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UPDATE 3/16/10 post 37 Custom Aluminum dash gauge layout, pics.

rdn2blazer

rdn2blazer

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I have just about all my gauges finally. Still waiting on one. I can get started with out it. I'm getting ready to cut the holes for the dash and cant decide which look and layout looks good and which works the best for what I want to have in the dash. I still need to but the HOT ROD AIR unit. The controls I would like pretty much on center of the dash. I also thought about having one of the those trick Computers with GPS like a trophy truck uses. Have not looked into one of those yet. Probably can't afford one anyways.

Anyways I would like to pick your brains, maybe I'm forgetting something. I layed these out with the dash in the truck and the new colume & steering wheel installed. I kinda like having a gauge on the upper left but it will be closer to the tach/speedo just due to space available. The gauges on the right are spaced farther to the right because it gives me better view above the steering wheel. I still would be able to see the gauge on the left fine, it's just closer to the wheel then I would like. Was thing of the fuel gauge on the left since it's not a engine critical gauge.

OR, I could just have them all in a row on the right and nothing on the left. It just seems empty on the left. I will also have a switch pannel somewhere aswell. I would like the passenger to have access to it too. Same with the AC/heater controls. I can add a lower Aluminum pannel IF necessary, IF I just do not have the room for everything necessary, But, I would prefer NOT to add anything. I like the straight across clean dash.

I'm going to maching custom gauge clamps to mount the gauges to the dash on the back. The angled bezels create an issue as far as mounting goes. I have that already figured out. Well what do you think? see any issues with the gauges being close together or any other problems? I really have to watch how close to the top I mount them. The dash bar runs behind the dash. Also the Dzus fasteners still need to be welded to the cage and the holes drilled in the dash so I can mount it solidly to the cage.



Refference links to my build

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235879

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229674

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237109&highlight=roll+aluminum

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I think your speedo and tach (the two largest) are gonna end up too far to the left for good easy visibilty. I think if they were moved over about 3" to the right you'd be much closer.

From there I'd put two small ones on each side of the large guages, and put the smaller ones one above the other. The 5th small guage seems to be the stinker as far as making it pleasing to the eye...what is the 5th small guage for?

Rene
 
tRustyK5 said:
I think your speedo and tach (the two largest) are gonna end up too far to the left for good easy visibilty. I think if they were moved over about 3" to the right you'd be much closer.

From there I'd put two small ones on each side of the large guages, and put the smaller ones one above the other. The 5th small guage seems to be the stinker as far as making it pleasing to the eye...what is the 5th small guage for?

Rene
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Actually the Tach/speedo is right on center of the steering colume and me. I should have taken a pic of the steering colume in the truck. showing the two gauges on center. The line running between the two is colume center line.
 
i'd go for something like the 4th style, but move the speedo and tach out and up to get some seperation and visibilty.. and take the small gauge on the left and put it all the way right.. making the small gauges, 3 and 2, or 2 and 3....
 
are you going to put your switch panel in close proximity to reach with competition belts on? If so, maybe a row of gauges like in #2 or #3 with the switch panel below that, or cluster the guages on the right and the switch panel on the left.
 
76zimmer said:
are you going to put your switch panel in close proximity to reach with competition belts on? If so, maybe a row of gauges like in #2 or #3 with the switch panel below that, or cluster the guages on the right and the switch panel on the left.
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Now thats something I didn't think about, thank you. I should have the switches in reach while belted in so I will have to make sure I can reach the dash fully locked in. I can reach it near the steering wheel and to a certain point so far to the right but as I reach out further ofcourse it becomes out of reach. I will get some pics asap of the dash in the truck and some first person views of me reaching. Also the layout with the steering wheel in the view.
 
I personally like the look of the first two pics. If it were me i would install the dash and use double sided sticky tape to hold the rings and get an actual feel for what it will look like as installed and where you can reach any switches when belted in. :deal:
 
4X4HIGH said:
I personally like the look of the first two pics. If it were me i would install the dash and use double sided sticky tape to hold the rings and get an actual feel for what it will look like as installed and where you can reach any switches when belted in. :deal:
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Another good idea, thanks man :waytogo:. I let my membership slide and can't post pics yet. I have some cool things I have made to mount the gauges. Will post pics asap.
 
Making some decent dash progress. I got all the holes drilled & finished. I'm still short two gauges on back order. I had to make the custom bezels that mount on the inside of the dash. I found PVC fittings at Home Depot for the 5" gauges that I cut up and bored on the lathe at work. They fit bitchen. For the 2 5/8 gauges I found the perfect size clear Acrylic tube, I didn't have to machine these, jusr cut them to length. Actually I did turn the face and chamfered the flat face on all the bezels but I didn't really have to. I debured the angled side in a fine grit belt sander at work aswell. Then used a 60deg debur knife to debur the ID edges.

In the first person views your seing what I see for the most. I can see the fuel gauge completely, as seen in the full view pic of the gauge. I machined the Aluminum caps for the 2 5/8 gauges. I'm going to find gromets that are solid and drill myown holes. They won't be water tight, I'm not trying to make then that way. Just keep as much dust as possible out. The clear look is bas ass INHO. I would have liked to have found some clear for the 5" but I was going for inexpensive aswell. I made a temporary bar to mount the 5" gauges but I'm going to machine a cap like the 2 5/8 gauges have. The first few pics are a mockup setup I did just to make sure it was going to work out as I hoped it would, it did ofcourse. On to the pics.

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And more pics. The piece of tape on the right gauge is just to hold it for the pic. I have the inner bezel at work to make the caps for the big gauges.

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StevoandaRedK5 said:
that looks sick. :D
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Thanks man. I wish these damn back order gauges woud get here. Not suposed to ship till the end of August unless Autometer delays them again. :mad: I have waited almost a year and a half for these to come out.
 
That does look really nice. The white/grey guage faces even match really well with the aluminum dash. Is the dash getting painted?
 
bp71k5 said:
That does look really nice. The white/grey guage faces even match really well with the aluminum dash. Is the dash getting painted?
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I'm going to have possibly powder coated. I'm concerned about warpage with powder coating though. I might just paint it. That would probably be a better way to go. I'm going to talk to my powder coater though, see what he says. If he say it might, then I won't risk it. Even though the Aluminum bezels are black Anodized those will be powder coated for sure. I'm doing a Red White and Blue theme, so I want the interior to match the theme. The truck will be White, with big long Red & Blue flames. My mastercraft seats are Red and Blue. The cage will get powder coated Red or White.
 
how about anodizing the dash? that would be sick looking...
 
That dash is coming out good. I really like it. Powder coating the dash shouldn't be a problem. Once the paint is applied it goes into the oven at only 400* from what i'm told and that shouldn't affect the dash a bit.
 
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