Covan's - Autometer Dash - Group Buy

[Bri87swb]

I do not know if Covan's would provide a discount based upon a group purchase, but if there is enough interest I would be willing to do the leg work. So...anyone interested?

[bigblock73]

You can build one cheaper and make it better looking if you do it yourself. From everything I have heard, Covans fit like crap. Just a heads up.

[gchemist]

What do the Corvan's look like?

I would prefer an Autometer group buy. I have money in hand waiting to order.

[blu87]

I second the autometer buy, and I'm ready now.

[pcmcobra]

Originally Posted by gchemist

What do the Corvan's look like?

I would prefer an Autometer group buy. I have money in hand waiting to order.

http://covansclassic.com/parts/items...770.187.39.245
several styles of gauges/finishes to choose from.

[Pyrotechnic]

It honestly looks like you could get the same thing by cutting up a stock dash bezel and mounting the gauges in it. About the only unique thing about the Covans is they supposedly have a wiring harness that plugs into the stock truck harness. I never liked mounting the gauges from the front though because it angles them in weird way. The Covans doesn't make any provisions to correct this, which seems to be a waste for $800.

Seems like mounting Autometer gauges under the stock dash bezel is the best way to go and it looks really slick.

[Malo83]

Why do the gauges look tiny on the Covan dash???

[Pyrotechnic]

The offer two configs, one with 3 3/8 inch main gauges and one with 5 inch main gauges. Click on the ones that say large.

[Bri87swb]

I'll call Covan's tomorrow and see if they will provide us a discount.

[gchemist]

How much for the wiring harness?

[bigblock73]

G, Painless sells a universal gauge wiring harness...cheap and WELL worth it IMO. I used it on mine, made it super easy to wire them up.

[Dieselmech52]

I bought a blank covans dash over a year ago for my truck. I already had gauges from my camaro that I was going to put in the dash. When I received the dash I felt like I got robbed. Biggest piece of plastic crap Ive ever bought. It looks absolutely terrible and fits even worse. And for the price, It should be made of gold. I would not recommend anyone buying one. I have seen some really nice factory gauge bezels with autometers in it that look so much better, which I will eventually do. Just a warning.

[gchemist]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

G, Painless sells a universal gauge wiring harness...cheap and WELL worth it IMO. I used it on mine, made it super easy to wire them up.

Yea, but a stock plug-in on one side may worth the cost. The other ends are nothing but connectors to guages. $75 for the harness at Summit.

I prefer an 8000 RPM tach. A 10,000 RPM tach is a waste.

[Bri87swb]

I just got off the phone with Covan's and they are going to discuss a possible discount based upon a group purchase based upon 10 units. However, they wre recently burned in a similar situation when 8 units were purchased, 7 were returned and the organizer of the group purchase kept the 1 unit at the discounted price.

I did mention that there is some concern regarding the quality and fitment of their dashes. The salesman did say that he had heard that as well and that they have made some changes to the units. I'll ask more questions once I know if they are even intersted in providing us with a discount.

For those of you that are intested it would help with pricing to identify the actual unit that you are intested in. Please PM me the part number, so that I can compile a list.

[gchemist]

PRF-30301 wiring harness $77.95
ATM-5154 Speedo mechanical $115.95
ATM-5161 Tach $124.95
ATM-5415 Fuel $39.95
ATM-5492 Volt meter $39.95
ATM-5421 Oil pressure $52.95
ATM-5437 Water temp $46.95

Can they provide these guages?

[Captkaos]

Last time I talked to them about the issues, and was talking with someone that had one they said the fitment on the top corners of the dash were aweful. They couldn't brace it enough to fix it.

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by gchemist

I prefer an 8000 RPM tach. A 10,000 RPM tach is a waste.

I'm with you on that one. I'm disappointed that all of the Autometer 5" in dash tachs are 10,000 RPM. I mean for NASCAR and NHRA thats all good but I guess they forgot about the street guys.

[boatpuller]

i'm not likin what iv'e been reading about covan's quality.sounds like more than one guy on here isn't happy with fit.sounds like jeff and o.c's mod, based on the swervin ervin write up is the way to go.

[Bri87swb]

Covan's has not gotten back to me, so they most likely are not interested in a group buy arrangement. That's fine with me, because I too do not want to spend the $$$ to get questionable quality goods. I figured that the gauges, wiring harness, etc would run approx $500 - $600, so if Covan's was willing to provide a big enough discount that it might save us some time by purchasing the complete kit from them. Sorry that it did not work out, but I gave it a try.

Also, I found this article interesting and it applies regardless if you're doing this mod yourself or purchasing a Covan's kit.

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...ion/index.html

[bigblock73]

Bri87swb,

Here are three more articles I have on 73-87.com with gauge installs in them

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...ashmounted.htm

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...s_recessed.htm

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...ge_surface.htm

[gchemist]

Can anyone donate a stock rear green mounting housing? Or a beat up bezel?
I am ready to order my guages. I would like to prefit the guages to the stock mounting housing. The bezel will be used to final fitting. I don't want to pull the parts out of my truck to do the work on the guages. I will credit the donor. I'll pay for shipping on donated parts. I'll take plenty of pictures and writeup an article.

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by Bri87swb

Covan's has not gotten back to me, so they most likely are not interested in a group buy arrangement. That's fine with me, because I too do not want to spend the $$$ to get questionable quality goods. I figured that the gauges, wiring harness, etc would run approx $500 - $600, so if Covan's was willing to provide a big enough discount that it might save us some time by purchasing the complete kit from them. Sorry that it did not work out, but I gave it a try.

Also, I found this article interesting and it applies regardless if you're doing this mod yourself or purchasing a Covan's kit.

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...ion/index.html

The first thing that i see thats WRONG is the new Covans dash doesn't have provisions for wiper or headlight switch. Instead it just has one misplaced hole. Having to drill holes for LED's for turn signal indictors and such ? Unacceptable. They should come with the arrow cutouts like the stock bezel has. Dash vents, a/c controls, and radio aren't cut out ? Are you kidding me ?

The funny part is this article makes no mention of these flaws. They just quietly removed the head light switch, wiper switch, and a/c controls. Probably because they got all that free and were contracted to promote it.

I could honestly do better with some sheet aluminum and a couple of hole saws. Infact, you are probably dollars ahead if you just buy one of the those billet aluminum overlays, mod it for the gauges, then put it over your stock bezel. At least it will fit and look good.

[Mr79C10]

I bought a cluster off Ick Bay for 15 duckies. I'm going to do my own. I just haven't decided if I want the gauges flush or not.

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by Pyrotechnic

The first thing that i see thats WRONG is the new Covans dash doesn't have provisions for wiper or headlight switch. Instead it just has one misplaced hole. Having to drill holes for LED's for turn signal indictors and such ? Unacceptable. They should come with the arrow cutouts like the stock bezel has. Dash vents, a/c controls, and radio aren't cut out ? Are you kidding me ?

This is just an FYI, but there are a few reasons for them doing this. Wiper location changed from the dash to the column, and some where in a different posistion than others. High beam indicator was in the stock speedo so you are going to have make a place for it if you remove the speedo. Some had no Vents in the dash (heater only) and some had vents. Some had shaft mount radios, some had the Double DIN...... If they made a dash for every change or option, they would have about 6 of them, this way they can make one that can work on 6...

Not defending them, but I know what they were thinking when they designed this...