Custom gauge setups
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: Tracy Ca
Custom gauge setups
Does anyone have a full gauge setup?? Im thinking about replacing all the stock gauges with a full line of cobalts. Anyone tried anything like this??
Im thinking about making a custom cluster and everything. What do you guys think?
Im thinking about making a custom cluster and everything. What do you guys think?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
Originally Posted by PolishMike
Does anyone have a full gauge setup?? Im thinking about replacing all the stock gauges with a full line of cobalts. Anyone tried anything like this??
Im thinking about making a custom cluster and everything. What do you guys think?
Im thinking about making a custom cluster and everything. What do you guys think?
I'm going out to drill the holes !!
I've seen posts of Cobalt Clusters but no Speedo or Tach.
Pro
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 520
Likes: 5
From: Front Range
It's pretty easy to do, esp. the speedo and tach. you will have to mangle your existing speedo / tach buckets though. just remove the existing gauges and drill holes as necessary to mount them in the lower portions of the buckets... that way you can still plug in your turn signal indicators up top, as well as the high beam indicator. liberal use of tin snips and a power drill necessary... some may frown at this.
as for the gauge cluster, i'd recommend you use the existing cluster and again modify it. what I did was drew up a flat face for the entire panel in autocad, and took it to a machinist to have CNC'ed. I then drilled and tapped through this front face, into the old cluster (which I had gone to work on with a grinder and removed much of the center material, leaving a bare bones outer frame with enough area for the mounting bolts).
This is a very old, rough photo, but it gives you an idea:
This is a later shot, showing some updates:
underneath that carbon fiber is 3/16" aluminum plate. Easy to work with.
Good luck... oh and don't let some NCRS guy talk you out of it. have fun.
the blone weasel
as for the gauge cluster, i'd recommend you use the existing cluster and again modify it. what I did was drew up a flat face for the entire panel in autocad, and took it to a machinist to have CNC'ed. I then drilled and tapped through this front face, into the old cluster (which I had gone to work on with a grinder and removed much of the center material, leaving a bare bones outer frame with enough area for the mounting bolts).
This is a very old, rough photo, but it gives you an idea:
This is a later shot, showing some updates:
underneath that carbon fiber is 3/16" aluminum plate. Easy to work with.
Good luck... oh and don't let some NCRS guy talk you out of it. have fun.
the blone weasel
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: Tracy Ca
Originally Posted by iNdigo
It's pretty easy to do, esp. the speedo and tach. you will have to mangle your existing speedo / tach buckets though. just remove the existing gauges and drill holes as necessary to mount them in the lower portions of the buckets... that way you can still plug in your turn signal indicators up top, as well as the high beam indicator. liberal use of tin snips and a power drill necessary... some may frown at this.
as for the gauge cluster, i'd recommend you use the existing cluster and again modify it. what I did was drew up a flat face for the entire panel in autocad, and took it to a machinist to have CNC'ed. I then drilled and tapped through this front face, into the old cluster (which I had gone to work on with a grinder and removed much of the center material, leaving a bare bones outer frame with enough area for the mounting bolts).
This is a very old, rough photo, but it gives you an idea:
This is a later shot, showing some updates:
underneath that carbon fiber is 3/16" aluminum plate. Easy to work with.
Good luck... oh and don't let some NCRS guy talk you out of it. have fun.
the blone weasel
as for the gauge cluster, i'd recommend you use the existing cluster and again modify it. what I did was drew up a flat face for the entire panel in autocad, and took it to a machinist to have CNC'ed. I then drilled and tapped through this front face, into the old cluster (which I had gone to work on with a grinder and removed much of the center material, leaving a bare bones outer frame with enough area for the mounting bolts).
This is a very old, rough photo, but it gives you an idea:
This is a later shot, showing some updates:
underneath that carbon fiber is 3/16" aluminum plate. Easy to work with.
Good luck... oh and don't let some NCRS guy talk you out of it. have fun.
the blone weasel
Thats exactly what i had in mind. Thank you very much. I own a metal shop so im going to make a gauge cluster like yours. Im going all out on this vette so might as well have some nice gauges.
I may have to put a couple more gauges then you though
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Dallas County Texas
I wish I could get stupid yahoo to turn loose of my pics!!
Mine is a virtual gauge-o-rama! I kept all the housings though and went red digital....and added a panel on top of the dash pad for a mere eight other gauges. I had a nightmare redoing that main panel - so much was broken and needed reforming, epoxying....ugh.... straighforward replacement with a flat panel or insert would have been a lot easier.
The stupid thing may be broken down 9/10's of the time, but the gauges are great!
The stupid thing may be broken down 9/10's of the time, but the gauges are great!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: Tracy Ca
Originally Posted by WayneLBurnham
Mine is a virtual gauge-o-rama! I kept all the housings though and went red digital....and added a panel on top of the dash pad for a mere eight other gauges. I had a nightmare redoing that main panel - so much was broken and needed reforming, epoxying....ugh.... straighforward replacement with a flat panel or insert would have been a lot easier.
The stupid thing may be broken down 9/10's of the time, but the gauges are great!
The stupid thing may be broken down 9/10's of the time, but the gauges are great!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,812
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor Wa
Originally Posted by PolishMike
Im thinking about replacing all the stock gauges with a full line of cobalts.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
working on my custom dash, as of now it's just 2 aluminium sheets w/ gauges but it will be a full custom dash w/ probably a pre 77 upper dash plate. It will be painted the black that 1 of the sheets has, it's a sort of suede coat to make sure there's no annoying glare.
Still have to do all the wiring, the indicator lights, the TRC-2 control and some other stuff....hopefully it will be sweet
I'm also still waiting on my autometer oil temp gauge, volt gauge and fuel level gauge.
Still have to do all the wiring, the indicator lights, the TRC-2 control and some other stuff....hopefully it will be sweet
I'm also still waiting on my autometer oil temp gauge, volt gauge and fuel level gauge.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,943
Likes: 44
From: Florham Park NJ Port Credit Ontario
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
working on my custom dash, as of now it's just 2 aluminium sheets w/ gauges but it will be a full custom dash w/ probably a pre 77 upper dash plate. It will be painted the black that 1 of the sheets has, it's a sort of suede coat to make sure there's no annoying glare.
Still have to do all the wiring, the indicator lights, the TRC-2 control and some other stuff....hopefully it will be sweet
I'm also still waiting on my autometer oil temp gauge, volt gauge and fuel level gauge.
Still have to do all the wiring, the indicator lights, the TRC-2 control and some other stuff....hopefully it will be sweet
I'm also still waiting on my autometer oil temp gauge, volt gauge and fuel level gauge.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
working on my custom dash, as of now it's just 2 aluminium sheets w/ gauges but it will be a full custom dash w/ probably a pre 77 upper dash plate. It will be painted the black that 1 of the sheets has, it's a sort of suede coat to make sure there's no annoying glare.
Still have to do all the wiring, the indicator lights, the TRC-2 control and some other stuff....hopefully it will be sweet
I'm also still waiting on my autometer oil temp gauge, volt gauge and fuel level gauge.
Still have to do all the wiring, the indicator lights, the TRC-2 control and some other stuff....hopefully it will be sweet
I'm also still waiting on my autometer oil temp gauge, volt gauge and fuel level gauge.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,812
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor Wa
I am suprised no one has ever mentioned classic instruments in any of these gauge threads. That's who I plan on using when the time comes.
http://www.classicinstruments.com/
http://www.classicinstruments.com/
Last edited by 70 LS1; Jul 6, 2005 at 04:55 PM.
