Gauge cluster modifications - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Slammed67 · 10-17-2003, 10:52 AM

I recently installed a Camaro tach in my gauge cluster and while I had it apart, I made use of the empty pod just to the right of the steering column

Here is a pic of the tach installed. Notice how the empty pod is blacked out?

This is how my Dakota Digital air pressure gauge was mounted with the aluminum bezel that was supplied with it. It's designed to be panel mounted but I had no panel to mount it in!

So I moved it here........... (FYI.... when the pressure sending units aren't hooked up to the gauge, this is the default screen that lights up.)

One thing I didn't like about this modification was that the tach had a "white" tint to it rather than "green" like the rest of the gauges when the dash lights were on. So I made up a couple green tinted "filters" and placed them on either side of the tach. It worked! I tried to get a pic showing how it matched the other gauges, but it didn't turn out all that great......

69sixpackbee · 10-17-2003, 11:18 AM

That looks really sweet!
I did the same in mine

but I used a Firebird tach and put a Toyota quartz clock in the empty spot.
These look great with these types of mods and at a fraction of the price of a repop too!

**Yukon Jack** · 10-17-2003, 11:51 AM

Good use of that empty gauge pod. Is the air pressure for air suspension or tires?

Slammed67 · 10-17-2003, 11:53 AM

It's for the air bag suspension.

Joe67 · 10-17-2003, 11:54 AM

Nice work on that cluster

70c10 · 10-17-2003, 11:54 AM

They both look great!. Do you guys have pics on the tach install and clock install?. I'd love to know since I have to do this. Thanks

69sixpackbee · 10-17-2003, 12:27 PM

Sorry, no progress pics. What I can tell you is that it is really minimal "tweaking" to get these in there. The most challenging was the clock as it is pretty large sticking out the back but it all tucked in nicely.

70c10 · 10-17-2003, 12:53 PM

I have a nice clock but not sure how to mount it yet. Anybody else have pics of the cutting and mounting involved?. These look awesome!

lukecp · 10-17-2003, 01:11 PM

Looks very nice!

I put a Sunpro tach and guages in my stock cluster, but they look pretty out of place compared to the Camaro tach you have....maybe i will use one on the next dash i build.

As far as the mounting of guages go, if you take the cluster apart, you can see what you need to cut. It is really very simple to take apart and modify these clusters....the easiset way to learn is to tear into one (i would get a used one...they only cost like $30, and modify it)

Longhorn Man · 10-17-2003, 11:58 PM

Painting all the green inside the panel white makes for a much brighter display at night, and looks better than the funky green hue.

OldSkool71 · 10-18-2003, 03:05 AM

What year Camaro is the tach out of? My guess is late 70's early 80's looks familiar.

Slammed67 · 10-18-2003, 10:41 AM

I bought mine off eBay and was listed as a '79. I believe '70-'81 tachs are all the same size (and mount the same) but changed in appearance throughout that time frame. If you do a search on eBay for "Camaro tach" I'm sure you'll find a couple.

Denny · 10-18-2003, 08:11 PM

Nice looking job on the cluster.

**Canadian694x4** · 10-19-2003, 03:00 AM

you do great work...

Blue Beard · 10-19-2003, 09:17 AM

How about some pics of the back of the dash, showing how it was mounted......?

10-17-2003, 10:52 AM	#1
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	Gauge cluster modifications I recently installed a Camaro tach in my gauge cluster and while I had it apart, I made use of the empty pod just to the right of the steering column Here is a pic of the tach installed. Notice how the empty pod is blacked out? This is how my Dakota Digital air pressure gauge was mounted with the aluminum bezel that was supplied with it. It's designed to be panel mounted but I had no panel to mount it in! So I moved it here........... (FYI.... when the pressure sending units aren't hooked up to the gauge, this is the default screen that lights up.) One thing I didn't like about this modification was that the tach had a "white" tint to it rather than "green" like the rest of the gauges when the dash lights were on. So I made up a couple green tinted "filters" and placed them on either side of the tach. It worked! I tried to get a pic showing how it matched the other gauges, but it didn't turn out all that great...... __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

10-17-2003, 11:51 AM	#3
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,686	Good use of that empty gauge pod. Is the air pressure for air suspension or tires? __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

10-17-2003, 11:53 AM	#4
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	It's for the air bag suspension. __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

10-17-2003, 11:54 AM	#5
Joe67 67 is sold Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Troy, Michigan Posts: 6,733	Nice work on that cluster __________________ Joe - Formerly 67c10step ------------------------------- 1967 Chevy Stepside - ECE 4/6, fuelcell, 5lug - SOLD gr8lakes - My ebay auctions Click here to order forum apparel :: Click here to become a subscribing member

10-17-2003, 11:54 AM	#6
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	They both look great!. Do you guys have pics on the tach install and clock install?. I'd love to know since I have to do this. Thanks __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

10-17-2003, 11:18 AM	#2
69sixpackbee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sabinal, Texas Posts: 1,706	That looks really sweet! I did the same in mine but I used a Firebird tach and put a Toyota quartz clock in the empty spot. These look great with these types of mods and at a fraction of the price of a repop too!

10-17-2003, 12:27 PM	#7
69sixpackbee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sabinal, Texas Posts: 1,706	Sorry, no progress pics. What I can tell you is that it is really minimal "tweaking" to get these in there. The most challenging was the clock as it is pretty large sticking out the back but it all tucked in nicely.

10-17-2003, 12:53 PM	#8
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	I have a nice clock but not sure how to mount it yet. Anybody else have pics of the cutting and mounting involved?. These look awesome! __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

10-17-2003, 01:11 PM	#9
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Looks very nice! I put a Sunpro tach and guages in my stock cluster, but they look pretty out of place compared to the Camaro tach you have....maybe i will use one on the next dash i build. As far as the mounting of guages go, if you take the cluster apart, you can see what you need to cut. It is really very simple to take apart and modify these clusters....the easiset way to learn is to tear into one (i would get a used one...they only cost like $30, and modify it) __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-17-2003, 11:58 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Painting all the green inside the panel white makes for a much brighter display at night, and looks better than the funky green hue.

10-18-2003, 03:05 AM	#11
OldSkool71 C/10 CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lakewood, CA Posts: 993	What year Camaro is the tach out of? My guess is late 70's early 80's looks familiar. __________________ -Ron-

10-18-2003, 10:41 AM	#12
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	I bought mine off eBay and was listed as a '79. I believe '70-'81 tachs are all the same size (and mount the same) but changed in appearance throughout that time frame. If you do a search on eBay for "Camaro tach" I'm sure you'll find a couple. __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

10-18-2003, 08:11 PM	#13
Denny Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Cedar Hill, MO Posts: 426	Nice looking job on the cluster. __________________ 1969 Chevy C10. Dakota Digital Gauges, 383 Votex Engine, MSD 8361 Distributor, MSD 6A Unit, Demon Carb, Phoenix Transmission 4L80E trans, 3:73 Posi Rear End Early Classics 6 Lug Disc Brakes and Spindles All Stainless Lines

10-19-2003, 03:00 AM	#14
Canadian694x4 Born To Lose Club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta/Oxenden, Ontario, Great White North Posts: 13,307	you do great work... __________________ Brian Smith - "Born To Lose" 1969 Chevrolet K10 LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 22 Yrs - 1 of 208 Built & Sold In Canada!- 283 V8/350TH/NP208, 2" All Spring Lift, 32" Good Year MT/R's. 1972 GMC K2500 Custom LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 3 Yrs - 1 of 571 Built & Sold In Canada! - 350 V8/SM465/NP205, 4” Rough Country Lift, 33” Interco TSL Thornbirds 2007.5 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD 4x4 - Proud Owner For 17 Yrs- 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000, 2" Lift, 33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's. 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700r - Proud Owner For 15 Yrs - ITP Mud Lites. 2015 John Deere 1025R - Proud Owner For 8 Yrs - 24HP Diesel/H120/54D/260B/SB1154.

10-19-2003, 09:17 AM	#15
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,831	How about some pics of the back of the dash, showing how it was mounted......? __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo



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