Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)

[menace121978]

well i got the engine covers done FINALLY!!!! thank you Gerald for all you efforts in smoothing them they turned out SIK!!!!

[menace121978]

more! excuse the dust and the few blurry pics. i need to clean her up and change my camera batteries

[Stitch]

HOLY CRAP man...that looks awesome...that's the money pic right there

[CoreyLeo223]

Dennis those things are sweet

[smokedat]

them covers look real good

[menace121978]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

HOLY CRAP man...that looks awesome...that's the money pic right there

did you mean money PIT? thanks Chuck!

Originally Posted by CoreyLeo223

Dennis those things are sweet

thanks man!

Originally Posted by smokedat

them covers look real good

thanks smokedat! im happy with them.

[joe231]

WOW!
that looks very cool!
Nice work Gerald

[STOCKISH]

Those look great! Any chance you could post a pic from the drivers side, inside the cab, looking past the A-Pillar, slightly sideways but down at a 37 degree angle with artificial light and then natural light so I can see if there is any difference? Thanks ahead of time because if I know you like I think I do and you are a smart ass like me, the pic will be up shortly!

[menace121978]

it was too fuzzy!!! the sunlight was shining off the windshield of the goat so when i moved to the left it didn't shut the shutter in time!

[menace121978]

because the batteries are low!

[Driveway Dreams]

Glad to see em finished up and on the truck. I know I said I wouldn't but I may re-consider doing a few more sets. After seeing it all on the engine, I like them a lot more.
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[Driveway Dreams]

By the way Josh, that comment was too funny. Had me cracking up.
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[54Caddy]

looking good.. Finally got those aahaha.. You were talking about them when i first moved up there ahaha.. Thought id see my idea in use looks like ill have to do it ahaha..

[JohnC]

Those turned out awesome man! Great work Gerald!

[nlped]

Beautiful!!! Good job Gerald. Dennis, your truck is truly going to be spectacular!!!
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[glock35ipsc]

Those look freaking awesome!!!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

Those look freaking awesome!!!

What he and the others said!

[79gmc5.3]

Dennis!!!! Those things are awesome! Is this going to be a driver or a show truck? Your getting to the point I would be afraid to drive it. As always TOP SHELF Keep it up Buddy.

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by menace121978

yes, i sent back the 2 5/8 for a set of the 2 1/8th. i know the ultra lite II series has them. i'd apprieciate that Chris. this has got me flustered for sure.

wont be until next week or even the week after till i see them. i hope Jegs doesn't give me any grief over the exchange.

You aren't going to like what I found...
I was correct. The actual opening on the 73-80 clusters are 1-7/8". A 2-1/8" gauge only has a 1-3/4 face on it (the 2-1/8" is the actual body) so it is too small for the opening, you can probaby make it work if you pull the bezel off and make it flat, but it will be slightly smaller than the opening. The rear of the inset on the cluster is 2-1/8" so it is to big for the gauge.

81-87 clusters are smaller in the opening size, but not small enough still. Their actual opening is 1-13/16", with the rear inset being right at 2"

Here are pics top 2 are of a 2-1/8" gauge on a 78 bezel, bottom 2 are an 81-87.

[draggin86]

I dont think that looks bad at all.

[v502]

Man that engine cover looks sweet.

[menace121978]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

You aren't going to like what I found...
I was correct. The actual opening on the 73-80 clusters are 1-7/8". A 2-1/8" gauge only has a 1-3/4 face on it (the 2-1/8" is the actual body) so it is too small for the opening, you can probaby make it work if you pull the bezel off and make it flat, but it will be slightly smaller than the opening. The rear of the inset on the cluster is 2-1/8" so it is to big for the gauge.

81-87 clusters are smaller in the opening size, but not small enough still. Their actual opening is 1-13/16", with the rear inset being right at 2"

Here are pics top 2 are of a 2-1/8" gauge on a 78 bezel, bottom 2 are an 81-87.

THANKS CHRIS!! you know what, i actually like that! i agree with Billy it looks good. i hope the trim ring will fit on the outside of the bezels opening and it will look real clean. you got me excited about getting them now

[Stitch]

You're right Dennis those do look good like that. I'd want to see what yours looks like all together from a distance to decide if I really want to do that or not though
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[68 TT]

What if you trimmed the bezel tunnel to push the 2-5/8" gauge closer to the surface? You could change the angle to point them at the driver at the same time. Since the tunnels taper as they get closer to the surface the opening may get big enough to work with them.

It would be above the original mounting point you had them at in the old metal housing but that shouldn't be too hard to work up a way to support them. Maybe just a tapered ring set on top of the metal bezel to shim them up and point them in the direction you want them to go.

I have a trashed dash bezel or two & some 2-5/8" gauges sitting around. I will cut into the bezel and see if it can work.

[JohnC]

This is how I was going to do mine, and I just noticed when looking for it that Jeff, bigblock73, did his too. Maybe this will help out.

Article on 73-87.com for Recessed Gauge Install