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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
Well, I eventually plan on building my own custom gauge cluster for my 69 GMC. The current one in the truck only has 3 gauges (speedometer, idiot gauge, and fuel gauge). Going to start building a new one up slowly. I am going to use a instrument panel that has the 4 gauges at the bottom and 3 at the top. The idiot gauge will be replaced with a Tach.
Any one got pictures of there custom gauge cluster build? One of my biggest issue's is trying to find a aftermarket fuel gauge that is the same size a the factory. I want to keep them all the same brand or same look. Any help and suggestions are great. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: tr.nj.us
Posts: 52
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
not sure if you've seen it, but here is a site I found (on here or via google) for gauges
http://www.egauges.com/vdo_grou.asp?Series=67_72_ChevT |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Rosenberg, Texas
Posts: 3,506
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
Most aftermarket gauge setups use the larger tach and speedo and typically put a clock in the center between the tach and speedo like this...
__________________
-Duane C/10 Club Texas member 1971 Chevy C10 "Brutus" SWB Fleetside 2016 6.0L (L96) 6L90E (driver/project) 1965 Pontiac GTO "Royal Goat" 400/TH400 w/AC (my baby) |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
Those set-ups looks like that will be the way I go. It solves my problem of looking for a large fuel gauge. And I always need a clock. Thanks.
Everyone keep sharing you custom gauge set-ups. The more ideas the merrier. Especially since I am going to build my own. And I am sure there will be plenty of members that will come along and want to build there own also. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Rosenberg, Texas
Posts: 3,506
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
If you're going to buy a set of gauges, you can always customize your own. Check this out... http://www.ampcustomshop.com/ They cost very close to the same amount of money as you'd pay for pre-made gauges. Or even cheaper depending on what you look at.
__________________
-Duane C/10 Club Texas member 1971 Chevy C10 "Brutus" SWB Fleetside 2016 6.0L (L96) 6L90E (driver/project) 1965 Pontiac GTO "Royal Goat" 400/TH400 w/AC (my baby) |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
I am planning on building my own. But, I will sit down and crunch some numbers after I find all the gauges I plan on putting in. Then I will find out which route is the best way to go wallet wise.
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Rosenberg, Texas
Posts: 3,506
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
I just ran through the Auto Meter Custom Shop and they don't have the mid sized clock. You can double gauge it and put the fuel and oil pressure in it and open up the small gauges for say trans temp, oil temp, or vacuum/boost gauge, or a small clock... Just a thought.
Quote:
__________________
-Duane C/10 Club Texas member 1971 Chevy C10 "Brutus" SWB Fleetside 2016 6.0L (L96) 6L90E (driver/project) 1965 Pontiac GTO "Royal Goat" 400/TH400 w/AC (my baby) |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
Sounds good. I will have to buy one gauge at a time, or put the money aside one gauge at a time till I can purchase a whole kit. Normal life kicks your butt on getting a project done up the way you want them.
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Rosenberg, Texas
Posts: 3,506
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/
You can look at just about any parts place that carries custom stuff for our trucks. Those were just a couple I could think of. I can't think of where I saw them all, but I know there are more out there. I think Early Classic Enterprise carries some custom gauges too.
__________________
-Duane C/10 Club Texas member 1971 Chevy C10 "Brutus" SWB Fleetside 2016 6.0L (L96) 6L90E (driver/project) 1965 Pontiac GTO "Royal Goat" 400/TH400 w/AC (my baby) |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
I have been looking for a hot minute at gauges to do this with. Eventually I will just have to set my mind to one brand and style that has all that I want to install and start this adventure. I am sure I will have fun wiring this all up when I get to it. This isn't very high up on the list of things to do yet on my truck, but I tend to get my research done way before hand.
Doing my disk brake up grade and 700r4 swap before I get to the gauge build. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Rosenberg, Texas
Posts: 3,506
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
You sound like me. I've been looking at gauges for my GTO for about two years now. Can't pull the trigger yet. At first it was not priority, then it was not enough money, then I couldn't decide, now it's back to money. I think I've made up my mind on what I want now though.
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__________________
-Duane C/10 Club Texas member 1971 Chevy C10 "Brutus" SWB Fleetside 2016 6.0L (L96) 6L90E (driver/project) 1965 Pontiac GTO "Royal Goat" 400/TH400 w/AC (my baby) |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: islamorada fl.
Posts: 466
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
![]() Here is mine,Vision series VDO{electric}gauges,LED'S for turn,high beams and em brake.The speedo/tach were just a tad small so I used a 1/8" piece of pvc as a backer.7 hole bezel from LMC,Summit had the gauges/senders.All work perfectly.Got about what a finished cluster cost in it but like it better. |
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
Quote:
Thanks to a fellow member on here, ronrob84 (who has a bunch of parts listed). I purchased a gauge cluster for $30 shipped. Now after doing some more research, I might just do a factory tach conversion on it. Did some numbers crunching, and this seems like it will be the better route to save money. Either way, I will still gain the intend purpose of the upgrade and still have a clean look. |
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: islamorada fl.
Posts: 466
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
![]() I used a 12 pin male/female quick disconnect from Painless.The cluster comes out real easy. |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
That is a great idea. I will keep that in mind as I am unsure of the route I will actually go till I get to that point.
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
My donor cluster. In need of some TLC, but you have to start somewhere.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: islamorada fl.
Posts: 466
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
|
Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
Thanks for the tip. I will keep that in mind when I get around to it. If you check out my build thread, this one is on the back burner. I am in the collecting parts process till I get back state side.
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
|
Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
LMC has aided in my research and end choice of what I am going to do now. I am going to take this donor and restore it. I will add the factory tach to it. Depending on how well I can recondition the bezel will determine if I purchase a new one of them.
This is the parts list I have put together and the end result of over all cost is way better than purchasing new. Tach: $89.95 Printed Circuit: $39.95 Instrument Lens: $29.95 Total of $159.85 in parts minus paint, the wire to run the tach, and possibly a few small items. I may possibly purchase the tach wiring kit from LMC also. Over all, I should have around $200 +/- in this including the purchase of the donor gauge cluster. There is still a future custom build of a cluster in the future. A tinker is never satisfied. And my paint skills aren't nothing to brag on. So, if I end up buy a new bezel, a custom will follow. Continue to share yours. The more ideas I have, the better the end result will be. |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Posts: 106
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
I bought an instrument cluster off of eBay for my truck for $160 and I have an aftermarket tachometer. The only thing that doesn't work on it is the speedometer and the temperature gauge but we don't have a temperature sending unit which we'll be getting and we think the speedometer cable isn't working so we're gonna replace that too. It was a pretty nice cluster too.
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,507
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
At one time I thought about taking a second glove box door and using it for the instrument panel and putting a set of matched "street rod" gauges in it. A guy could place the gauges where he wanted them that way and run what gauges (and or clock) he wanted.
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#24 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Bradenton, FL
Posts: 1,036
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
Hers what I made for mine.
__________________
1970 CST/10 402,700R4,3:73 posi,AC,PS,PB,TLT,PW,Buckets with heaters |
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#25 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Looking for info on building a Custom Guage Cluster
Quote:
Last edited by GMCJOE; 09-18-2012 at 02:24 PM. |
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