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Edited: Help me make a gauge panel parts list

chalet2506

chalet2506

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Anybody use something like this? I've always planned on building/buying a custom bezel and upgrading gauges when I rebuilt my 72. I'm just not in a position to spend the time or $500+ right now. Plus, my wiring skills kind of suck. This has everything I need. Bolt it on to the steering wheel, install the senders and wire when I put my new engine and roll with it. What say the pro's on here?


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-800104/?rtype=10

SUM-800104.jpg
 
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actually i wondered about those as well, i just never thought i'd like having the gauges in the background so small, plus its hard finding a matching speedo and fuel level gauge.. atleast i had a hard time.
 
I agree, it looks a little cheesy. I would run the stock speedo and fuel. Even though the gauges are small, I think they'd still be better than my nonworking ammeter and oil, water gauges that don't have readouts. Plus, I wouldn't mind having a tach.
 
probably the only reason i'm not going that route, is cuz theres a guy on here selling a full set of 6 brand new autometers for $300. i figured for the price i'd rather have more guages than 1 cluttered one. besides each guage is good for like +20hp
 
it is very hard to look at, like my eyes hurt. Maybe if it was a solid black background and the numbers/needles themselves are lit, then maybe, but I wouldn't hesitate to redo all 8 autometer gauges that I have.
 
I think that 10,000RPM tachs and 160MPH speedos are dumb in a truck....

Other than bragging rights, it serves no purpose and makes the "useful" part of the gauge just a small sliver of the total sweep.....so you can't get an accurate reading anyway.

:usaflag:
 
Greg72 said:
makes the "useful" part of the gauge just a small sliver of the total sweep.....so you can't get an accurate reading anyway.

:usaflag:
Click to expand...
hmmm, never looked at it that way before, but its a good point. I was trying to decide the range of tach I wanted to put in just recently. that helps.
 
haven't read the replies, but it looks like cr@p across the board to me, but I hate white face gauges..... looks cheap and trendy...

the other thing is, great, simple wiring, but now you have ONE component that has multiple items to fail.. rendering it all, sucky...
 
Nothin I hate worse than suck, so guess I'll pass on this deal. Thanks for the replies.
 
yeah, I'd rather be replacing one $30 to $75 gauge every now and then.. as opposed to $150, who knows how often....
 
Greg72 said:
I think that 10,000RPM tachs and 160MPH speedos are dumb in a truck....

Other than bragging rights, it serves no purpose and makes the "useful" part of the gauge just a small sliver of the total sweep.....so you can't get an accurate reading anyway.

:usaflag:
Click to expand...

to defend, I think I have both of those, the speedo being cable. In 3 3/8th, I think that's the only ones I could get in an ultra-lite, or at least the cheaper of them all :D
 
I drove many 70's and 80's GM G-vans over the years and they used the ralley type gauges in them. I really grew to like them because everythig was in one hole. Water temp, oil pressure and volts, right there, one shot, not scanning multiple gauges/holes. I actually looked for something similar when I was building mine because I was trying to eliminate the gauge pod on my dash, but I could not find one that suited my needs appropriately. Now, with that being said, I don't really care for the one pictured. With the tach, you will be using maybe 90* of the total sweep and I bet in bright light, the details are going to be hard to see through the light reflecting off the light colored background.

There are ralley type gauges made by other companies, if you are set on that type, so you may want to check some others out before you decide.
 
Here's another option....did some quick Google work:

front-panel.jpg



There are a few companies making what they call "Vintage" gauges now. I think Stewart-Warner has a new line like that... What's nice is that they use the green-on-black color scheme that is more "correct" for our trucks and in most cases the speedos are more realistic (100MPH, 120MPH etc)

It's worth taking a look around. The website that I linked that photo from has a few different options for partially integrated gauges (2 or 3 functions per gauge) which might be a decent compromise, especially if you want to reuse the factory cluster holes and don't want to bolt a bunch of extra stuff on the steering column or hack the dash for more auxillary gauges.

:usaflag:
 
scottishdave said:
trying to imagine how terrifying 120mph would be in my 72.:eek::eek:
Click to expand...


I had my '72 dyno'ed with 38" Swampers on it, and they ran it up to something like 110MPH to get the HP/TQ numbers.

As they did the pull....the tires got louder and LOUDER and everyone in teh room starting slowing stepping back from the machine....one step, two steps..... until the pull was finally over. :eek1: Scary stuff!


:usaflag:
 
Poked around this afternoon and they seem to be the best lookin for the money. So, being short on time and electrical know how I called in the calvary. Dad's retired, can fix pretty much electrical or mechanical, and said he wouldn't mind building it up and helping wire it in. I used to call him a lot more, but since I've figured out more about these trucks I need to call less and less. Will be nice because I seem to be making decent progress on my build and don't want to get sidetracked right now. I also don't want to get everything together and then spend a month trying to get gauges on it.

Besides the gauges, what do I need? I've read up a little. Kind of thinking we will use some led lights for the backlighting and directional blinkers. Dad's not a big fan of printed circuits apparently so will do away with that. Guess my main concerns are do I need a new sending unit for the gas gauge, and how do I connect the speedo?
 
If you get teh correct fuel guage(0 - 90 ohms) you don't need a new sending unit.

As for the speedo, the easiest thing is to get an electric one. Then you can easily program it to your gear/tire size.
 
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