"custom" gauge cluster idea

[jonathon]

I'm getting tired of looking at the hole in my dash where my gauge cluster used to be

On the drive home I got the idea to just make a panel out of something like sheet metal, cut holes in it and use after market gauges and just bolt the thing to the stock mounting position. This would be till I could build my replacement dash(which is probably next summer). I don't DD my rig, just would be nice to have gauges...

My stock gauges do not work at all. The speedo is good, just the cable or the gear is bad(haven't played with it enough to figure out which it is...). The oil pressure and temp idiot lights were not getting a signal so I put mechanical gauges in, so all I'd need is a speedo and a fuel gauge to complete it and move the temp and oil onto the new cluster.

Any thoughts on this or am I totally crazy? Any ideas on executing it? I almost thought of cutting it out of plastic or the like but I don't know. I have a hard time visualizing this stuff sometimes

Also.. will an aftermarket fuel gauge work with my stock sender or the like?

 

[boz42]

The problem will be the gauges will be hard to see if you just put sheetmetal in the stock local. they will be aimed downward towards the floorboard. You could mount them in the stock plastic. I did that for a while & it isn't great but it could get you by for a whiile.

Aftermarket fuel gauges will work as long as they have the same ohm range. I can;t remember for sure, but I think it needs to read bteween 90-120 ohms.

 

[habitatxskate]

i hope to get a trans temp gauge in the stock one along with another gauge or two..

 

[ryoken]

The problem will be the gauges will be hard to see if you just put sheetmetal in the stock local. they will be aimed downward towards the floorboard. You could mount them in the stock plastic. I did that for a while & it isn't great but it could get you by for a whiile.

Aftermarket fuel gauges will work as long as they have the same ohm range. I can;t remember for sure, but I think it needs to read bteween 90-120 ohms.

0 - 90

But aftermarkets can be purchased in the 240 to 33 ohm too for the record...

The flat-panel, point at the belly gauges is a pretty easy mod... an afternoon with a jigsaw and holesaws and you have gauges...

My undertaking was a LITTLE more time consuming... Hopefully mine will be available for purchase by new year...

 

[jonathon]

Thanks for the info!

I'm getting a broader pic in my head on how to do this I think, I looked at it some more today and I'm thinking I could do if I made the cluster out of two pieces of sheet metal(or one bent).

I have a bunch of Dupont plexiglass that is in wierd sizes that would be just big enough for a gauge panel, and it is pretty easy to cut(and pretty strong it seems like). Wonder if I could use that, rough it up and paint it..

I'm going to rip out the dash pad since mine is NASTY right now.

 

[boz42]

0 - 90

Thanks I knew 90 sounded familiar.