Vacuum Gauge Installation

[pjmoreland]

Here's a short video that gives an overview of the method I use to install a stock-style (reproduction) vacuum gauge in a factory gauge cluster. The only purchased items are the gauge and the decal material.

https://youtube.com/shorts/W6D0dcKrsCc?feature=shared

['68OrangeSunshine]

Cool. I have a Moon Eyes Vacuum gauge on 919. Bought it in '77 after breaking in my first 292 build. Invaluable gauge when tuning up, a real eyeball on the engine's health when cruising. Also the first indicator of a broken exhaust valve spring.
My nominal with a .030-over 292 is 17.5''Hg. [SBCs with greater displacement might have more Suction.]
Jumps into the 20s when engine-braking.
Drops low on acceleration.
Bouncing needle tells you a valve or lifter is blown.
On a long cruise, you can see if you're getting better economy by easing the acellerator pressure and decreasing RPMs without dropping your Inches of Mercury.

It's the Steam Gauge OBD.
Have one for the '71 Jimmy that I haven't put on yet. An AutoMeter.

[Getter-Done]

That is Cool.

So, you made your dimple dies out of delrin?

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Cool. I have a Moon Eyes Vacuum gauge on 919. Bought it in '77 after breaking in my first 292 build. Invaluable gauge when tuning up, a real eyeball on the engine's health when cruising. Also the first indicator of a broken exhaust valve spring.
My nominal with a .030-over 292 is 17.5''Hg. [SBCs with greater displacement might have more Suction.]
Jumps into the 20s when engine-braking.
Drops low on acceleration.
Bouncing needle tells you a valve or lifter is blown.
On a long cruise, you can see if you're getting better economy by easing the acellerator pressure and decreasing RPMs without dropping your Inches of Mercury.

It's the Steam Gauge OBD.
Have one for the '71 Jimmy that I haven't put on yet. An AutoMeter.

I like having a vacuum gauge. Might not be the most useful gauge on the dash, but it can't hurt.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

That is Cool.

So, you made your dimple dies out of delrin?

I designed them using SolidWorks and then had them 3D printed out of PLA. The gauge cluster metal gets bent at 90 degrees at the bottom of the opening with a sharp corner, and 72 degrees at the top with a large radius. It was an interesting challenge to model that accurately and have the two bend profiles blend together smoothly.

I put grease on them during use, and they form the metal very easily. I'm not seeing any wear on them at this point.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I designed them using SolidWorks and then had them 3D printed out of PLA. The gauge cluster metal gets bent at 90 degrees at the bottom of the opening with a sharp corner, and 72 degrees at the top with a large radius. It was an interesting challenge to model that accurately and have the two bend profiles blend together smoothly.

I put grease on them during use, and they form the metal very easily. I'm not seeing any wear on them at this point.

Yes, I noticed the profile differences.

Great work.

I may try this with some delrin.
Thanks for the Idea.

[Cwood0425]

Looking Good

[1970cstblazer]

You are definitely a craftsman. Very nice work.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

You are definitely a craftsman. Very nice work.

Thank you

[70 gmc c2500]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I designed them using SolidWorks and then had them 3D printed out of PLA. The gauge cluster metal gets bent at 90 degrees at the bottom of the opening with a sharp corner, and 72 degrees at the top with a large radius. It was an interesting challenge to model that accurately and have the two bend profiles blend together smoothly.

I put grease on them during use, and they form the metal very easily. I'm not seeing any wear on them at this point.

Any chance I can get a dimple die from you to do my son's cluster, maybe rent the one you made or something?

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by 70 gmc c2500

Any chance I can get a dimple die from you to do my son's cluster, maybe rent the one you made or something?

Where in CA are you?

[70 gmc c2500]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Where in CA are you?

I'm in the SF bay area, Fremont to be exact and my son is in Pleasanton.

[pjmoreland]

I've attached a stencil PDF I made by crushing a factory tin flat and tracing the resulting hole. I cut this opening as follows:

1) Place the stencil face-down on the front of the tin
2) View the tin from the back and line up the marks on the stencil with the notches in the tin
3) Very carefully flip the tin back over without moving the stencil and trace the opening with a pencil
4) Drill 5/32" holes at the corners
5) Use a cutoff wheel on a Dremel to rough-cut the opening
6) Hand-file the opening up to the line

This is all shown in the video I posted earlier in this thread.

[OL SKOOL]

Nice work looks factory.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by OL SKOOL

Nice work looks factory.

Thank you

[1970cstblazer]

I don't have access to the die to make the cut opening perfect. I have a few non-tach vacuum cluster tins. I spliced/welded an original vacuum tin section into my tach tin. I used Patrick's vacuum decal on the original tach lens. I wnr with a repro vacuum gauge made by Counterpart. The finished product looks OEM.