Installing Autometer Gauges....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 14
From: Vacaville, CA
Installing Autometer Gauges....
I'm in the process of ordering either Autometer Ultra-Lite gauges or the Autometer Phantom Series; Not sure which ones look best and these are basically the only series that have a 5" speedo & tach.
If anyone has done this Mod, please chime in. Not sure how to mount the Speedo/Tach and the smaller gauges on the center console.
Thanks!
If anyone has done this Mod, please chime in. Not sure how to mount the Speedo/Tach and the smaller gauges on the center console.
Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: belle plaine ks
template
Tach speedo template is located at
http://www.et-motorsports.cc/
Click tech info
Click vette_speedo
click tach_speedo_template
This an adobe acrobat file, so if you don't have adobe acrobat installed you will have to download it first.
You can buy 8.5 by 11 sheets of label paper [adhesive backed] print template to it then place over a piece of plate steel .080 [or there abouts] thick and then cut out your part. You will need one for speedo and one for tach. This tach_speedo template allows you to mount your autometer guages. He even has hole locations for small led lights for the turn signal and high beam and brake light.
As for the center console guages mount directly in hole openings. That is on a dash for a 1974. If you have a later dash the mounting might be different. There are u shaped clamps on the back of autometer guages to grab back side of dash. You will also need to buy the 1968 speedometer cable for the autometer mechanichal speedometer as it has a screw on fitting on the end instead of the gm slide on. Available at autozone or O'reilly's
http://www.et-motorsports.cc/
Click tech info
Click vette_speedo
click tach_speedo_template
This an adobe acrobat file, so if you don't have adobe acrobat installed you will have to download it first.
You can buy 8.5 by 11 sheets of label paper [adhesive backed] print template to it then place over a piece of plate steel .080 [or there abouts] thick and then cut out your part. You will need one for speedo and one for tach. This tach_speedo template allows you to mount your autometer guages. He even has hole locations for small led lights for the turn signal and high beam and brake light.
As for the center console guages mount directly in hole openings. That is on a dash for a 1974. If you have a later dash the mounting might be different. There are u shaped clamps on the back of autometer guages to grab back side of dash. You will also need to buy the 1968 speedometer cable for the autometer mechanichal speedometer as it has a screw on fitting on the end instead of the gm slide on. Available at autozone or O'reilly's
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 540
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '09, '24
Mounting 5" Phantom Tach and speedo in a 78 dash. Any pics by forum members on this install. Doesn't look like front bezel will fit around speedo and tach to well any way around this? Any help will be appreciated, housonvett
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
ive yet to figure how to post a pic even though ive got em laoded on my comp 
but i have installed auto meter speedo and tach, and all 5 gauges in stock center section. on a 78 you have a blue tub that gauges are mounted in. you cut a larger hole in the stock location and simply mount new gauge. i had to fab an aluminum cover plate to replace the stock one. painted it black and used stock screws. to keep the trim peice you have to cut the glass out of the center and use only the trim. for the idiot lights, i used little led's from painless, in the stock loction and color. ( left, right, brights, brake).for the center cluster its even easier. you have to dremmel out the holes to accept the larger gauge and use the supplied bracket. 1 other thing is the clock hole. you have to make a complete circle out of this one withthe dremmel. its not that hard.
but i have installed auto meter speedo and tach, and all 5 gauges in stock center section. on a 78 you have a blue tub that gauges are mounted in. you cut a larger hole in the stock location and simply mount new gauge. i had to fab an aluminum cover plate to replace the stock one. painted it black and used stock screws. to keep the trim peice you have to cut the glass out of the center and use only the trim. for the idiot lights, i used little led's from painless, in the stock loction and color. ( left, right, brights, brake).for the center cluster its even easier. you have to dremmel out the holes to accept the larger gauge and use the supplied bracket. 1 other thing is the clock hole. you have to make a complete circle out of this one withthe dremmel. its not that hard.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Originally Posted by DMONSVETTE
This link might help some
http://earchitect.50megs.com/corvette/gauge.htm
http://earchitect.50megs.com/corvette/gauge.htm
There are written instructions there...here are a few photos of how i solved the Guage mounting issues...
I did this cluster by purchasing some scrap 1/4" clear plexi from a local plastics shop. This was then cut into a left and right hand piece that left the center section of the cluster visible (for directional signals etc...)
The factory clear lens that is part of the bezel of the factory cluster was modified by cutting the clear part off leaving only the bezel...
The whole thing was painted black to match the dash.
I used a woodgrain kit to cover up the flat portions of the center console openings...those openings need to be opened up just a hair to allow the 2 1/16" phantoms to pass through.
Its a terrific look finished.. and the gauges never fail to get postive remarks from those who see them.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Originally Posted by Fireslayer26
Hey Fauxrs2, where did you get the wood grain kit with the round openings for the gauges? All the ones I've found for our years have the flat bottom opening just like the original.
Mine were flat too....however the bezel of the gauge covers any...faux
pas...I might have done rounding them out...
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by fauxrs2
Its amazing what you can do with a Dremel Tool
Mine were flat too....however the bezel of the gauge covers any...faux pas...I might have done rounding them out...
Mine were flat too....however the bezel of the gauge covers any...faux
pas...I might have done rounding them out...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
fauxrs2 ??? lost your initital account or something? You look like a noob now..join date feb 2005 
So new login... and the real stats in my sig
All I'm really missing is a pile of stars under my name
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,807
Likes: 0
From: Hoosier
Cruise-In III Veteran
If you want to keep the new gauges from sinking in so deep into the bezel, get o-rings from your local plumbing supply and slip one over each gauge. The o-ring will keep the face forward.
Crackin' on...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,443
Likes: 124
From: Somewhere in Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by AlwaysWave
If you want to keep the new gauges from sinking in so deep into the bezel, get o-rings from your local plumbing supply and slip one over each gauge. The o-ring will keep the face forward.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: San Marcos CA
I went with the Autometer Ultra Lites. The center console isn't to hard as stated above. If you get it out of there it is pretty easy to make the 2 1/16 guages work. I wanted some lager ones for the oil & water so I moved things to make them work. (My console was allready broken so I said what the heck I'll cut them in)
The speedo and tach are a little more difficult mostly because the blinker's, brake and bright indicators.(1972). There are many ways to make these work depends on your skills or friends skills. I made a couple of light pods out of aluminum and cut them into the tops of the blue guage cones going to the guages. I then took the original plastics and glued them in place to simulate the originals. It turned out good but was very time consuming. Unfortunatly I don't have any pictures of the build up but have a few of the finished product.
It's a project but worth doing in my opinion.
In this picture you can barly see the blinker pod I made at the top over the Tach:
The speedo and tach are a little more difficult mostly because the blinker's, brake and bright indicators.(1972). There are many ways to make these work depends on your skills or friends skills. I made a couple of light pods out of aluminum and cut them into the tops of the blue guage cones going to the guages. I then took the original plastics and glued them in place to simulate the originals. It turned out good but was very time consuming. Unfortunatly I don't have any pictures of the build up but have a few of the finished product.
It's a project but worth doing in my opinion.
In this picture you can barly see the blinker pod I made at the top over the Tach:
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 352
Likes: 11
From: Glendale AZ
Gauges
Click on the My Corvette Photos link to the left and you will see the gauges in my 1976.
Here are some notes from the installation:
I used Autometer Pro Comp 5" in dash electronic speedometer and Tach. The speedometer is programmable and goes up to 160 MPH and has a push button calibration. It requires 500 to 400,000 pulse/mile. I decided to use a electronic speedo because I didn't want to hassle with drilling a hole in the tail shaft to relocate the Vss transducer, thus leaving an opening for the gear to drive the original analog speedometer. Replacing the speedo and tach left me without signals, high beam and e- brake indicators. I moved all of them to the center console. I replaced the head lamp indicator with the e-brake and the door ajar with the high beam. I installed the signal indicator on the plate above all of the gauges. I installed a security lamp ( VAT Alarm) in the same area. I replaced the seat belt indicator with the "service engine " indicator.
Happy holidays.
David
Here are some notes from the installation:
I used Autometer Pro Comp 5" in dash electronic speedometer and Tach. The speedometer is programmable and goes up to 160 MPH and has a push button calibration. It requires 500 to 400,000 pulse/mile. I decided to use a electronic speedo because I didn't want to hassle with drilling a hole in the tail shaft to relocate the Vss transducer, thus leaving an opening for the gear to drive the original analog speedometer. Replacing the speedo and tach left me without signals, high beam and e- brake indicators. I moved all of them to the center console. I replaced the head lamp indicator with the e-brake and the door ajar with the high beam. I installed the signal indicator on the plate above all of the gauges. I installed a security lamp ( VAT Alarm) in the same area. I replaced the seat belt indicator with the "service engine " indicator.
Happy holidays.
David