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Aftermarket Gauges

twiget

twiget

1/2 ton status
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After driving my 'Vette for the last year, I've been spoiled with the bright and clear gauges she's got. In contrast, the gauges in my '90 'burban are old and worn out, and I'm looking for new ones.

I've found a couple websites that sell some pretty cool gauges, but I'm open to suggestions. What sizes are the stock gauges anyway?
 
Well, the stock gauges aren't exactly the round drop in autometer type, but I've found that if you're replacing them, go with a 5 inch speedo and tach and a 2 5/16 inch others. I'm looking at doing a totally new dash that can fit a bunch of gauges. I want the interior to look like the cockpit of a B52 (or at least a kenworth anyway)

There are several companies that I'm looking at for gauges. I like autometer the best, but I don't need a 160mph speedo and a 10000rpm tach, so I'll probably go with something else.
 
Something like this:

Check out my build thread in my sig on the last couple pages or so.

wiring043.jpg
 
I suspect that since those are mounted from the front side, they're 3 3/8" for the speedo and tach and 2 1/16" for the others.
 
ARAMP1 said:
I suspect that since those are mounted from the front side, they're 3 3/8" for the speedo and tach and 2 1/16" for the others.
Click to expand...
Those are actually mounted inside the original plastic gauge cluster using an aluminum set of brackets. They appear to be mounted to the bezel, but really just reside at the back. However, I believe the sizes you gave are correct, at least they are what I have planned for for my Blazer.
 
Seen it done a few times with the gauges mounted from behind the dash trim with none of the bezel showing too.

100_0709%20%28Small%29.JPG
 
That's cool, I hadn't seen anyone do it that way before.

Mine is getting a complete aluminum bezel, and the gauges will be mounted into it. I just can't see spending the cash for another plastic bezel that will crack, when I can fab up an aluminum panel that will look almost like it rolled out of the GM factory.
 
lectric80 said:
That's cool, I hadn't seen anyone do it that way before.

Mine is getting a complete aluminum bezel, and the gauges will be mounted into it. I just can't see spending the cash for another plastic bezel that will crack, when I can fab up an aluminum panel that will look almost like it rolled out of the GM factory.
Click to expand...

x2... I really want Ryoken's panel, but it may be forever before he actually puts it into production. I'll probably end up going with a textured black PVC that's available in sheets. It's cool, because it has a GM factory-like texture. It'd be easy to cut up and PVC-weld together into a usable dash panel blank.
 
Gauges look great. I was wondering if you had any problems installing the tach in your later model truck. I have an '86 with the computer controlled quadrajet, the distributor is unique to this application. Was wondering how your set up went (where did you connect the tach?). Also, where did you get the white gauge faces? Thanks.
 
ARAMP1 said:
Well, the stock gauges aren't exactly the round drop in autometer type, but I've found that if you're replacing them, go with a 5 inch speedo and tach and a 2 5/16 inch others. I'm looking at doing a totally new dash that can fit a bunch of gauges. I want the interior to look like the cockpit of a B52 (or at least a kenworth anyway)

There are several companies that I'm looking at for gauges. I like autometer the best, but I don't need a 160mph speedo and a 10000rpm tach, so I'll probably go with something else.
Click to expand...
VDO sells gauges in 100 mph, 120 mph, and 7,000 tachs that will fit just like the autometers behind the dash so as to look stock. They're what I want to put in my Jimmy someday.
 
noJeepshere said:
VDO sells gauges in 100 mph, 120 mph, and 7,000 tachs that will fit just like the autometers behind the dash so as to look stock. They're what I want to put in my Jimmy someday.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I'm OCD enough that I want everything to match, exactly... :doah: :(

I also don't need a 10,000rpm tach. I thought about calling Autometer and asking how much it'd be to print a new gauge face. I believe the faces should be interchangeable between the different series of gauges, to a certain extent.

That did just give me an idea though... :thinking:
 
noJeepshere said:
I don't know... I think you can find what you want and make them all match. I have the cockpit white series in my dash at the moment.

VDO insturments
Click to expand...

I want all Autometer Sport Comp II's, but can't get everything I want, or it'll be something small, like I want all full-sweeps on the smaller ones, and one will be half-sweep. :rolleyes:
 
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