guage ideas - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Low87 · 03-07-2003, 10:36 AM

For now I'm sticking with the factory gauges but I'm going to dress them up a bit. I'm doing white face gauges, can you all post your pics of these? Trying to decide what color to paint the indicators (hate the orange!). Also, does anyone know where to get thin colored plastic, like what gives the turn indicators their green color?

BigRed · 03-07-2003, 10:52 AM

I don't have any with the white face covers, but here are some of aftermarkets that I like.

I bet you could find those lenses at a hobby shop for sure!

LOHRTBT · 03-07-2003, 10:58 AM

YOu know where I got mine and what they look like so I wont post it.... I have orange uglies still Gonna do them in Blue to match the#'s.

BigRed · 03-07-2003, 11:00 AM

I was thinking a royal blue would look really good for the indicators. What color is the LED on your CD player? I would do the same as that!

Low87 · 03-07-2003, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigRed
I was thinking a royal blue would look really good for the indicators. What color is the LED on your CD player? I would do the same as that!

Old ass green! I'm getting a new CD player, this one has served me well for 8 years, time to retire it. Good idea though!

CHaingKaiShek · 03-07-2003, 11:33 AM

Guess mine aren't *cool* enough.

hehe.

But there isn't too much that one can do to the stock gauges which makes them look better. I've seen some of the white gauge faces which are okay. Changing the backlighting is kinda cool, however the reflector needs to always be repainted I believe.

Jeff

LOHRTBT · 03-07-2003, 01:09 PM

Old ass Green...is that the technical color for it Greg? ?lol

Low87 · 03-07-2003, 02:29 PM

I checked the manual, it says "new ass green", but since it's been 9 years I revised it.

PHOENIX · 03-07-2003, 02:40 PM

Mine ws in there

But I have a question about the 3rd picture, the orange truck. Does anyone have any closer picture of how the little gauges are mounted in the air vent. I will most likely be adding a few gauges there later and would like some details of that. I have some ideas that im sure will work great, but its always nice to check out others before risking a $$$ gauges bezel chop up

BigRed · 03-07-2003, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PHOENIX
Mine ws in there
But I have a question about the 3rd picture, the orange truck. Does anyone have any closer picture of how the little gauges are mounted in the air vent. I will most likely be adding a few gauges there later and would like some details of that. I have some ideas that im sure will work great, but its always nice to check out others before risking a $$$ gauges bezel chop up

Sorry Eddie, that's the only pic I have. I can't even remember where I got it from.

Justin20 · 03-07-2003, 11:15 PM

Where did you guys find those white face gauges. And how much $$ did yall pay for all of them. Thanks

kevhill85 · 03-08-2003, 01:15 AM

what size gauges did u guy use in the aftermarket set up.

ChrisK10 · 03-08-2003, 11:04 AM

Hi, does anyone know if you can buy just the white faces for stock gauges? I think that would be a cheaper way for some people, including me, to dress up the dash. I wish there was a hobby shop in my little town.

-Chris

PHOENIX · 03-08-2003, 04:19 PM

LOHRTBT (Dave) can tell you where to get the gauge face overlay for stock gauges. Check out his website for pictures.

The 2nd picture posted by BigRed is my gauge setup. The small gauges are 2-5/8" all electrical, except for the oil pressure, thats mechanical with the steel braided line (get this trust me, dont ust the cheapy plastic tube that comes with it).
The speedo and tach are 5" in dash install gauges.
Current pricing as of current Jegs catalog is as follows:
Speedo (160mph) $126.99 (mech.)
Tach (10000 rpm) $129.99 (electric)
Water Temp (elec.) $45.99
Fuel Level (Elec.) $39.99
Oil Pressure (mech.) $43.99
Volts (elec.) $39.99
I also recommend the painless universal gauge harness for another $59.99 (its worth it)
If you install like mine you will need different turn signal lights. I do not have installed yet, but I do have them getting ready to go in Painless Indicator Lamps 1/2" Green $9.99 each.
Im also going to put a shift light in the auto matic shift indicator location. Im using the Proform adjustable RPM shift light $49.99
Check out this thread for some more details about the harness and shift light: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=shift+light
Its taking me awhile to get a hold of a few extra little parts I need before I install this shift light and new wire harness. I will post pictures once I take the dash back apart. Its a very easy install and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to upgrade their gauges. Sure they are more $$ then clusters off ebay, but these are brand new and or great quality and accuracy.
TOTAL for gauges w/o shift light, signal lights, or harness = $426.94 without shipping or tax. I bought mine in town and saved myself some money. The guy at the store took off like 5-10% because I bought the 4 small at one time, then the 2 big another time.
TOTAL for gauges, w/ shift light, signal lights, and harness = $556.90
You will still need a few misc. piece to complete the install but nothing expensive and nothing difficult or hard to figure out.

CHaingKaiShek · 03-08-2003, 06:41 PM

My gauges, shown above with the worn out black bezel (Black gauges). Which by the way I have replaced with a new bezel, looks much better without the washers to hold the screws in the englarged screw holes.

Anyway, I went with the VDO setup instead of the Autometer. Which I still plan to use at a later date. The parts needed are as follows :

VDO-301106D
VDO-333160D
VDO-437155D
VDO-310105D
VDO-332103D
VDO-340011D
VDO-150107D

Those are all of the VDO part numbers you need. They are the VDO vision series. And include.

The speedometer 4", the Tach 4". Oil pressure, volt meter, fuel gauge, water temp (All 2 1/16) and the speedometer cable.
(Note - you'll need the water temp sender, I picked mine up from Napa)

All electrical except the oil pressure gauge.

Total cost is just a bit less than the Autometer setup.

As for the turn signals, I simply cut the stock cluster apart, using only the OEM location where the PRND12 indicator and the turn signals were mounted. I mounted aftermarket lights in the locations of the turn signals, and used the green 'deflectors' to assure the output of the light was green. Looks good, still holds the stock apperance.

Jeff

82 Silverado 4X · 03-08-2003, 08:31 PM

One of the guys had a brand new Trukin Magazine laying around at work yesterday and since I had a bit of "sit and watch time" on my job I started to look through it. I could not beleive how many aftermarket suppliers there were. Today I had the same kind of job so I took the opportunity to write down all the website addresses. Excluding the companies that "just make wheels" I was able to write down 104 websites that carry aftermarket parts for 73-87 chevy pickups. At least one of those sites showed gage faces.
I personally like the Dakota Digital set-up for our trucks but they are much too nice for "my truck".

82 Silverado 4X · 03-08-2003, 09:25 PM

www.4apc.net
Blue #s on white faces. Very Nice.

79GMC454C35 · 03-09-2003, 02:22 AM

There is a guy selling "stickers" that are white for stock guages. They come with "glow" back light bulbs. I have not seen them in person so I dont know the quality but he has them listed all the time.

Dakota Digital look nice but if they are the same quality as the Harley guages they build dont waste your money. I have installed 6 of the Harley units. They cant be seen during the day but that should not be a problem in our trucks with the shrowed bezel. The Harley Speedo's are a ***** to set the ratio & they have all quit working in less than 3000 miles.

Auto Meter makes awsome quality gauges

PHOENIX · 03-09-2003, 03:53 AM

Chevychic has some custom gauge faces. Wasn't she going to make some to sale?

chevychic · 03-09-2003, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PHOENIX
Chevychic has some custom gauge faces. Wasn't she going to make some to sale?

Yep. It's all in the hands of my printer right now. And I have so many people that have requested them and are waiting for them that if he doesn't get his act in gear pretty quick here, I'm going to find someone else. I'm getting pretty damn tired of waiting.

I thought we were going to have them in production by mid-Feb and now it's March and I'm still waiting. Grrrrr.

82 Silverado 4X · 03-09-2003, 07:52 AM

ChevyChic
I like them alot better than the ones from APC. Let me know when they are ready.

kevhill85 · 03-09-2003, 10:49 AM

i just oder all my autometer guage . thanks for all the help .

Ryan Flowers · 03-09-2003, 11:01 AM

I just baught some white face stickers for our gauges off of ebay for $20 here is the contact info. His name is RON............

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...405467326&rd=1

His e-mail: WhiteGaugeGuy@aol.com

Figured I would give them a try and if they don't work then I will buy the replacement white faced gauges.

kevhill85 · 03-09-2003, 12:40 PM

see i bought them and they did not work that well . they where off a little

Ryan Flowers · 03-09-2003, 03:32 PM

Kevhill85,

Did you get them from the same guy (WhiteGaugeGuy@aol.com )?

I just e-mailed Heather and asked her to put me on her waiting list for a set with the GMC logo. Will probably order a couple of sets, one for each Suburban.

03-07-2003, 10:36 AM	#1
Low87 been here longer than Liz Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,437	guage ideas For now I'm sticking with the factory gauges but I'm going to dress them up a bit. I'm doing white face gauges, can you all post your pics of these? Trying to decide what color to paint the indicators (hate the orange!). Also, does anyone know where to get thin colored plastic, like what gives the turn indicators their green color? __________________ ~Greg~ Mac's Garage '87 SWB 6/8 drop "Piso" '08 CCSB Silverado DD the departed '89 GMC K5 Jimmy 4x4 "Rusty Nuts" '77 Chevy K5 Blazer 2wd '83 Chevy stepside "You get what you pay for" - Mike 'swervin ervin' Ervin

03-07-2003, 10:52 AM	#2
BigRed Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,680	I don't have any with the white face covers, but here are some of aftermarkets that I like. I bet you could find those lenses at a hobby shop for sure! __________________ Scott Shelbourne

03-07-2003, 10:58 AM	#3
LOHRTBT BeWarE tHe eViL CrAnkTOe! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Yukon, OK Posts: 3,605	YOu know where I got mine and what they look like so I wont post it.... I have orange uglies still Gonna do them in Blue to match the#'s. __________________ ~Dave~ You can call me Mike, Mike Oxlong - 1986 Chevy SWB - Stock for now - *1986 Chevy Custom SWB* *Stolen 6/26/05* - 1985 Chevy SWB SOLD - 1999 T/A Some mods www.cardomain.com/id/ramairdave AIM Screenname - Jester84

03-07-2003, 11:00 AM	#4
BigRed Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,680	I was thinking a royal blue would look really good for the indicators. What color is the LED on your CD player? I would do the same as that! __________________ Scott Shelbourne

03-07-2003, 11:33 AM	#6
CHaingKaiShek I love goooooold! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In the middle of Hell, Arizona Posts: 133	Guess mine aren't cool enough. hehe. But there isn't too much that one can do to the stock gauges which makes them look better. I've seen some of the white gauge faces which are okay. Changing the backlighting is kinda cool, however the reflector needs to always be repainted I believe. Jeff __________________ "Musha ring dum a doo dum a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar-o."

03-07-2003, 01:09 PM	#7
LOHRTBT BeWarE tHe eViL CrAnkTOe! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Yukon, OK Posts: 3,605	Old ass Green...is that the technical color for it Greg? ?lol __________________ ~Dave~ You can call me Mike, Mike Oxlong - 1986 Chevy SWB - Stock for now - *1986 Chevy Custom SWB* *Stolen 6/26/05* - 1985 Chevy SWB SOLD - 1999 T/A Some mods www.cardomain.com/id/ramairdave AIM Screenname - Jester84

03-07-2003, 02:29 PM	#8
Low87 been here longer than Liz Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,437	I checked the manual, it says "new ass green", but since it's been 9 years I revised it. __________________ ~Greg~ Mac's Garage '87 SWB 6/8 drop "Piso" '08 CCSB Silverado DD the departed '89 GMC K5 Jimmy 4x4 "Rusty Nuts" '77 Chevy K5 Blazer 2wd '83 Chevy stepside "You get what you pay for" - Mike 'swervin ervin' Ervin

03-07-2003, 02:40 PM	#9
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	Mine ws in there But I have a question about the 3rd picture, the orange truck. Does anyone have any closer picture of how the little gauges are mounted in the air vent. I will most likely be adding a few gauges there later and would like some details of that. I have some ideas that im sure will work great, but its always nice to check out others before risking a $$$ gauges bezel chop up __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *

03-07-2003, 11:15 PM	#11
Justin20 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tulsa Ok Posts: 15	Where did you guys find those white face gauges. And how much $$ did yall pay for all of them. Thanks __________________ 81 GMC StepSide/ in the beginning of a frame off AIM- justinreb20

03-08-2003, 01:15 AM	#12
kevhill85 91 SWB 383 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Crandall,TX Posts: 643	what size gauges did u guy use in the aftermarket set up. __________________ 96 2dr Tahoe protruning LS1 347/4L60L, PSI harness, body dropped, 4link, 6lug conv, narrowed rearend, Schoenfeld headers, 2600 stall, 317 heads milled .040, http://photobucket.com/albums/q169/k...ahoe prostreet

03-08-2003, 11:04 AM	#13
ChrisK10 1971 C20 Custom Camper Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ames/Shenandoah, IA Posts: 1,435	Hi, does anyone know if you can buy just the white faces for stock gauges? I think that would be a cheaper way for some people, including me, to dress up the dash. I wish there was a hobby shop in my little town. -Chris __________________ '71 Chevy C20 Custom Camper, 454, TH400 '97 GMC K1500 5.7L

03-08-2003, 04:19 PM	#14
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	LOHRTBT (Dave) can tell you where to get the gauge face overlay for stock gauges. Check out his website for pictures. The 2nd picture posted by BigRed is my gauge setup. The small gauges are 2-5/8" all electrical, except for the oil pressure, thats mechanical with the steel braided line (get this trust me, dont ust the cheapy plastic tube that comes with it). The speedo and tach are 5" in dash install gauges. Current pricing as of current Jegs catalog is as follows: Speedo (160mph) $126.99 (mech.) Tach (10000 rpm) $129.99 (electric) Water Temp (elec.) $45.99 Fuel Level (Elec.) $39.99 Oil Pressure (mech.) $43.99 Volts (elec.) $39.99 I also recommend the painless universal gauge harness for another $59.99 (its worth it) If you install like mine you will need different turn signal lights. I do not have installed yet, but I do have them getting ready to go in Painless Indicator Lamps 1/2" Green $9.99 each. Im also going to put a shift light in the auto matic shift indicator location. Im using the Proform adjustable RPM shift light $49.99 Check out this thread for some more details about the harness and shift light: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=shift+light Its taking me awhile to get a hold of a few extra little parts I need before I install this shift light and new wire harness. I will post pictures once I take the dash back apart. Its a very easy install and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to upgrade their gauges. Sure they are more $$ then clusters off ebay, but these are brand new and or great quality and accuracy. TOTAL for gauges w/o shift light, signal lights, or harness = $426.94 without shipping or tax. I bought mine in town and saved myself some money. The guy at the store took off like 5-10% because I bought the 4 small at one time, then the 2 big another time. TOTAL for gauges, w/ shift light, signal lights, and harness = $556.90 You will still need a few misc. piece to complete the install but nothing expensive and nothing difficult or hard to figure out. __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *

03-08-2003, 06:41 PM	#15
CHaingKaiShek I love goooooold! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In the middle of Hell, Arizona Posts: 133	My gauges, shown above with the worn out black bezel (Black gauges). Which by the way I have replaced with a new bezel, looks much better without the washers to hold the screws in the englarged screw holes. Anyway, I went with the VDO setup instead of the Autometer. Which I still plan to use at a later date. The parts needed are as follows : VDO-301106D VDO-333160D VDO-437155D VDO-310105D VDO-332103D VDO-340011D VDO-150107D Those are all of the VDO part numbers you need. They are the VDO vision series. And include. The speedometer 4", the Tach 4". Oil pressure, volt meter, fuel gauge, water temp (All 2 1/16) and the speedometer cable. (Note - you'll need the water temp sender, I picked mine up from Napa) All electrical except the oil pressure gauge. Total cost is just a bit less than the Autometer setup. As for the turn signals, I simply cut the stock cluster apart, using only the OEM location where the PRND12 indicator and the turn signals were mounted. I mounted aftermarket lights in the locations of the turn signals, and used the green 'deflectors' to assure the output of the light was green. Looks good, still holds the stock apperance. Jeff __________________ "Musha ring dum a doo dum a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar-o."

03-08-2003, 08:31 PM	#16
82 Silverado 4X Genuine Chevrolet Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South West Pennsylvania. Posts: 582	One of the guys had a brand new Trukin Magazine laying around at work yesterday and since I had a bit of "sit and watch time" on my job I started to look through it. I could not beleive how many aftermarket suppliers there were. Today I had the same kind of job so I took the opportunity to write down all the website addresses. Excluding the companies that "just make wheels" I was able to write down 104 websites that carry aftermarket parts for 73-87 chevy pickups. At least one of those sites showed gage faces. I personally like the Dakota Digital set-up for our trucks but they are much too nice for "my truck". __________________ George 82 Silverado LWB 4x4 350 SM465 NP208 77 Chevrolet Blazer Chalet 400 TH350 NP203

03-08-2003, 09:25 PM	#17
82 Silverado 4X Genuine Chevrolet Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South West Pennsylvania. Posts: 582	www.4apc.net Blue #s on white faces. Very Nice. __________________ George 82 Silverado LWB 4x4 350 SM465 NP208 77 Chevrolet Blazer Chalet 400 TH350 NP203



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03-09-2003, 02:22 AM	#18
79GMC454C35 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 115	Stock Guage Face There is a guy selling "stickers" that are white for stock guages. They come with "glow" back light bulbs. I have not seen them in person so I dont know the quality but he has them listed all the time. Dakota Digital look nice but if they are the same quality as the Harley guages they build dont waste your money. I have installed 6 of the Harley units. They cant be seen during the day but that should not be a problem in our trucks with the shrowed bezel. The Harley Speedo's are a ***** to set the ratio & they have all quit working in less than 3000 miles. Auto Meter makes awsome quality gauges

03-09-2003, 03:53 AM	#19
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	Chevychic has some custom gauge faces. Wasn't she going to make some to sale? __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION * Last edited by PHOENIX; 03-09-2003 at 03:55 AM.

03-09-2003, 07:52 AM	#21
82 Silverado 4X Genuine Chevrolet Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South West Pennsylvania. Posts: 582	ChevyChic I like them alot better than the ones from APC. Let me know when they are ready. __________________ George 82 Silverado LWB 4x4 350 SM465 NP208 77 Chevrolet Blazer Chalet 400 TH350 NP203

03-09-2003, 10:49 AM	#22
kevhill85 91 SWB 383 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Crandall,TX Posts: 643	i just oder all my autometer guage . thanks for all the help . __________________ 96 2dr Tahoe protruning LS1 347/4L60L, PSI harness, body dropped, 4link, 6lug conv, narrowed rearend, Schoenfeld headers, 2600 stall, 317 heads milled .040, http://photobucket.com/albums/q169/k...ahoe prostreet

03-09-2003, 11:01 AM	#23
Ryan Flowers No Brakes Club Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Carthage, N.C. Posts: 263	I just baught some white face stickers for our gauges off of ebay for $20 here is the contact info. His name is RON............ http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...405467326&rd=1 His e-mail: WhiteGaugeGuy@aol.com Figured I would give them a try and if they don't work then I will buy the replacement white faced gauges. __________________ Ryan Flowers 85 GMC Suburban 4x4 379 90 GMC Suburban 4x4 383 01 Chevy Suburban 2x4 350 Click here to email me Click here to visit my web site

03-09-2003, 12:40 PM	#24
kevhill85 91 SWB 383 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Crandall,TX Posts: 643	see i bought them and they did not work that well . they where off a little __________________ 96 2dr Tahoe protruning LS1 347/4L60L, PSI harness, body dropped, 4link, 6lug conv, narrowed rearend, Schoenfeld headers, 2600 stall, 317 heads milled .040, http://photobucket.com/albums/q169/k...ahoe prostreet

03-09-2003, 03:32 PM	#25
Ryan Flowers No Brakes Club Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Carthage, N.C. Posts: 263	Kevhill85, Did you get them from the same guy (WhiteGaugeGuy@aol.com )? I just e-mailed Heather and asked her to put me on her waiting list for a set with the GMC logo. Will probably order a couple of sets, one for each Suburban. __________________ Ryan Flowers 85 GMC Suburban 4x4 379 90 GMC Suburban 4x4 383 01 Chevy Suburban 2x4 350 Click here to email me Click here to visit my web site

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