the backs of "Safety Camera Vans" and highway bridges are aimed at the vehicles registration plate by the operator. In this case, any detector mounted significantly above this area will not register a "hit" until it is too late as the radar beam is quite narrow (deliberately). If legal, it is also a good idea to place a jammer or beam reflector adjacent to the vehicle registration plate(s) and/or a remote detection unit in the same area.

However, a good detector will allow you to enter the co-ordinates of a detected hostile beam for future reference....

From personal experience if you are travelling at a speed significantly higher than the posted speed limit, these things are pretty useless.

[mike]

love your engine setup with the 8 stacks....im looking towards doing something like that myself.

ive seen all kinds of different mounting techniques with various radar detectors and always wonder why folks dont just pony up a few more bills and go with something thats mounted in the front and rear of the car....

if folks just like the ease of the box units thats ok too, but they dont do laser shifting.
i have both passport 8500 and a v1 and put them on my dash at the same time and drove around for 3 months. theyre both very comparable. it comes down to which display you like better.

for my sportscars i go with a mounted setup....
this is what ill be using for my '40.

Passport 9500ci Radar Detector & Laser Defense System - Escort Inc.

probably a tough install with the opening clams, but...

[W.C.Dilweg]

I have owned a Valentine 1 for the past 10 years, and have grown quite fond of the arrows indicating the direction of the radar. It's become an old friend. Mike Valentine has done a good job and I have no complaints.