Creative Gauge Masters Needed!!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Creative Gauge Masters Needed!!!
I am considering removing the gauge cluster from my 77 and replacing with Autometer gauges. With my new 350HO engine and TKO500 5-speed it would make sense (at least to me) to upgrade my gauges for accuracy and look as well.
Here is the question for those of you that have been or are creative.
Have any of you replaced your stock gauges (water temp, oil pressure, alternator) with Autometer (or other) gauges using the same bezel and have the look come out new, fresh and functional?
I am not a glass man so doing a new dash bezel is way out of my league.
If anyone has something they can show me and the forum it would be much appreciated.
Thanks to you all.
David
77Sleeper
Here is the question for those of you that have been or are creative.
Have any of you replaced your stock gauges (water temp, oil pressure, alternator) with Autometer (or other) gauges using the same bezel and have the look come out new, fresh and functional?
I am not a glass man so doing a new dash bezel is way out of my league.
If anyone has something they can show me and the forum it would be much appreciated.
Thanks to you all.
David
77Sleeper
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Now you did it. If you change the console gauges you are going to want to change the speedo and tach to match! Many here have done this and it does look nice. I have seen them and I'm sure pictures will be posted on this. It will fit in the console with not much mods either.
Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 370
Likes: 1
From: Taylors sc
Now you did it. If you change the console gauges you are going to want to change the speedo and tach to match! Many here have done this and it does look nice. I have seen them and I'm sure pictures will be posted on this. It will fit in the console with not much mods either.
Were waiting on some pics.... Love the autometers,almost like they should have been there all along...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
a search on the forum will net a vast number of threads re: autometer...still here are some instructions
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Long Jetty NSW
........... and here some VDO's. Tried to keep the "white on black with red needle" theme. The gauges fit the Bezel from the front, just had to bend the bezel opening a bit on some gauges to make them a snug fit. Once I found out how a Corvette Ammeter worked, I changed to a Volt Meter instead. And, yep, I know the bezel is broken. Some heavy handed character did that before I bought the car. I used the hole for the original clock adjuster for the Alarm LED. 
Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 370
Likes: 1
From: Taylors sc
What do you have for the speedo and tach pics... I do love the factory on these, but my options are.... Thanks for the other pics guys there all great....
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Le Mans Master
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From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
These are all great, thank you guys. I see creative use of white, and black gauges here and I like them both. Nothing like choice now days.
I do like the looks of the autometer and the VDO both, so some investigation and research is in order. Are all of the bezel gauges 2-1/16" size? Any good suggestions on which supplier you might recommend for the VDO or the Autometer gauges?
Thanks again for your pictures, well worth a thousand words.
David
77Sleeper
I do like the looks of the autometer and the VDO both, so some investigation and research is in order. Are all of the bezel gauges 2-1/16" size? Any good suggestions on which supplier you might recommend for the VDO or the Autometer gauges?
Thanks again for your pictures, well worth a thousand words.
David
77Sleeper
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
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From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Have any of you seen gauge mods on a 77 Bezel? I say that because the openings on the 77 are shaped like this with only the clock as a round opening.
Any suggestions are welcomed.
David
77Sleeper
Any suggestions are welcomed.
David
77Sleeper
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 3
From: STANTON CA
Have any of you seen gauge mods on a 77 Bezel? I say that because the openings on the 77 are shaped like this with only the clock as a round opening.
Attachment 47637077
Any suggestions are welcomed.
David
77Sleeper
Attachment 47637077
Any suggestions are welcomed.
David
77Sleeper
that section, if so can't you make new sections
to replace those
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
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From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Not really allen screws, just molded in to look like screws, on a face that is solid molded plastic. If they were it would be much easier though.
Thanks for the suggestion.
David
77Sleeper
Thanks for the suggestion.
David
77Sleeper
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Have any of you seen gauge mods on a 77 Bezel? I say that because the openings on the 77 are shaped like this with only the clock as a round opening.
Attachment 47637077
Any suggestions are welcomed.
David
77Sleeper
Attachment 47637077
Any suggestions are welcomed.
David
77Sleeper
now I opted for the Autometer angle rings that tilt the gauges towards the driver, but my previous install had them flush with the panel, you have to dremel out the flat spots on your cluster, the outer diamter of the autometers will just cover the beveled recess, but you have to be very accurate in taking out that flat spot or gaps will be visible below the gauge.
this is what the console looked like before
Last edited by fauxrs2; Apr 15, 2009 at 09:24 AM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
78 & 77 bezels are the same - heres mine
now I opted for the Autometer angle rings that tilt the gauges towards the driver, but my previous install had them flush with the panel, you have to dremel out the flat spots on your cluster, the outer diamter of the autometers will just cover the beveled recess, but you have to be very accurate in taking out that flat spot or gaps will be visible below the gauge.
this is what the console looked like before
now I opted for the Autometer angle rings that tilt the gauges towards the driver, but my previous install had them flush with the panel, you have to dremel out the flat spots on your cluster, the outer diamter of the autometers will just cover the beveled recess, but you have to be very accurate in taking out that flat spot or gaps will be visible below the gauge.
this is what the console looked like before
This install looks very clean and nice, good job.
David
77Sleeper
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
So if I see this correctly, the gauges position themselves over the molded lines so you used a burlwood overlay on the face to cover this and make it appear as a finished install. Is that a correct statement?
This install looks very clean and nice, good job.
David
77Sleeper
This install looks very clean and nice, good job.
David
77Sleeper
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Did you buy the Lexan molded in black or did you die or paint it? I am assuming you machined it yourself and then attached it with set screws over the face of the existing bezel, is that correct? Nice looking finished product, very clean, thanks for sharing.
David
David
Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 370
Likes: 1
From: Taylors sc
BLUEGTP Has my vote..
I traditionally like autometer sport comp and now ive started like the ultra lites.. But the ones "bluegtp" has done are knocking me out.. Thanks for these ideas... Beer or guages beer or guages??? 