[LS short box]

I think Eastwood has a "turning" kit. You supply the aluminum sheet. I haven't done it but it looks like all you need is a decent drill press.
On my 68 C10 LS swap project I got some 18 gauge sheet metal and used it to "overlay" the stock C10 bezel. I laid out the gauge pattern first and drilled all the holes. I do that first because if you do the engine turning first and when you are drilling the gauge holes and the hole saw jumps and messes up the panel you get to start over. Ask me how I know.
I used my stock gauge cluster bezel. I epoxied the 20 gauge to the stock bezel.
A pic. The center gauge is the high beam, left and right signals and check engine light. Not including the gauges I think I had maybe $20 invested.
I used all Auto Meter gauges.