Dash Gauge Buildup

[habitatxskate]

my first experiences with wires weren't good but after learning a little from a buddy and his explanation and some teaching i think i will be doing some more work.. i started by yanking out the dash cluster and the plastic cover behind it. i only have three gauges there (gas speedo and then smaller and to the left quartz. (no idea what that is) but after tracing the wires back i disconnected them (orange and black) and took the gauge out. The P.O. had installed a 3 gauge cluster of volt, engine temp, and oil pressure on that little cluster thing right by the 4wd lever. my plan is to take that out and put those into the stock places where they will fit. i have a few questions and would appreciate the help and lenience as i go.

pictures

taken the dash out, all that will remain.

there was a vent setup there but it was connected to nothing so i took it out to put something there when i think of it and help mess with the wiring.

electrical mess I'm stuck with. if you look closely you can see my bowtie overdrives setup somewhere.

the gauges that I'm moving. (temp gauge needs to be re-wired)

the "quartz gauge" that i have no idea about or its actual purpose. (got a little crazy taking it out)

dash and inside plastic piece

Now for the questions...
are all those sun pro wires (especially the temp gauge) need 18 gauge wire like my trans temp (an auto meter)?

how should i run the wire from the trans sender to the gauge, through the firewall?

the gauge areas in the dash aren't cut like the quartz one was, like you saw in the picture, do i pop those metal connectors out and then put the wires and stuff through there to connect the gauges?

and finally, for the dash I'm not sure what i want to do. my truck is no show truck but i want it so i can smile when i see it and make the bitches wet. no but for real, my uncle bought me some fiberglass stuff like the fabric and everything but i have no idea how to actually fiberglass. is it worth it? should i just scuff and throw some spray paint or what?

any advice or insight would be appreciated, will post progress as i go.

 

[Copasetic]

Check out Ryoken's build: http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194154&highlight=dash+gauges He redid all of his gauges into his dash and looks sweeeeet! Oh yeah, the "quartz gauge" you're talking about is a clock.

 

[habitatxskate]

holy **** really? i never would have guessed..i saw that last night when i bought my membership, that is an amazing build right there that i wish i could do but it really mwouldn't be worth it on my truck due to its condition.

 

[Izzy]

???

the "quartz gauge" that i have no idea about or its actual purpose. (got a little crazy taking it out)

That would be the Old Clock in the Instrument cluster (Which I was beat to).. I am in the process of replacing my stock cluster with Auto Meter gauges.. The two Big Gauges are going to be the Speedo and Tach, the four smaller holes are gonna be the Fuel,Oil,Volt, and water temp...

 

[habitatxskate]

yeah they are pretty high quality, im writing a review for it once i put it in and same with my transmission cooler..they seem really nicely made.

yeah mine will be 1 auto meter, 2 stock ones, and 3 sun pros (technically 4 if you count the tach. installed on my steering column.

EDIT: will all those sunpro gauges require 18 gauge wire or something else? i have about 25' or so of it and don't know if i will have to lengthen anything or use a different gauge to fix the motor temp gauge

 

[habitatxskate]

im thinking of just spraying it black

 

[kevin400ex]

i installed all autometer gauges in my 79, i cut out peices of aluminum sheet with hole for the gauges to fit thru, used the brackets that come on the gauges to hold the gauges to the aluminum, then i used long machine screws to hold the aluminum with the gauges to the bezel, then covered with a billet dash peice to hide the screww heads. i cut out all the stock stuff in the cluster to make room for the gauges and still have the points to screw the bezel too. i didnt take any pics when i i built the thing (10 years ago) but you can kinda see it in this pic this is before i put the billet peice on so you can see the screw heads around the gauge openings if you look close. i also did away with the factory clear plastic, the face of the gauges sit flush on the rings of the bezel.

 

[BKinzey]

While you have it out paint the light blue backing with chrome paint. It will help with the brightness

 

[3/4 Ton Blazer]

holy **** really? i never would have guessed.

Really, you saw a gauge that has a 3, 6, 9, and 12 in 90 degree intervals, and you didn't think clock? I hate it when people type "LOL", but I literally laughed when I read that you didn't know what the "Quarts Gauge" was for.

 

[Izzy]

Kevin

i installed all autometer gauges in my 79, i cut out peices of aluminum sheet with hole for the gauges to fit thru, used the brackets that come on the gauges to hold the gauges to the aluminum, then i used long machine screws to hold the aluminum with the gauges to the bezel, then covered with a billet dash peice to hide the screww heads. i cut out all the stock stuff in the cluster to make room for the gauges and still have the points to screw the bezel too. i didnt take any pics when i i built the thing (10 years ago) but you can kinda see it in this pic this is before i put the billet peice on so you can see the screw heads around the gauge openings if you look close. i also did away with the factory clear plastic, the face of the gauges sit flush on the rings of the bezel.

What size guages did you use for the speedo and tach? I have all the small two inch installed into the stock bezel and I am waiting for the five inch speedo and tach to come in.. It is lookin good and unfortunately I dont have acces to a digital camera at the moment... As soon as I get pictures i will post...

 

[habitatxskate]

While you have it out paint the light blue backing with chrome paint. It will help with the brightness

thats a really good idea, im replacing every light bulb in the damn truck since half of them don't work..

Really, you saw a gauge that has a 3, 6, 9, and 12 in 90 degree intervals, and you didn't think clock? I hate it when people type "LOL", but I literally laughed when I read that you didn't know what the "Quarts Gauge" was for.

i'm a little slow! that and i don't knowwwwwwwwww i can't think of a valid excuse.

edit: just emailed sunpro asking what gauge wires their gauges use.

 

[habitatxskate]

got really bored and my 3 yr old sis was nagging at me for the batteries to charge with the r/c lifted jeep i got her as an early x mas rpesent..before you go on, i looked for a chevy, none, i cried, then bought it..no but really radio shack, 30 dollar rc jeep with working headlights! hahah anyways, put the console and everything in the shower, sprayed em down to get the 20 yr old dust off!

here is a picture for those that are just as bored as i was.
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4058/picture002uz0.jpg

 

[kevin400ex]

What size guages did you use for the speedo and tach? I have all the small two inch installed into the stock bezel and I am waiting for the five inch speedo and tach to come in.. It is lookin good and unfortunately I dont have acces to a digital camera at the moment... As soon as I get pictures i will post...

i used the in dhas 5 inch tach and speedo, the other gauges are 2 5/8. this weekend ill take a closer pic

 

[Izzy]

Toys

got really bored and my 3 yr old sis was nagging at me for the batteries to charge with the r/c lifted jeep i got her as an early x mas rpesent..before you go on, i looked for a chevy, none, i cried, then bought it..no but really radio shack, 30 dollar rc jeep with working headlights!

To show her a real truck, place jeep in driveway and run over it with the K5.. LOL Just kidding...

 

[Izzy]

Really

i used the in dhas 5 inch tach and speedo, the other gauges are 2 5/8. this weekend ill take a closer pic

It looks as though it is sitting in there nicely, Hope mine fit like that.. I mean I dont know the diameter of the front opening but I think it's smaller than five inches.. We shall see...

 

[BGKYK5]

That dash came out really good Kevin. I'd like to see more pics too.

 

[kevin400ex]

It looks as though it is sitting in there nicely, Hope mine fit like that.. I mean I dont know the diameter of the front opening but I think it's smaller than five inches.. We shall see...

it does taper down to un 5 inches, i carfully sanded the edges of the opening in back to bring the gauges closer to the driver, by doing this it made the opening larger as they are tapered. i get home from work to late to take any pics, but i get off in the daylight tomarrow so i will take a few.

 

[habitatxskate]

anyone that needs it for reference, including myself...

sunpro rpm, volt, oil pressure, oil temperature gauges all use 18 g wire.

 

[Izzy]

In dash..

it does taper down to un 5 inches, i carfully sanded the edges of the opening in back to bring the gauges closer to the driver, by doing this it made the opening larger as they are tapered. i get home from work to late to take any pics, but i get off in the daylight tomarrow so i will take a few.

So you used the in dash.. I got the ones with the exterior rings not sure what they are called but I trimmed up the back and they fit in snug. the sammler ones are inset the larger ones wont inset but then again they look alright so far...

 

[kevin400ex]

heres a few pics i took today. my blazer is pretty dirty since it sits outside and is missing the rear and drivers windows.

also keep in mind i did this about 10 years ago. i may do this as well in my 73 crewcab, but with the stuff out today it would be alot cleaner.


well the pics wont load.