project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

After searching numerous threads on this site about newer gauges in a 79 dash I have tried my own thing.

These are cheap ($20) O reilly (equass, maybe) water temp gauges. I bought only 1 of the 4 I need becuase I am just test fitting this. I also bought a $10 spare plastic dash from the local pull a part to try this out.


I Dremel cut the back "half" of the original plastic dash.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...04-09_1832.jpg

The gauge has a plastic threaded plastic ring that threads onto the gauge itself to hold it into the dash.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...04-09_1833.jpg


just push it through and thread it in..
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...04-09_1831.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...04-09_1830.jpg

I know it is not perfect, but this is a work in progress. I will get out a file and smooth all the edges. I also do not know if the bigger speedo and tach will fit the other larger holes. I plan on tacklin that next.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

The gauge looks pretty sharp for a cheapie.

Keep us posted, looks good.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

Recessed look is always nice. here is a similar thing I did with front mounted gauges.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

That's pretty slick, Brad! Looking forward to seeing the next step.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

that's the same gauges I used almost half the price of Auto Meter
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ummer06377.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/IMAG1443.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/IMAG1441.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/IMAG1446.jpg

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

:agree:

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

Looks Good! I'm partial to those gauges. I used the same line of them in the stock bezel. Don't have a pic of them finished, but they will have the stock surround on it. It's still a work in progress.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

So what are they?

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

I guess that would help. Equus 7000 Series are the ones I have. Chrome ring, black gauge face. Got the Speedometer, Tach, Fuel separately then the volt, oil water temp as a set. They were on sale at Kragen plus military discount. I think the 3 piece set was 20, fuel was 20 and the speedo and tach were around 50. As far as I can tell they are accurate to what the stock gauges were. Just took this pic. Still not much more progress LOL.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

here the equus site, Mine are the 8000 series I think I'm going to make mine like yours Keith

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

I couldn't find this pic last night. I cut the stock housing to fit the gauges and wiring. I sanded down the black face plate and cut the holes a little bigger so the gauges would fit. Mine was actually metal. I cut the smaller plate so the speedometer and tach would have something to mount to and mounted it in between the housing and the big black plate. You can barely see the that it is there once assembled. I had more pictures but I can't find them right now. I used LED's for the turn signal, brights and parking brake indicator.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

I was thinking about taking out the old "housing" and everything behind the outer plastic dash. I would only have to tie in my guages to the old harness in a couple places. All my guages are mechanical.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

The Oil press and water temp on mine are mechanical. Just had to run the lighting wires. I kept that back housing mostly for mounting support for the black metal piece and the bezel. I thought I had better pics but I can't find them. I'll have to try to get better ones.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

Any updates?

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

i beleive my truck has newer style guages in it all ready. it has a VOLT guage, oil PSI, and whater temp (the last is a solid blank)


what is the diffrence between the tow styles?

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

No not yet.. I am wiating till next week to get the larger speedo/tach. I want to make sure those fit before I go to the trouble of all the little gauges. will post when I see how they will fit.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

i got my gauges for 5 bucks apiece http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...t/S6300069.jpg

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

Are you using the Equus gauges for the tach and speedo too? They are smaller than stock, thats why ended up attaching them to a piece of metal. With the bezel on they look fine. I'll have to grab a bezel tomm and take a pic with it on.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

quick question what are the sizes of the gauges i want to do this myself

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

The Equus Speeo and Tach are 3 3/8". The smaller ones are 2".

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

Keith.. I would like to see a pic of your mod. I will be going with that tach/speedo combo. thanks

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

This is the best I could do for pics of it. I didn't quite get the gauges lined up perfectly when I did the cut outs. When I finally get to putting everything back together I am going to tweak them a little and try to line them up better. For the turnsignals/bright/Park brake indicators I used LED's from Radio shack. I am going to move them up from below the dash panel as they are hard to see. Got out of work too late to take pics in the sun. Can try tomm if you would like.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

That looks good. How did you make the extra bezel for the larger gauges to fit?

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

To make the bigger gauges fit, I used a piece of metal and cut it to fit into the stock housing. Then put those into the housing. The smaller gauges are mounted directly to the trim ring. Mine was metal but all of the others I have seen are plastic. I still need to make some adjustments to the smaller gauges so they are aligned. I built up a wire harness so I can easily disconnect if needed.

Re: project of gauges in a 79 dash
 

Looks good, I just about did that to mine that way..