Installing gauge to replace dash clock
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Installing gauge to replace dash clock
Hello, everybody!!
I ran a vacuum line thru my firewall, and hooked it up to my Mighty-vac, to see what was going on with my engine vacuum while driving. I like having a vacuum gauge so much, that I am thinking about installing an engine vacuum gauge to replace the busted clock in my '80 'vette, but I don't even know how to begin performing such a swap and have it look professional. Has anybody out there replaced the dash clock with a gauge, and could you give me a little push in the right direction as to how to go about doing it? Stuff like, what brand and model of gauge will look most like it belongs with the other gauges, how to mount it properly so it looks like it came from the factory that way, that sort of thing. Thanks,
Scott
I ran a vacuum line thru my firewall, and hooked it up to my Mighty-vac, to see what was going on with my engine vacuum while driving. I like having a vacuum gauge so much, that I am thinking about installing an engine vacuum gauge to replace the busted clock in my '80 'vette, but I don't even know how to begin performing such a swap and have it look professional. Has anybody out there replaced the dash clock with a gauge, and could you give me a little push in the right direction as to how to go about doing it? Stuff like, what brand and model of gauge will look most like it belongs with the other gauges, how to mount it properly so it looks like it came from the factory that way, that sort of thing. Thanks,
Scott
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Here is an inexpensive, black face, 2" gauge that would do the job, I think. It has a 270* dial [instead of 90*], but it should fit in with the other gauges OK.
http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CGkQ8wIwAQ#
With your gauge bezel, the brand name should be blocked off, also.
http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CGkQ8wIwAQ#
With your gauge bezel, the brand name should be blocked off, also.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Aug 2, 2011 at 10:31 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Here is an inexpensive, black face, 2" gauge that would do the job, I think. It has a 270* dial [instead of 90*], but it should fit in with the other gauges OK.
http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CGkQ8wIwAQ#
With your gauge bezel, the brand name should be blocked off, also.
http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CGkQ8wIwAQ#
With your gauge bezel, the brand name should be blocked off, also.
That looks like it would fit right in with the other gauges, and not stick out like a sore thumb.
Will it be fairly obvious how to mount it when I get the gauge cluster off of the dashboard?
Scott
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
You'll just have to get a little 'creative'. Try to configure it just like the one you remove. Use any of the original hardware you can...it will help make it match up better/easier. If you can just swap over your gauge light for the one in the new gauge, that would be best. Then it would match the light intensity of the other gauges and still be on the dimmer circuit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Hey Scott.
I did this on my 71. I replaced the clock with an additional water temp gauge that will actually be a transmission temperature gauge.
Check out post # 705 here to see what I did.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...1-pics-36.html
Let me know if you have any questions.
KO
I did this on my 71. I replaced the clock with an additional water temp gauge that will actually be a transmission temperature gauge.
Check out post # 705 here to see what I did.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...1-pics-36.html
Let me know if you have any questions.
KO
