My New Truck

[Factory Guy]

Originally Posted by 77Blue

Factory Guy,
Do you have an updated pic or video of this new gauge set up? I have a 77 and I am curious if I should do something similar. I do not like not having a Tach.
Thanks!
Sven

Still Haven't finished it yet (life got in the way and this project got sidelined)

This winter I plan to finish it.

Here is the latest mock up of the 8000 RPM tach and the rest of the factory gauges. Tach face fonts are now the same size and scale as the Speedo (Note needles are just lying on the gauges they are not attached yet).

[Factory Guy]

Here is the decal I apply to the fuel gauge face. (note the bigger fonts on the Tachometer gauge now).

[Factory Guy]

Since you are adding a tach you are going to have to do something with the wiring. So I made my own custom plug,(the Mylar decal wiring won't work for this application) in case, this cluster ever needs to come back out. The fuel gauge will also be in this plug as well. The Squarebody plug to the laminate decal wiring will carry all of the normal gauges and their functions (I would have liked to run EVERYTHING through the original Squarebody wiring plug-but since that cannot happen...).

[Factory Guy]

Here's what the Tach I used looked like before I took it apart to mount in to the back of the old Fuel Gauge.

[Factory Guy]

Then I realized that the tach housing was WAY to big to get inside the Squarebody housing SO it had to go (And since I didn't want to cut a huge hole in the back of this nice housing-I had to find another way). Unfortunately the picture of it fitting in the Squarebody gauge cluster didn't come out the best, but it squeezed in there with minimal damage to the housing.

[Factory Guy]

Since several of you have ask how my ceramic coating is holding up I thought I would share a few photos of the truck. Now remember the truck only got the one coating so far (recommended is 2) and it does live in a GARAGE all of the time it is not being driven. Truck has not been washed recently. The spot in the hood is actually a reflection of the light pole above the truck.

[ShortHaul]

Good lord she’s beautiful!!

[Factory Guy]

Originally Posted by ShortHaul

Good lord she’s beautiful!!

Thanks!

[Factory Guy]

I guess its time for a new project as I found this the other day!

LS 6.0 LQ4

[rodstored-72]

well you are half way there.... now! you just need to find a truck to put it in....LOL!!!! keep us posted on the install .. I am curious as to what you might be planning for the wiring? ...
still is beautiful truck!!

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Factory Guy

I guess its time for a new project as I found this the other day!

LS 6.0 LQ4

Oh yeah!!! LS time! Feel free to hit me up for whatever information I can offer. I’ve seen your work though, and I have no doubt yours will be clean as can be!

[LT7A]

Thanks for the update on the ceramic coating. I'm a big fan of cleaning and preserving the original paint, even touching up where needed. I do it all by hand to maximize the amount of paint that is preserved. What I end up with is a good luster, but not a lot of gloss. It appears that the ceramic product could actually apply a gloss on top of the paint. Sorry, not trying to make this about my projects, but that was helpful information. Do you have a name of the product you used?

Edit: I went back and found it. By the way, I think your tach project is really cool. A great solution without pitching the other factory gauges.

[Factory Guy]

Update on the paint.

A drop of water fell on the hood today so before I wiped it off I took a photo.

[rodstored-72]

...LOL!! nice..... now! get that wipped off!

[Factory Guy]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Thanks for the update on the ceramic coating. I'm a big fan of cleaning and preserving the original paint, even touching up where needed. I do it all by hand to maximize the amount of paint that is preserved. What I end up with is a good luster, but not a lot of gloss. It appears that the ceramic product could actually apply a gloss on top of the paint. Sorry, not trying to make this about my projects, but that was helpful information. Do you have a name of the product you used?

Edit: I went back and found it. By the way, I think your tach project is really cool. A great solution without pitching the other factory gauges.

LT7A

Here's what I used, about 1 year ago.

[Factory Guy]

Originally Posted by rodstored-72

well you are half way there.... now! you just need to find a truck to put it in....LOL!!!! keep us posted on the install .. I am curious as to what you might be planning for the wiring? ...
still is beautiful truck!!

Plans right now are to use the factory style wiring and ECU, we will see how that develops.

[Factory Guy]

I cracked open a valve cover on the LQ4, last night and I was PLEASED to say the least. I guess some people do take care of their stuff!

Don't know how many miles was on her, but this looks great so far!

Now if I could just find a 4L80e transmission that was in this good of shape.

[Factory Guy]

Well after MANY, MANY months I finally go my gauge cluster and the 8000 RPM Square body TACH installed and working!

A short video of these gauges can be seen here:

https://youtu.be/I4H9aYXk-gY

[1957 Chief]

Looks sharp man!

Bubba

[Factory Guy]

Originally Posted by 1957 Chief

Looks sharp man!

Bubba

Thank you, it was a ton of work, way more than I would have thought, but I am VERY please with the results!

[rodstored-72]

Originally Posted by Factory Guy

Plans right now are to use the factory style wiring and ECU, we will see how that develops.

I used the factory '13 engine harness & fuse box on my 2013 LS into '86 C10. it was a HUGE help locating/having the factory engine diagrams.
... keep us posted

[Factory Guy]

Seeing how my Dash now doesn't match the quality of my instrument cluster. I think I am getting ready to start on redoing my dash pad. And no I won't be buying a new one. I am going to redo mine.

Here's the before photo's.

[Factory Guy]

Here's my core I plan to start with, another 73-79 OEM Squarebody dash that is all cracked up.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Factory Guy

Here's my core I plan to start with, another 73-79 OEM Squarebody dash that is all cracked up.

Man you never cease to impress me! I'll definitely be following along this restoration as my pristine original dash has now developed a single crack down the center from he speaker box.

[Factory Guy]

Originally Posted by ShortHaul

Man you never cease to impress me! I'll definitely be following along this restoration as my pristine original dash has now developed a single crack down the center from he speaker box.

Thank you! I enjoy trying new things out and learning how to do such.