insturment panel sheetmetal question

[jerry moss]

i have a speedwarning cluster, a tach cluster and a vacuum guage cluster. i'm going to combine the three of them into one and need the sheetmetal punched so the tach and vacuum guage will work with the speedwarning. i had it done to another cluster many years ago by golden state when seth daulton still owned it. now golden state is under different ownership and i'm not sure who to have do the work. i'm hoping somebody here might have a suggestion, thanks for your help.

[O'l Buck]

I'm not sure just how big they go, but I've seen hole saws up to 4". I am going to have to make an instrument cluster for the F@rd project in my sig, I'm planning on using a sheet of alluminum plate that I have, and using a hole saw and saber saw combined with a die grinder to cut the nescessary holes in it for guages from a 68 cutlass.

[BLAZERMAN]

If you know any electricians you might check with them, they should have a set of chassis punches, I picked up a full set of Greenllee punches a few years ago at a swapmeet, they come in very handy. If you cant find anyone around you I could send you the punch and just mail it back when your done.

[GMCPaul]

Jerry if you contact us Monday I can get your metal back on the speedwarning punched to accept a tach with no danger of the speedwarning stud being damaged as the company I would send it to already as the tooling with a opening present so when back case is set on it and its punched the stud for speedwarning does not get damaged. There are 2 draw backs though, they only punch them when they have 50 or more to do ( about 4-5 times a year ) and this company does not have the tooling to punch the vacuum opening.
GMCPaul

[red71cheyenne]

I think that Mothers and TruckandCar shop both sell just the metal backing plates with the holes already stamped in. I got one from mothers for my tach and it was really reasonable. I think a couple of other vendors do the same. Good luck, Jeff.

[GMCPaul]

red71cheyenne we carry those also but they will not work with a speedwarning speedometer as there is a insulated stud on the back of a speedwarning case that is not present on any of the other backs for these instrument bezels. If you look at a printed circuit for any of the dash bezels whether its a idiot light one, gauge , or gauge tach you will see a small round opening to the left of the speedo where this stud is on a speedwarning. Everyone we have ever spoken with exception of one person as never been able to remove and reinstall this stud again on one. Seth at Golden State at one time contracted a individual in Chicago to reproduce this stud and its retainer, 50 were done and all sold when he went to recontact this individual the person had moved on. So basicly now if you have a speedwarning and want it to appear factory stock with a tach you need to have the back punched out.
GMCPaul

[jerry moss]

thank you to all who responded, i really appreciate your effort.
GMCPaul, i'll be in touch with you in the next few days

[Andy4639]

If I understand you right, you have all three clusters, then just use the one with the speed warning in it and buy a plastic lens for the tach and vacume gauges, look at all the metal backs and you should be able to cut them out with not to much trouble.
I installed a tach,speed warning buzzer, and clock in mine.

I read you post again and you state you have the clusters for all three. Then use the insert for the vacuum gauge cluster, it should be cut already, then cut the opening for the tach with snipes Then use back metal peice for the tach and drill a hole in the back of it for the speed warning cable and use the front bezal for the speed warning cluster so your knob will be there.



Hope this helps.