Cruzzar 22 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 Here's an update on my guage cluster that I am making from scratch. On an earlier post "Dash bezels and guage clusters" (3-2-09) Reverb asked if someone had tried to make an aluminum dash. I responded that I was working on a fiberglass dash panel that bolts to the original factory plastic dash this way you don't have to take off the padded dash to remove the guages if you need to work on them. It also allows easy access to the back of the instrument panel if you have to fix something. All guages are slanted directly at where the driver's head would be while driveing. Here is some additional pics of what I have got done so far. I still have to mount turn signal and high/low beam lights, prime and paint it and decide if I want to add an overlay on the flat surface. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pakrat 1,043 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 Nice fab work! Made me want to go whew just looking at it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikem 13 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 I was in the wrong line when God was handing out talent. I admire those who have it though. Nice work. If you need someone to test it for you for ten years, i'll send you my address and not even charge you for the research. :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
opie_803 14 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 i would really like to see the finished product!!! i bet it will look fantastic when its all together. great work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grabber70Mach 107 Report post Posted March 19, 2009 Looks nice, lots of time and patience in it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cupid 10 Report post Posted March 19, 2009 Absolutely amazing! Nice work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RogerC 136 Report post Posted March 19, 2009 Wow, really nice work! I'm doing something similar but I'm replacing the gauge panel with a fiberglass panel. I'm making a mold plug from an old 70 panel and will make a panel from that mold. I started with a flat surface in the center for the tach & speedo. There is a panel flanking each side of the center & slightly angled back for four 2-1/16 gauges. A flat surface runs above the gauge surfaces for turn & bright indicators. I'll have to post some pics of what I have done so far. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chappy 18 Report post Posted March 19, 2009 Looks really good! Want to make me one as well? ;) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cruzzar 22 Report post Posted March 19, 2009 RacerX, I thought about making a panel that had a horizontal bend right in the middle but using the 2 5/8 guages caused me to rethink because of the size limitations. Shoot some pics when you're done. I like to see what others are doing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bnickel 10,004 Report post Posted March 20, 2009 wow, that's really, really nice!!!!! if i were keeping the stang i'd seriously consider doing something just like that, except i'd try to use stock 69 cougar XR7 guages in it, since the XR7s had a tach and speedo with trip and all the gauges (no idiot lights), that way i could re-use the stock gauge wiring harness. might to have to change some pin locations to make it work but that's no big deal. also the XR7 used the same style of clock, just with different lettering as the mustang clock so the XR7 clock would transfer over to the stock mustang housing as well, then all the gauges would match and you would have all factory gauges with a tach and no idiot lights at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RogerC 136 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 RacerX, I thought about making a panel that had a horizontal bend right in the middle but using the 2 5/8 guages caused me to rethink because of the size limitations. Shoot some pics when you're done. I like to see what others are doing. Finally got around to taking some pics of what I have so far. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cruzzar 22 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 I had an initial problem with the notch for the steering column not being deep enough, yours might clear without a problem but you might want to work on fitting it to the column before you cut for the guages. Good job! More pics when you get the guages installed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RogerC 136 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 It does looks pretty close, not sure if it'll clear or not. I have been thinking of doing my design but using your mounting method. I really like your mounting idea of a seperate panel mounted to the original panel. I may go that route. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fly Boy 10 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 I have guilt about just ordering the 6 hole from Year One!! I am fabricating some metal work for Moroso style switches but think my years of working on race cars may handicap my fit and finish attention! I am pulling wire everywhere on my project and this forum is the only good excuse to not get back out there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jag 10 Report post Posted April 1, 2009 Don't know how you did it, but it looks great......and it's not even finished. You have my admiration! JAG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xsuperjoex 10 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 I want to do something similar but don't want to lose the wood grain... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xsuperjoex 10 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 I want to do something similar but don't want to lose the wood grain... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jagsfan811 10 Report post Posted May 11, 2011 LOOKS AMAZING!!! I may try to do something like that. I need to find a way to get a tach on the dash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crankywanker 10 Report post Posted May 11, 2011 (edited) abc Edited May 11, 2011 by crankywanker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danno 128 Report post Posted May 11, 2011 Cuzzar, it looks like you are using a steering wheel from a 1980's Ford Truck. Is that what it is? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cruzzar 22 Report post Posted May 12, 2011 Yes, I don't remember exactly what year it is from but it is padded and leather wrapped. The stock wheels are just plastic. I don't think I paid more than $20 for it at the local pick-n-pull. It provides a good view of all the guages. Ford makes the exact same wheel with cruise control in the plastic insert. Somebody in a Mustang forumn had the cruise control switches hooked up to a working cruise control unit, COOL. I can't find the posting but it was sometime within the last several months. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bomccorkle 12 Report post Posted August 30, 2013 Another revive. I was wondering about the steering column cruzzar is using. Looks like cheap tilt. Although I'm sure there's a way to remove the ignition switch?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cruzzar 22 Report post Posted September 6, 2013 bomccorkle, I just returned from a week's stay in beautiful Michigan for a friend's son's wedding so this is a little late in response. The tilt-column that I am using is from a '75 Ford LTD that I found at Pic-a-Part ($40). I had to do some mods to mount the stock '70 ignition switch (the '75 used a different switch) onto the '75 column and also delete the gear selector lever slot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prayers1 153 Report post Posted September 6, 2013 How did the final stage of the gauges come out?... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bomccorkle 12 Report post Posted September 6, 2013 Ahh sweet mine is a 69 so the key is still on the dash but I'm sure that they key on the column would be able to be deleted. Also since you've kinda done it I was thinking of cutting a piece of aluminum to fit down in the cove to mount gauges on then blending it back into the dash pad with fiberglass or something of that nature. I would make a mold as you did but I'm kinda lost on it. I am wanting to mount an intellitronix 6 gauge cluster I'm just not sure as to where to cut the old bezel to make it tilt correctly when its all in and done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
