tech and speedo gauges
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
tech and speedo gauges
I'm getting a 70 stingray and the tech a d speedo are going to need replacement. Would it be easier to get new stock ones or is it easy to hook up some auto meter ones? Will I have to do any fab work if I go with auto meter ones?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 4
From: Okinawa Okinawa
Congrats on the 70. Need pics once you get them.
The gauges is totally up to you. Do you want to keep it looking stock or do you want to go aftermarket? Up to you. You can search the forum's search button and take a look at different options.
I just put in Autometer (Phantom) gauges in mine and did very little fabrication. The only thing I did was cut a piece of plexiglass as a bezel for the tach and speedo. Painted them black and mounted them to the factory speedo/tach holders. There was no other fabrication involved. I had to put in a new speedo cable and ran a wire for the tach.
The gauges is totally up to you. Do you want to keep it looking stock or do you want to go aftermarket? Up to you. You can search the forum's search button and take a look at different options.
I just put in Autometer (Phantom) gauges in mine and did very little fabrication. The only thing I did was cut a piece of plexiglass as a bezel for the tach and speedo. Painted them black and mounted them to the factory speedo/tach holders. There was no other fabrication involved. I had to put in a new speedo cable and ran a wire for the tach.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,270
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 70,
A new, old 70; NICE!
I'll only add that the original tachometer and speedometer are both mechanical, (at least if the ones in your car are original type), so in selecting new gauges you may want to keep that in mind.
Good Luck!
Alan
A new, old 70; NICE!
I'll only add that the original tachometer and speedometer are both mechanical, (at least if the ones in your car are original type), so in selecting new gauges you may want to keep that in mind.
Good Luck!
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Nov 22, 2012 at 06:38 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 4
From: Okinawa Okinawa
Very easy either way you go.
Again, it really gets down to what you want. If you want to keep a stock look, a rebuild may be the best option. I personally have a non #'s matching car and do things to the car that I think look best.
Couple things no matter which way you go. When you go to take out the driver's side dash, you have to lower the steering wheel column. There are two bolts that connect just under the dash. Those two come completely out. There are also two bolts at the fire wall. If you loosen them up (but not take off), you can get some more drop from the steering column to give you room to get the dash out. tie up the steering column or reconnect the bolts once you get the dash out so it doesn't hang. Also, make sure you bag all of your bolts and check your vacuum lines going to the headlight switch.
I think the hardest part is putting all the lights back in the gauges and hooking up the tach and speedo cable when you go to reinstall. Helps to either have small hands or a helper.
Again, it really gets down to what you want. If you want to keep a stock look, a rebuild may be the best option. I personally have a non #'s matching car and do things to the car that I think look best.
Couple things no matter which way you go. When you go to take out the driver's side dash, you have to lower the steering wheel column. There are two bolts that connect just under the dash. Those two come completely out. There are also two bolts at the fire wall. If you loosen them up (but not take off), you can get some more drop from the steering column to give you room to get the dash out. tie up the steering column or reconnect the bolts once you get the dash out so it doesn't hang. Also, make sure you bag all of your bolts and check your vacuum lines going to the headlight switch.
I think the hardest part is putting all the lights back in the gauges and hooking up the tach and speedo cable when you go to reinstall. Helps to either have small hands or a helper.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
Personally I think Chevy did a great job of designing the gauges, I will be having Willcox rebuild my speedo and tach, the other gauges are cheap enough to buy new. But that's my personal preference you have to do what you like 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
You're call. I went to an Autometer speedo and tach with my ZZ4 install. My oem speedo needed an odometer gear fix and the mech tach wouldn't work with the ZZ4's HEI. I kept the oem console gauges except for a quartz clock conversion. 
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Or if you want the old gauges tested I can do that too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 4
From: Okinawa Okinawa
Forgot to add, unless you are 4 ft 2 in, you will probably need to take out the driver's side seat. I'm 5'8 and was glad the seat was out.
Probably a easy to moderate skill level. My "very easy" comment was probably thinking how it was after it was all done, not always in the "during" phase of the upgrade.
Probably a easy to moderate skill level. My "very easy" comment was probably thinking how it was after it was all done, not always in the "during" phase of the upgrade.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Which ones do you need? email me at Support@Willcoxcorvette.com I'll see what I have and how good they are.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
I have bunches of original gauges, I'll have to look at them to see how they look and if not up to snuff.. we go new..
Which ones do you need? email me at Support@Willcoxcorvette.com I'll see what I have and how good they are.
Which ones do you need? email me at Support@Willcoxcorvette.com I'll see what I have and how good they are.
