I dont know where to ask about this, but anyway,
I'm trying to figure out how I might go about replacing the in-dash clock in a 1995 nissan maxima. I don't want to replace it with a factory clock, because it uses a standard light bulb to light it, which for some stupid reason, is actually glassed into the lcd digit display. the one I have has burnt out and to find a replacement will be hell, so I thought.. why not just replace it with a sexier one? I dont even know where to start, but I'm thinking get a microprocessor or something, and an actual lcd display, with a nice blue backlight or something. I dunno, maybe display some other form of info, too?
or even some sort of cool visualization under the time or something.
ooh! maybe like.. a kitt scanner like a black bar or something moving back and forth. but anyway, I have no idea where to begin. I could try to get the voltages that the connector from the car gives or something, I dunno, but any help anyone could provide, or even info, would be greatly appreciated.

Post a picture of the clock's spot in the dash and measurements, as best you can do. It will give readers here an idea of the space that you have.

cool we have a maxima too. if ours have the same clock it is about 5cm X 4cm i think.just so the people know how big it is. I'll try and take a photo tomorrow

well, you have 2 options as far as I can see.

1) get a cool pre-made gadget with a display that will fit in the space that you're looking to fill, maybe an Ipod dock with visualization and a backlight, or maybe a pocket picture frame. Then, don't change anything on the acutal working HW of the device, just take it out of its current shell and put it where the clock used to go.

This is the easiest solution by far, (pre)judging your technical level by your inital post. It DOES involve some fine work, in regards to fabrication and layup, but you won't have to do anything too technical in terms of electronics or programming, maybe you'll have to wire the power supply from an old phone charger, but that's 2 wires and no data...

2) build a computer into your dash-board using either a MiniATX or microprocessor, build/find a front-end to work with a micro-LCD, wire a PSU (making sure to filter it well), etc... etc...

Basically, it's a lot MORE work, and there are quite a few places where things will spectacularly fail and you will waste time and money and just get disgruntled about the whole project, leading to you giving up and having a hold in your dash where a clock used to be...

I suggest keeping it simple first. Live with that for a few months/years while you plan your next (incrementally) more complex hack... learn from that, then rebuild and make it better.