Thestriped1

i went to sears hardware last night because i was bored and decided id make a new gauge bezel. i picked up a sheet of 26 gauge aluminum (18" x 24"). i got home marked out the holes and outline with a marker and figured out that i didnt have a hole saw big enough to cut the 4 1/4" holes for the speedo and tach. i drilled out the screw holes and realized that i didnt want eight black dots on a peice that i was goiong to bring to a high polish. I ran up to home depot and bought a bag of #8 x 1" screws ($.98) my dad is grabbing the two holes saws i need from his job today and ill have the peice installed tonight. Ill probly post pics on friday. i was thinking about doing the polished aluminum around the car like on the center console and radio pod.

89_ho_rs

i wanna see how the gauge peice looks. I saw one radio bezel that was done in polished aluminum. it looked really nice.

post pics when you get em.

V8Rumble

iTrader: (2)

Only thing I'd be concerned about is whether or not you'd have to deal with your vision being degraded (to a greater or lesser degree) due to glare from the sun, streetlights, etc...

Thestriped1

i was worried about reflections and lights too but for three bucks if i dont like it ill give it to a friend or ill change the finish on it. Today i got one of the two hole saws i needed but i didnt get home from school until 9pm so i was only able to drill the speedo and tach and the spot for the steering collum. tomorrow my dad is picking up the 2 1/4 bit for the three small gauges. its too dark out to go use the grinder to cut the outline so i have to do all this tomorrow between an oil change and a concert. I deffinately get it done tho and ill have all my pictures posted by monday. Unfortunately i didnt remeber to take a pic of the peice with the marker outlined on it but thats pretty easy to imagine.
The bottom circle need to be hit with a grinder to get those straight edges and the circles will all need to be filed down to get rid of the burs along the edges and to give it exactly the right size and shape.
I used a hole saw that was 1/4 inch smaller than the hole due to the bit of wobble and the desire to file it down to a better edge.

redcamaro83

limo tint on windows might fix it but cuase other problems

89_ho_rs

lookin good so far.

ringo234

Don't forget the Turn signals, and the 2 bottom rows for the check engine, security, seatbealt lights.

Thestriped1

yea i know. Im thinking about getting creative with the turn signal and seeing if i can make the chevy bowtie instead of ordinary arrows. Ive been slacking on that bezel though i still need to cut the small holes and finish filing. I decided getting drunk in queens was more important then staying home and filing the bezel so.

Any ideas on the best way to make the chevy bowtie turn signal because it is so small? I was thinking about heating the aluminum and scribing the hot metal with a utility knife until i cut through. there has to be a better way though, or at least something that doesnt risk me burning my flesh and slicing my hand at the same time.

Mitre#136

Depending on the thickness of the sheetmetal, you could probably have an easier time cutting the bowtie in with a rotary tool (DREMEL) and a really fine cutting bit. Looks pretty good so far, I'm going to try to make those ring bezels for my trans am.....

89_ho_rs

any new pics

Camaro355Z28

I was gonna attempt to make a radio gauge panel to accomodate 2 autometer 2 5/8" gauges out of aluminum. Only thing I'm not sure of is what size screws I need to attatch it to the already existing screw holes underneath the radio/heater bezel, where the radio was mounted to. Anyone know this size??

kelham

striped, what are the dimensions on your bezel i want to make a custom one for my t/a that has a digital dash and I want to see if its the same set up they put in the camaro

Thestriped1

I'll post new pics tomorrow but i just finished filing it finally and i just need to cut out the signal indicator holes. and cut something for the warning lights.
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i dont think it is. dont the t/a gauges have four 4 1/2 guages that run straight across the dash?

I dont know the dimensions thought because i took my bezel out and traced it on to a piece of sheet metal. sorry.

the guage diameters are 2.5 inches and 4.5 inches on camaros i dont know the guage set up in t/a's
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the screw size is a #8 x 1 1/4"

make sure you get machine screws they sit flush instead of a raised wood screw. Security screws are pretty sick looking, they make ones with two holes instaed of a standard head and they make them with a bunch of other assorted patterns so no1 can steal it on you.

Deffinately a good idea for a radio pod.

Thestriped1

here are pictures with the small gauge holes cut. i still need the warning light holes and i need the turn signal indicator hole. Sorry about this taking so long I blew a head gasket so my time has been tied up with finding an engine and partying in queens.

Im also posting pictures of the tools i used. I didnt have the small hole saw i needed so i improvised. i used a small dril bit and drilled a bunch of holes inside the circle then a used the honing bit to widen them so they touched and then i used the rotary file to take off all of the sharp points and notched that formed. Every edge was filed down using the large manual file that has a flat side and a rounded side. The manual file works really well, with a fair amount of pressure i was able to take off a lot of metal very quickly and I felt like i had more control then when i was using the rotary file too. Also i didnt have to worry about burning out the drill by applying too much pressure like with the rotary file. As for cutting the outline of the piece I used an angle grinder. I got lucky that y dad had most of this stuff except the metal and the rotary file.

Drill Bit.....$3
Rotary File.....$6
Manual File.....$6
Honing Bit.....$6
Sheet metal.....$2.50
4.5 inch Hole Saw.....$34 These three arent needed but
2.5 inch Hole Saw.....$22 but they work much faster
Center piece for hole saw.....$10

Thestriped1

pic

Thestriped1

Im looking for something different to do for the warning lights. I dont like the rectangle at all and i want something that will look amazing. I need to be able to do it with a dremel or rotozip or something of that nature. I have a bunch of tools around because my dads a carpenter and ive been doing carpentry, when i have off from school, for almost 4 years. So dont feel like you cant suggest something because you dont know if i could do it. I was going to cut Chevy pride or maybe camaro pride into the peice but im not sure and i dont know if ill like that so much. Im going to print up some things that i fell i can actually cut out and place those templates on there so see how it might look. I hope a get a good response so I can have a bunch of options to choose from. thanks!

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

I'd do color coded LEDs matching the stock warning lights. Would be a bit simpler.

Thestriped1

thats a good idea considering i have ten red 194s im not using for anything right now

Thestriped1

im getting a bit to cut a bowtie into the bezel this week and i have a red plastic film my sisters friend robbed from her brother so im going to use that on the backside of the bezel so that nothing falls into the space and breaks the light bulbs. also i can then control how dark the red is by adding more pieces of the film. just like i did with my turn signal indicators

Thestriped1

sorry it took so long for me to get this thing to where it is but i got side tracked. Well i polished it last night with mothers billet aluminum polish and it looks in credible. i first sanded it with 400 grit then went over it with 1500 grit and when i was satisfied that it was smooth i started to polish it. i bought the mothers powerball mini from pepboys and i used that and it works pretty well but the drill battery died so i had to resort to hand and while it is tiring it actually gave me better results than the ball. now that i can see my self in the pecie i need to decide on what to do for the signals and the warning lights. im thinking just put the angle grinder on the back side to make the signals and warning lights straight narrow openings. i think im going to hit it one more time with the polish tonight to ensure that i have the highest possible finish on it.

Thestriped1

those arent the best pictures but thats what i have for now

askulte

That looks familiar! I used a black vinyl "fabric" to avoid getting sun glare.

Thestriped1

yea im just gunna tint my windows and windsheil to avoid sun glare