All This Dash Talk Has Me Thinking... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mrein3 · 12-31-2002, 10:29 PM

I parted out a 1971 Monte Carlo a few years ago. It had an idiot light dash. The gauges look aweful similar in size to truck gauges. I always wanted to "try a few on for size" and all this dash talk lately finally got me off my butt to try it.

I took the three main gauges out of my Monte dash. I tried the clock first. It is the right size but would need some mounting work. Plus it quit working around 1972 so I'd have to send it out for new quartz guts. Then I looked at the speedo...

It fits without any mods!

mrein3 · 12-31-2002, 10:32 PM

Here is a closeup. You'll notice the Park N R D L2 L1 cut out. This gauge was out of a column shift car. I wonder if the factory floor shift speedos don't have this cut out?

mrein3 · 12-31-2002, 10:35 PM

If somebody was serious about this mod he or she could drill a hole above the 60 to let the high beam indicator light shine through. You'll notice the high beam tube with the red plastic cap looks like it was made for this application.

mrein3 · 12-31-2002, 10:38 PM

Here is the back of the truck bezel with the Monte speedo bolted in place.
By the way the Monte dash is the same as the Chevelle SS dash.

mrein3 · 12-31-2002, 10:42 PM

Here is a shot of the Monte cluster. You'll notice all three gauges would fit either the speedo or the fuel holes in the truck bezel.

shadetree · 12-31-2002, 11:57 PM

Excellent info & pics. Sure looks like a lot of GM guages will interchange. P.S. what kind of camera do you have (I want one,,,,picture quality is good)

XXL · 01-01-2003, 01:34 AM

Interesting interchange discovery. But hopefully you noticed that the speedo numbers are displayed twice

Otherwise, that might make a great gauge replacement.

Kenneth

weasel29gm · 01-01-2003, 01:02 PM

Looks good I would block out the outer numbers to make it look better.

jmanz69 · 01-01-2003, 01:03 PM

You could just srub off the original numbers. It was just to see if it fit. I'm sure with some more effort he would make it work right. Could jsut make a new lens out of plexi or acrylic. would be cool as a custom appication. Keep going I would like to see it done and working. I hate leaving things stock. Modify everything, that's what hot rods are! Good luck.

mrein3 · 01-01-2003, 02:03 PM

You'll notice in the first picture that I already polished off the tach marks from the center hole and the vacuum/air pressure marks from the hole to the right of the steering column. If you take the lens out you can remove the numbers rather easily with scratch remover and a little elbow grease. I'd leave the "MPH" on the bottom and remove all the numbers.

Last night was just a trial fit thing as jmanz69 pointed out. I paid $1 for the truck bezel at a swap meet. It was only missing the speedo. The Monte dash I hated to just throw away even though it is an idiot light dash.

One thing that you would have to over come...
You'll notice on the picture of the back of the truck bezel with the Monte speedo installed there isn't the spring clip to hold the speedometer cable. The clip on the Monte is on the back of the housing I took the speedo out of. The truck one must be on the back of the truck speedo.

The way I see it this would be an easy swap for you 2wd speed freaks who need a speedo that reads over 100 mph. My 4wd in its current configuraton couldn't get over 100 mph unless I pushed it over a cliff.

BTW the camera is my Sony Digital Handycam. I bought it when my daughter was born (she turns 1 this Saturday). It is a digital video camera with a 1 mega pixel still digital camera. The photos come out of the camera much bigger than I posted. I use PhotoShop to make them smaller.

12-31-2002, 10:29 PM	#1
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	All This Dash Talk Has Me Thinking... I parted out a 1971 Monte Carlo a few years ago. It had an idiot light dash. The gauges look aweful similar in size to truck gauges. I always wanted to "try a few on for size" and all this dash talk lately finally got me off my butt to try it. I took the three main gauges out of my Monte dash. I tried the clock first. It is the right size but would need some mounting work. Plus it quit working around 1972 so I'd have to send it out for new quartz guts. Then I looked at the speedo... It fits without any mods! Attached Images __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

12-31-2002, 10:32 PM	#2
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	Here is a closeup. You'll notice the Park N R D L2 L1 cut out. This gauge was out of a column shift car. I wonder if the factory floor shift speedos don't have this cut out? Attached Images __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

12-31-2002, 10:35 PM	#3
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	If somebody was serious about this mod he or she could drill a hole above the 60 to let the high beam indicator light shine through. You'll notice the high beam tube with the red plastic cap looks like it was made for this application. Attached Images __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

12-31-2002, 10:38 PM	#4
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	Here is the back of the truck bezel with the Monte speedo bolted in place. By the way the Monte dash is the same as the Chevelle SS dash. Attached Images __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

12-31-2002, 10:42 PM	#5
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	Here is a shot of the Monte cluster. You'll notice all three gauges would fit either the speedo or the fuel holes in the truck bezel. Attached Images __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

12-31-2002, 11:57 PM	#6
shadetree Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Knightstown, in, usa Posts: 2,525	Excellent info & pics. Sure looks like a lot of GM guages will interchange. P.S. what kind of camera do you have (I want one,,,,picture quality is good) __________________ 1970 long fleet, 355 4 speed, primer, walnut goodies

01-01-2003, 01:34 AM	#7
XXL Señor Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edge of the world Posts: 5,367	Interesting interchange discovery. But hopefully you noticed that the speedo numbers are displayed twice Otherwise, that might make a great gauge replacement. Kenneth __________________ Craigslist \| ebay \| Engrishtees \| www.myattitudesucks.com \| Follow me on Twitter

01-01-2003, 01:02 PM	#8
weasel29gm SLOW BUT SURE,BUT CLOSER Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: eleanor wv usa Posts: 3,093	Looks good I would block out the outer numbers to make it look better. __________________ 69 C-10, OWNED 35YRS... 350 over 30, 350 Turbo, 3:73 Posi P/S, P/B Black with red and black int. ''LOVE THESE OLD ''TRUCKS.......

01-01-2003, 01:03 PM	#9
jmanz69 Careful, they attack... Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Waterford, MI, USA Posts: 1,107	You could just srub off the original numbers. It was just to see if it fit. I'm sure with some more effort he would make it work right. Could jsut make a new lens out of plexi or acrylic. would be cool as a custom appication. Keep going I would like to see it done and working. I hate leaving things stock. Modify everything, that's what hot rods are! Good luck.

01-01-2003, 02:03 PM	#10
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	You'll notice in the first picture that I already polished off the tach marks from the center hole and the vacuum/air pressure marks from the hole to the right of the steering column. If you take the lens out you can remove the numbers rather easily with scratch remover and a little elbow grease. I'd leave the "MPH" on the bottom and remove all the numbers. Last night was just a trial fit thing as jmanz69 pointed out. I paid $1 for the truck bezel at a swap meet. It was only missing the speedo. The Monte dash I hated to just throw away even though it is an idiot light dash. One thing that you would have to over come... You'll notice on the picture of the back of the truck bezel with the Monte speedo installed there isn't the spring clip to hold the speedometer cable. The clip on the Monte is on the back of the housing I took the speedo out of. The truck one must be on the back of the truck speedo. The way I see it this would be an easy swap for you 2wd speed freaks who need a speedo that reads over 100 mph. My 4wd in its current configuraton couldn't get over 100 mph unless I pushed it over a cliff. BTW the camera is my Sony Digital Handycam. I bought it when my daughter was born (she turns 1 this Saturday). It is a digital video camera with a 1 mega pixel still digital camera. The photos come out of the camera much bigger than I posted. I use PhotoShop to make them smaller. __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN



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