trick switches/gauges

[crzngmychvy]

I'm looking for ideas on cool/trick places where to mount switches and a pressure gauge for bags. Anybody willing to share your creativity?
thanks!

[shifty]

Are you planning on going digital or analog?

I am relocating my radio to the A/C panel area....thinking heavily about putting my air gauges where the radio is supposed to go and getting a kit to convert the ashtray into a 2-way cupholder.

[crzngmychvy]

Analog, since I want to spend my limited funds finishing other parts of my truck, plus analog keeps more of the classic look. I'm looking at trying to keep it looking as original as possible, but not afraid to venture our either.

[shifty]

Do you currently have a 3-gauge dash or a 7-gauge dash?

if you're using a 3-gauge right now, you could easily get a 7-hole dash (I have a spare I bought here on the board I'll never use) and use the bottom four holes for pressure gauges, one for each tire.

Alternately, if you have a 7-hole dash right now (vacuum dash), you could retrofit it with 4-pressure gauges across the bottom, and move the other three gauges to a mount under the dash like I have...

pics of my 3-gauge setup (direct bolt-in):

http://satellitehead.com/gallery/dis...album=9&pos=55
http://satellitehead.com/gallery/dis...album=9&pos=51
http://satellitehead.com/gallery/dis...album=9&pos=48

These are two close-to-stock options.

Another possible option would be trying to find a 4-way digital gauge 5" in size and dropping it in one of the larger gauge holes of the dash.

[shifty]

PS - if you go from 3-hole dash to 7-hole dash, you will need to slightly modify the wiring - you can't just plug a 7-hole dash into a 3-hole harness. GMCPaul's website has directions on how to modify for this swap.

[lbpd719]

I know someone who built a headliner for his and put his bag temps up top, along with inside/outside temp ga. and compass.. will see if I can get in touch with him for pics..

[pissonNOS]

if you want to go for a buit of a cleaner look and not have 4 guages you could do like me and get 2 dual needle guages

[crzngmychvy]

Thanks for all the ideas. I was already thinking of a set up like shiftys, anyone else? Especially loooking for pics... Thanks again

[GREASEMONKEY72]

you could leave the dash as is and either have a fold down arm rest in a bench seat or build a center console for buckets with arm rests that opens and hide the gauges and switches in there

[shifty]

There's always the option of building a center console as well, but ... some people don't like that.

I did see one other thing that someone had done recently. They installed a setup along the bench seat - fully custom - and it kinda went where some guys put their cupholder - it held four gauges and a single inflate/deflate button as well. I can see the pictures in my mind (the seat was red, console was metal painted red), but I cannot for the life of me find pics. I knew I shoulda saved them

[smbrouss70]

Shifty, it sounds like you are describing N2TRUX's set-up, except he doesn't have gauges in it. He used a digital gauge in his ashtray.

[shifty]

Thanks for posting that - I had been looking for ~45 minutes because I was interested in it. Now I can rest easy

[sleepyboy]

I went digital and placed the box and switches in the radio spot (flat). I moved the radio to a console (yet to be built) under the heater controls. It looks ALOT cleaner than the indented radio ever did

[cameeks]

Auto meter has the quad gages in 3 3/8 for the center hole in our dash and all you would need is the 5" speedo and tach. Then that would clear up the lower holes and keep the tach and speedo at the same size.

[shifty]

It's quad air pressure 3-3/8" gauge? Got a part number?

[cameeks]

Originally Posted by shifty

It's quad air pressure 3-3/8" gauge? Got a part number?

Meant as in clear up the lower holes for the air gages. Sorry