recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 10:25 PM

well thanks to Jeff's brackets i finally got the gauges mounted! as a few of you know i went with the 5" tach & speedo and the smaller 2 1/16th" fuel, oil, volt, & temp autometer ultra-lite II LED gauges. the reason i went with the smaller gauges is because the 2 5/8th gauge face seemed to large for my stock bezel. i didn't want to cut on the bezel itself either and the smaller ones worked out perfect.

i received Jeff's kit in the mail and was very surprised at the quality of the brackets. He included the 3 main brackets and 4 pieces of aluminum stock that have to be bent and screwed onto the bezel. he also includes 4 nuts and bolts. installing these brackets was very easy. i only needed a 11/64th drill bit and drill, a punch, screwdriver, epoxy, and a vice.(i actually made a vice with 2x4's) but thats an entire different write-up!

i took a ton of pics and i'll do my best to explain most of them.

i had glued my gauges in before i got Jeff's brackets. ITS NOT RECOMMENDED OR NECESSARY!! i had to drill out the slots on 2 of the brackets because my glue job was slightly crooked. that is another great problem solved with these brackets... they will align and center the gauge faces perfect!

here i used the nuts that came with the gauges as a spacer to raise the brackets up away from the negative nut stud on the gauge.

as you can see i left the trim rings on the larger 5" gauges. they fit around the ring on the bezel very snug.

these are the pieces of aluminum that you will have to bend. (you only need 2 of the 4) Jeff threw in the extras incase i messed up the 1st go around.

here i cut 1 in half so i could bend and trim to size easier.

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 10:33 PM

here i drilled all the holes for the bolts with the 11/64th bit

heres the bracket bolted down

on this side i just epoxied the bracket. not enough room to get a bolt there.

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 10:44 PM

i bent the aluminum stock up and around for the small gauges. this takes some time and patience to get right. i ended up using spacers and ran all the diagonal brackets under the gauge brackets that way the gauges could be removed without any trouble if the need arises.

i epoxied the diagonal brackets down onto the bezel.

bigblock73 · 11-07-2010, 10:46 PM

Dennis, I would put both screws on the big gauges (where mounting bracket bolts to gauge bracket), and epoxy the mounting bracket to the bezel where the nut/bolt currently are.

On the small gauges, instead of spacing the brackets up with the Autometer thumb screws, use a regular nut to space the brackets up, and use tall the Autometer thumb screws to scesure the gauges to the brackets.

Make sense?

The instructions are almost finished, had a death in the family that kind of messed things up.

bigblock73 · 11-07-2010, 10:49 PM

Can you measure the stud to stud distance on the big gauges again for me?? Looks like the holes are not evenly spaced...but at least I factored in enough wiggle room.

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Dennis, I would put both screws on the big gauges (where mounting bracket bolts to gauge bracket), and epoxy the mounting bracket to the bezel where the nut/bolt currently are.

On the small gauges, instead of spacing the brackets up with the Autometer thumb screws, use a regular nut to space the brackets up, and use tall the Autometer thumb screws to scesure the gauges to the brackets.

Make sense?

The instructions are almost finished, had a death in the family that kind of messed things up.

i understand... its too late though buddy. i'm happy with how they turned out. they aren't moving for nothing and the brackets seemed to stiffen up the bezel itself a lot. if/when i take it out again i'll redo the spacers and make any fine tuning adjustments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Can you measure the stud to stud distance on the big gauges again for me?? Looks like the holes are not evenly spaced...but at least I factored in enough wiggle room.

i looked back at those pics and i'm pretty sure i had the nuts all loose so the gauge bracket wasn't centered and tight. the slots were perfect. it might be just the angle of the camera also because i centered everything up and remember thinking how perfect they were made.

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 10:53 PM

you can see the nuts i used as a spacer so it holds the gauges down with just enough force to hold them.

here's the gauges all mounted. they are PERFECT!!!

*Stitch* · 11-07-2010, 10:55 PM

at least there's no pictures of your feet this time...

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 10:56 PM

here's some of the finished product

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 10:57 PM

more...

*Stitch* · 11-07-2010, 10:58 PM

man that looks good...

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 10:59 PM

last ones for now

bigblock73 · 11-07-2010, 11:27 PM

Well, cool. Glad they worked out for you. The gauges do look great in there.

Thanks for the feedback, if you don't mind, I will be using the pics for reference like we discussed.

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 11:33 PM

thanks Jeff! your the man!!! anything you need let me know. i tried to do the writeup in word on the computer that way you could put it on your site but it didn't work out

i'd love to see the pics used as a reference! thats awesome

Fixwhataintbroke · 11-07-2010, 11:43 PM

OH YEA!! That is most definitely nice!

bucannon · 11-07-2010, 11:47 PM

that looks bad as ****. how much did all that cost?

menace121978 · 11-07-2010, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucannon

that looks bad as ****. how much did all that cost?

thanks guys... total was about a grand. give or take

sixshooter798 · 11-08-2010, 01:51 AM

Other than sticking the clear piece over your shift indicator, did you have to modify your bezel at all?

menace121978 · 11-08-2010, 09:21 AM

i had to notch out a little bit of plastic (bracing plastic in the molding)around the large holes. you can see it in post #2 pic 5. and that was it

sixshooter798 · 11-08-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menace121978

i had to notch out a little bit of plastic (bracing plastic in the molding)around the large holes. you can see it in post #2 pic 5. and that was it

I see what you did there. Wish I had the cash to make this happen to my truck!

*78 Chevyrado* · 11-08-2010, 09:36 AM

Man that looks so classy... Also the Ultra lite logo kinda looks like a whits and gold bowtie if you cross your eyes a lil bit...

LiveAnimals · 11-08-2010, 02:27 PM

Another fine job

Prerunner1982 · 11-08-2010, 03:02 PM

Purdy......

**N2TRUX** · 11-08-2010, 04:12 PM

Looks great. BTW- It's an FAQ now- 73-87 recessed gauges with BIGBLOCK73'S brackets

justpball · 11-08-2010, 04:30 PM

Very nice Dennis!

11-07-2010, 10:25 PM	#1
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS well thanks to Jeff's brackets i finally got the gauges mounted! as a few of you know i went with the 5" tach & speedo and the smaller 2 1/16th" fuel, oil, volt, & temp autometer ultra-lite II LED gauges. the reason i went with the smaller gauges is because the 2 5/8th gauge face seemed to large for my stock bezel. i didn't want to cut on the bezel itself either and the smaller ones worked out perfect. i received Jeff's kit in the mail and was very surprised at the quality of the brackets. He included the 3 main brackets and 4 pieces of aluminum stock that have to be bent and screwed onto the bezel. he also includes 4 nuts and bolts. installing these brackets was very easy. i only needed a 11/64th drill bit and drill, a punch, screwdriver, epoxy, and a vice.(i actually made a vice with 2x4's) but thats an entire different write-up! i took a ton of pics and i'll do my best to explain most of them. i had glued my gauges in before i got Jeff's brackets. ITS NOT RECOMMENDED OR NECESSARY!! i had to drill out the slots on 2 of the brackets because my glue job was slightly crooked. that is another great problem solved with these brackets... they will align and center the gauge faces perfect! here i used the nuts that came with the gauges as a spacer to raise the brackets up away from the negative nut stud on the gauge. as you can see i left the trim rings on the larger 5" gauges. they fit around the ring on the bezel very snug. these are the pieces of aluminum that you will have to bend. (you only need 2 of the 4) Jeff threw in the extras incase i messed up the 1st go around. here i cut 1 in half so i could bend and trim to size easier. __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list Last edited by menace121978; 11-07-2010 at 10:27 PM.

11-07-2010, 10:44 PM	#3
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS i bent the aluminum stock up and around for the small gauges. this takes some time and patience to get right. i ended up using spacers and ran all the diagonal brackets under the gauge brackets that way the gauges could be removed without any trouble if the need arises. i epoxied the diagonal brackets down onto the bezel. __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list

11-07-2010, 10:46 PM	#4
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,826	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Dennis, I would put both screws on the big gauges (where mounting bracket bolts to gauge bracket), and epoxy the mounting bracket to the bezel where the nut/bolt currently are. On the small gauges, instead of spacing the brackets up with the Autometer thumb screws, use a regular nut to space the brackets up, and use tall the Autometer thumb screws to scesure the gauges to the brackets. Make sense? The instructions are almost finished, had a death in the family that kind of messed things up. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

11-07-2010, 10:49 PM	#5
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,826	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Can you measure the stud to stud distance on the big gauges again for me?? Looks like the holes are not evenly spaced...but at least I factored in enough wiggle room. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

11-07-2010, 10:53 PM	#7
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS you can see the nuts i used as a spacer so it holds the gauges down with just enough force to hold them. here's the gauges all mounted. they are PERFECT!!! __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list

11-07-2010, 10:33 PM	#2
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS here i drilled all the holes for the bolts with the 11/64th bit heres the bracket bolted down on this side i just epoxied the bracket. not enough room to get a bolt there. __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list Last edited by menace121978; 11-07-2010 at 10:37 PM.

11-07-2010, 10:55 PM	#8
Stitch Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Where I come from, it's cornbread and chicken... Posts: 3,122	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS at least there's no pictures of your feet this time...

11-07-2010, 10:56 PM	#9
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS here's some of the finished product Attached Images __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list

11-07-2010, 10:57 PM	#10
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS more... Attached Images __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list

11-07-2010, 10:58 PM	#11
Stitch Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Where I come from, it's cornbread and chicken... Posts: 3,122	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS man that looks good...

11-07-2010, 10:59 PM	#12
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS last ones for now Attached Images __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list

11-07-2010, 11:27 PM	#13
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,826	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Well, cool. Glad they worked out for you. The gauges do look great in there. Thanks for the feedback, if you don't mind, I will be using the pics for reference like we discussed. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

11-07-2010, 11:33 PM	#14
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS thanks Jeff! your the man!!! anything you need let me know. i tried to do the writeup in word on the computer that way you could put it on your site but it didn't work out i'd love to see the pics used as a reference! thats awesome __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list

11-07-2010, 11:43 PM	#15
Fixwhataintbroke Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Graham, Wa. Posts: 192	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS OH YEA!! That is most definitely nice! __________________ - Cole 1979 Chevy C30 w/ carb 454. 1992 Chevy K1500 w/ tbi 350. Sold 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 w/ Magnum 360 Sold "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgment." - George Washington

11-07-2010, 11:47 PM	#16
bucannon Salty Sailor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 603	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS that looks bad as ****. how much did all that cost? __________________ 86 c-10 Custom Deluxe Savannah, Georgia



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11-08-2010, 01:51 AM	#18
sixshooter798 Desert Rat Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Mojave Desert Posts: 169	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Other than sticking the clear piece over your shift indicator, did you have to modify your bezel at all?

11-08-2010, 09:21 AM	#19
menace121978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: orangevale, ca Posts: 3,626	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS i had to notch out a little bit of plastic (bracing plastic in the molding)around the large holes. you can see it in post #2 pic 5. and that was it __________________ "Dennis the Menace" 1978 Silverado (2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed)complete nut & bolt frame off restomod LQ9/4L80E MY LS SWAP/FRAME OFF BUILD BOOK 2006 TBSS way too much to list

11-08-2010, 09:36 AM	#21
78 Chevyrado Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville Posts: 2,079	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Man that looks so classy... Also the Ultra lite logo kinda looks like a whits and gold bowtie if you cross your eyes a lil bit...

11-08-2010, 02:27 PM	#22
LiveAnimals Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Antelope, CA Posts: 681	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Another fine job __________________ Kameron YESTERDAY IS HISTORY - TOMORROW IS A MYSTERY I'm a Middle ClASS HOLE 07.5 Dodge 3500 CTD -- Daily 73 C10 Factory BB SWB 2WD

11-08-2010, 03:02 PM	#23
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,906	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Purdy...... __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

11-08-2010, 04:12 PM	#24
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Looks great. BTW- It's an FAQ now- 73-87 recessed gauges with BIGBLOCK73'S brackets __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

11-08-2010, 04:30 PM	#25
justpball Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Silverhill, Al Posts: 2,026	Re: recessed gauge write-up/ BIGBLOCK73'S BRACKETS Very nice Dennis! __________________ Fuzzy Dice Club Member 87 Crew SWB Build for the crew http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=430082 http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3232925 90 burb 2wd Build Thread For The Burb! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=383055

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