robguitargod1

iTrader: (4)

I have an autometer 5" Tach and Speedo that I want to mount in the stock locations, but I'm not sure how to accomplish this. Both gauges are far too deep to fit, so do you have to just start chopping at the cluster and black plastic that's behind the cluster?!

I'd like to retain a stock looking appearance so I don't want to just fab up a gauge panel. Suggestions? I know I've seen pics of this before.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

a company makes a direct bolt in dash for the camaro that installs auto meter gauges. not to mention they even have a wire harness already made to plug into the stock wire harness. search

interested to see how u accomplish this. i would do this to my firebird if i ever peg the 140mph speedo so far i got to 111mph at the track

matthufham

iTrader: (5)

well if you're eliminating the gauges then why not hack up the back piece? just leave the warning lamps and cut the rest. you won't need a circuit board really other than the warning lights and turn signals so just leave it in, but the autometers should still fit. if you're only adding those 2 gauges then only hack whats behind them, and leave the other stuff alone. just take it out of the car, play with it and eyeball it. should come natural.

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

I saw a guy on here mount a autometer 5"tach in.First he bought another gauge cluster in case he messed up.He just drilled out enough area behind the gauge to make it fit.

Primetime91

iTrader: (15)

I did this with a VDO 4" tach, fit nearly perfectly and looked just like it belonged. A 5" is gonna take more hacking though i bet

3rdBird

iTrader: (1)

might not be what you're looking for, but heres mine. I installed Automoter gauges in each pod & a 5" playback tach on the end.

JTNKTZ

iTrader: (10)

Heres mine. I just cut away half the dash and folded over the circuit board very carefully. It sits in there fine, doesn't move and all I have to do to pull it out is pull on it a little cause I made it a very tight fit.




Also this is a firebird dash in a camaro :P

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

looks good. how did u calibrate the speedo JTNKTZ? or is it a cable driven speedo, or does it use the stock sender/own sending unit? is it a 700r4?

jamieschott

iTrader: (2)

There is a kit you could buy. The "plate" cost around 100-150 dollars. You can get the joker in carbon fiber, stainless a handful of other choices as well.

Covan's classics sells the kit complete with Autometer gauges. 3 3/8 speedo and tach. 2 1/16 water, oil press, volt, and fuel level. that kit is about 900 depending on the gauge style you choose.

I installd the Phantoms into my 85 Z a few years ago. with the harness they supplies and the speed sensor and detailed instructions, i finished the install in about 3 hours.

But if you prefer to just install them like a couple post ago. that should nt be too difficult either.

101btp

iTrader: (1)

can you use the stock connections to hook up?

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

When I do mine, I'm planning to partially dis-assemble the gauge and mount it behind the factory trim plate instead of surface mounting it to the plate like everybody else. This is more work, but in my opinion it'll look a hell of a lot better.

Tobias05

i love the stock gauges/setup. covans' setup is nice, but just doesn't look right...

...ever thought of sending your gauges off to be calibrated?

jchaussee

Jim. Did you ever do it, or has anybody done a camaro pre 90 where they leave the black bezels and clear plastic , essentially just moderizing their factory dash. That is what I want to do but I have not seen it yet

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

Do you have a pic of the procomp gauges lit up at night? i couldnt stand my dads ultra lite gauges at night with the perimiter lighting. I wanted through the dial but to kinda match my stock firebird gauges. my stewart warner speedo has been on back order for 8 months!

Also does anyone know if the stock electric speedo from a firebird will work with a auto meter electric speedo sender? the autometer speedo sender is a square wave.

camarozz383

iTrader: (2)

looks nice, i also made my own custom gauge cluster.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

any updates? im waiting for my 5" stewart warner speedo to come from backorder of 9 frigin months! and i want to do this!

kcid_n_ysup69

iTrader: (1)

a bit pricey, looks really good though. im planning on making a firebird dash out of the cyberdyne gauges eventually...only reason id be willing to fabricate one is for the functional odometer, my gear that comes from the stepper motor is cracked just like everyone elses

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...prd_zm_168.gif

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

my speedo just arrived today! about time! im going with stewart warner speedo and tach and both are 5". might throw a pic up here today if i get it finished.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

I have a stock 140mph speedo and 8000rpm tach that im selling out of my bird since im upgrading to the 5" stewart warner gauges... the odometer works perfectly on my speedo. I have them for sale in the auction block check it out.

Im also not a fan of the digitial gauges... they are actually harder to read and also take longer to read. I had a cyberdyne trans temp gauge (red) and the gauge worked fine (sending unit died after a year tho! most of my stewart warner stuff is 3yrs old and still working great!) I found that the cyderdyne gauge was alittle harder to read (at night it was pretty bright) and i hated how it would flash and move the text until the trans got up to temp. That moving/flashing would be very distracting at night. Also the digitial read out is documented (from what ive read if my memory serves me right) to take longer to read than an analog gauge. So instead of a quick glance at the gauge to see whats happening you have to stare at it for a sec... when you should be looking at the road. Also dont like how the numbers would jump and count upwards... its hard to judge. But for accuracy the gauge cant be beat i mean... what other type of analog gauge will give you an exact number lol.

You ever drive in a new honda or prius? they have digitial speedos and as the speed increases you notice the speedo readout jumping or seems to be lagging, like 25mph then it pauses and goes to 30 etc depending on the throttle. I prefer the analog bc the needly sweeps and its all one continuous motion.

but to each there own

robguitargod1

iTrader: (4)

Only took 15 months, but I finally got around to doing it! If you just wanted all aftermarket gauges you could just keep the front cluster piece and pip the gauges in there, but since I still wanted to keep the factory 3 in the center I had to mod the hell out of the cluster.

jchaussee

Oil pressure?

robguitargod1

iTrader: (4)

It's just to the right, you just can't see it in the picture.

kerplunk318

iTrader: (3)

That is kind of what I did for my speedo, but I removed the trim ring and glass and put the speedo behind the factory glass.

robguitargod1

iTrader: (4)

That crossed my mind, but I like they way the gauges stand out when they're mounted outside like this.

jchaussee

Kerplunk. You got pics. That is how I want to do mine

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

i hate the "around the dial" lighting and think thats pretty outdated and cheaper to produce. Heres my stewart warner 5" speedo and 5" tach in stock location with all my other stewart warner guages with red LED lighting. pics dont do it justice