Custom gauge clusters
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,877
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge IL
Custom gauge clusters
I wanted to add a fuel pressure gauge, as well as a boost gauge to help monitor my twin turbo engine. I made this aluminum plate to mount the Autometer Ultralight gauges. What do you guys think?
Do you think I should make a similar plate for the CD player? I will be cutting out a DIN hole anyway, I thought that another polished aluminum plate would blend in well.
I also made a polished aluminum plate for the speedo/tach housing, and incorporated a 2 1/16" boost gauge, along with 5" speedo and tach. Do you guys think it looks better aluminum, or paint them black? I think aluminum looks "racey" but black looks good too, and a littler more "sleeper".
If you don't like it, please be gentle, cause this is my third attempt over 3 days at making this plate. It may have been too many beers, but I always ended up slightly (1/16") off. This one is at least dimensionally correct, dispite the beer, LOL!
Do you think I should make a similar plate for the CD player? I will be cutting out a DIN hole anyway, I thought that another polished aluminum plate would blend in well.
I also made a polished aluminum plate for the speedo/tach housing, and incorporated a 2 1/16" boost gauge, along with 5" speedo and tach. Do you guys think it looks better aluminum, or paint them black? I think aluminum looks "racey" but black looks good too, and a littler more "sleeper".
If you don't like it, please be gentle, cause this is my third attempt over 3 days at making this plate. It may have been too many beers, but I always ended up slightly (1/16") off. This one is at least dimensionally correct, dispite the beer, LOL!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Monty)
either polish it up, or paint it the color of the body. thats a kick butt custom job though! good work, and im glad to hear you didnt give up on the beer! :lol:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Custom gauge clusters ('79ProwlerOrange)
I like the polished aluminum look :yesnod: . I've een thinking of going the same route with my car since I'd like to replace all the gauges with ultra lites ;) .
Instructor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 195
Likes: 1
From: Van Buren AR
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Monty)
Monty,
You are a true craftsman. Your work is awesome. And all true craftsmen drink beer. I notice that you have the center consol propped up on a can :D
I think you should make a matching plate for the radio head.
Would you show us pictures of your speedometer and tach cluster please?
Also, would you consider making a set of those aluminum plates for me? If so, let me know the cost. I'm am not in a hurry for them. I'm up to my butt in pace car projects now.
:cheers:
You are a true craftsman. Your work is awesome. And all true craftsmen drink beer. I notice that you have the center consol propped up on a can :D
I think you should make a matching plate for the radio head.
Would you show us pictures of your speedometer and tach cluster please?
Also, would you consider making a set of those aluminum plates for me? If so, let me know the cost. I'm am not in a hurry for them. I'm up to my butt in pace car projects now.
:cheers:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,877
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge IL
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Arkansas Flash)
Thanks guys. I'll post a pic of the speedo/tach later today, I still need to polish it first.
Arkansas flash, sure I can make you some of the plates. I wouldn't charge you anything for them other than shipping. Now that I've got a template to go from it wouldn't take me long at all. I get scrap 36" x 36" pieces of aluminum from an industrial supply house for about $3 each, so materials are very inexpensive. Just let me know what you want.
Arkansas flash, sure I can make you some of the plates. I wouldn't charge you anything for them other than shipping. Now that I've got a template to go from it wouldn't take me long at all. I get scrap 36" x 36" pieces of aluminum from an industrial supply house for about $3 each, so materials are very inexpensive. Just let me know what you want.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 1
From: Westampton NJ
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Monty)
You need those little swirl marks that look cool and don't go all in the same direction...making it reflect light in interesting ways. I don't know how better to describe them, so hopefully I'm making sense.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 3
From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Monty)
Nice job. 1/16"? That's no biggie at all. It looks great - just make your choice on the finished look you want. Besides - once you have it installed, polished anbd the motor running - no one will even see the 1/16" - especially with all the attention the motor will get.
BTW - why did you connect the can to the back of the gauge cluster :lol:
BTW - why did you connect the can to the back of the gauge cluster :lol:
Pro
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 509
Likes: 0
From: lantana,fl.
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Monty)
Monty,I'm right in the middle of doing the same,also doing a new interior.
I have all of the gauges mounted and ready to go can I email them to you so they can be posted.thanks rick
I have all of the gauges mounted and ready to go can I email them to you so they can be posted.thanks rick
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,877
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge IL
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Blues77)
Blues77, I get the aluminum (as well as steel, and stainless) sheet from Jordon Industrial Supply, on Wolfe Road in Northbrook. They sell surplus, salvage and scrap industrial supplies and materials.
Rick, sure send 'em my way, I've got plenty of server space.
I know 1/16" or so isn't much, but it's easy to redo it until it's "perfect". I guess I'm a perfectionist, that's probably why my projects take forever to complete.
Rick, sure send 'em my way, I've got plenty of server space.
I know 1/16" or so isn't much, but it's easy to redo it until it's "perfect". I guess I'm a perfectionist, that's probably why my projects take forever to complete.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
Re: Custom gauge clusters ('79ProwlerOrange)
either polish it up, or paint it the color of the body. thats a kick butt custom job though! good work, and im glad to hear you didnt give up on the beer! :lol:
I would've gone that route had I the tools, now I got the wood grain - It looks way cool too.
[Modified by fauxrs, 11:09 AM 8/24/2002]
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,877
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge IL
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Stephen DeFazio)
Well, here's what it looks like with the radio panel made, and radio installed. I wonder if I should have made it all one piece?
Stephen, I was thinking the same thing, but the polished aluminum is growing on me.
[Modified by Monty, 3:54 PM 8/24/2002]
Stephen, I was thinking the same thing, but the polished aluminum is growing on me.
[Modified by Monty, 3:54 PM 8/24/2002]
Instructor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 195
Likes: 1
From: Van Buren AR
Re: Custom gauge clusters (Monty)
Monty,
Your work is outstanding. I think that 1/16" aluminum should be thick enough. It's not like they are huge pieces, nor do the guages weigh that much. I like the seporate radio piece. That way they are framed in black all around the perimeter. When do we get to see the speedometer and tach panel? I do have one other question. What happened to the can of beer that you propped the panel up with earlier? :cheers:
Your work is outstanding. I think that 1/16" aluminum should be thick enough. It's not like they are huge pieces, nor do the guages weigh that much. I like the seporate radio piece. That way they are framed in black all around the perimeter. When do we get to see the speedometer and tach panel? I do have one other question. What happened to the can of beer that you propped the panel up with earlier? :cheers: