Author Topic: 1970 Gauge Conversion. Finished & Pic's (Read 830 times)

Larry G · « **on:** December, 30, 2010, 09:25:29 AM »

Hi All
I've started the gauge update/conversion on my 70 Mach and looking for a little help.

I know this conversion has been done on "69/70" dash bezel but there's not much info out there about it, so if anyone has any tips, hints, suggestions or most of all pictures (especially of the back with gauges mounted) would help bunch's.

miketyler · « **Reply #1 on:** December, 30, 2010, 12:45:00 PM »

What exactly are you converting to? I am putting in a 69 tach panel in my 70 and got Midlife to do the harness conversion. Hopefully no smoke when I get it installed

Larry G · « **Reply #2 on:** December, 30, 2010, 03:46:32 PM »

I'm converting the stock ford gauges, that didn't work to Autometer gauges using the existing gauge bezel.

When I got my car back from paint last spring I installed a Painless harness and I knew I was going to be doing the new gauges I didn't worry about getting the old gauges working. I did have working (new) oil pressure and water temp. gauges.

buening · « **Reply #3 on:** January, 03, 2011, 10:04:36 AM »

Jeremy (70 Fastback) did this same thing using the factory housing. http://www.stangfix.com/testforum2/index.php/topic,1278.msg101269.html#msg101269

There was also a website from KVinkler on VMF that did it but apparently that site is no longer valid: http://www.geocities.com/kvinkler/ I'm not sure if you can find it in some online archive. I'm not that computer savvy

buening · « **Reply #4 on:** January, 03, 2011, 10:06:02 AM »

Ahh, found it! http://web.archive.org/web/20091026223135/geocities.com/kvinkler/gauges/page_01.htm

Fast68back · « **Reply #5 on:** January, 03, 2011, 11:25:45 AM »

Ya know, we have a tech article board here on Stangfix.......

http://www.stangfix.com/testforum2/index.php/topic,14.0.html

Larry G · « **Reply #6 on:** January, 03, 2011, 12:12:05 PM »

Thanks for locating the pictures of Kevin V.'s coversion pictures, I did a bunch of searches but came up empty.
I knew Jeremy did the conversion and also Johnpro and I'm sure a few others, but I wanted to see some backside pic.'s.
Both Kevin and Jeremy used 5" Speedo & Tech gauges but it looks like Johnpro used the smaller 3 3/8" gauges so I'm still up in the air about watch size to use.
I do have a 5" tach but I'm not liking the way it looks in my cluster, a lot of the markings are covered by the stock bezel. Kevin and Jeremy's look like they fit a bit better, I'm not sure why, though.
I'll keep working on the conversion, lets see what I come up with.
Thanks Again the pictures do help.

buening · « **Reply #7 on:** January, 03, 2011, 05:46:40 PM »

No problem! I will eventually pull the trigger on the silver Stewart Warner Maximum Performance gauges. I plan on using 5" speedo and tach, with 2 5/8" gauges. I never paid attention that the gauge bezel doesn't show with the 5" ones but it does nicely with the 3 3/8". I like the larger gauge face though. hmmmmm

What do you plan on using for the two side gauges?

70_Fastback · « **Reply #8 on:** January, 03, 2011, 07:53:48 PM »

Larry, I just looked through all of my pictures from the conversion and I don't have a single one of the mounting of the gauges. I guess I didn't take in between progress pictures.

My apologies.

Larry G · « **Reply #9 on:** January, 03, 2011, 08:09:09 PM »

I sort of got the 5" tach to fit and look pretty good.
I ordered the 3 3/8" gauges and I'll see how they fit, look and see if these old eyes can read them.
For the two side gauges I'm using 2 5/8" with the silver rings and glass removed, I like the way they look and fit.
With the rings left on the gauges don't go in the stock bezel far enough.
I'll be posting pictures of what I did when the job is completed.

Larry G · « **Reply #10 on:** January, 03, 2011, 08:16:31 PM »

Jeremy, Thanks for checking.
I pretty sure the pictures I saw back whenever were for the conversion that Kevin Vinkler did.I just couldn't find them, but thanks to buening for finding the post that had the links I now have the pictures. My setup will be different but it got me going in the right direction.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #11 on:** January, 04, 2011, 07:34:09 AM »

You'r welcome. And I didn't do it like Kevin did either. I actually re-used that metal backing piece, cut it as required and used it to hold my gauges in.

Larry G · « **Reply #12 on:** January, 04, 2011, 08:10:05 AM »

I'm going to be using the rear metal pieces also, I've cut the outside pieces already and they hold the gauges in nice and tight.
The big center piece will hold the dash bezel where it belongs.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #13 on:** January, 04, 2011, 08:19:32 AM »

Great minds think a like.

Larry G · « **Reply #14 on:** January, 06, 2011, 11:13:56 AM »

Well I figured out what I'm doing with the gauge conversion and things are moving along pretty good.
I'm going with 2 5/8" gauges on the outside, oil pressure & water temp., and 3 3/8" speedo & tach.
I removed the silver rings and glass on all the gauges because I thought there was to much going on in the stock bezel and I am using the stock gauge lens.
Everything mocked up, just need to do some painting of the old bezel and I'll be ready for some wiring.

Here's some pictures of the mock up.

buening · « **Reply #15 on:** January, 06, 2011, 11:28:46 AM »

That turned out well Larry! Did you have to use any filler rings for the tach/speedo since they are 3 3/8"? Wasn't sure if the out-to-out dimension of the gauge fills the stock hole all the way.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #16 on:** January, 06, 2011, 11:39:29 AM »

Wow, I am impressed with the 3-3/8" fit & look. I like it a lot!

buening · « **Reply #17 on:** January, 06, 2011, 12:27:48 PM »

Yeah, its seriously making me rethink the 5" route

rsalway · « **Reply #18 on:** January, 06, 2011, 01:04:18 PM »

DougG69 · « **Reply #19 on:** January, 06, 2011, 01:50:20 PM »

That looks really good!

Are you going to run a fuel gauge?

Larry G · « **Reply #20 on:** January, 06, 2011, 01:55:11 PM »

Thanks guys, It is turning out pretty good, I was a bit worried because I was taking apart brand new gauges but so far I'm happy. Hope nothing goes wrong with them, I think I voided the warranty on them.
Yes, I did use filler rings as the hole in the bezel measured 3 3/4" and the gauges with the rings removed where 3 3/8" (3 3/4" with the rings but they still slipped through the bezel.
Fuel & Volt will be in the console pod. 2 1/16"

Here's a few more pic's of the filler rings. I'm sure you know what they are made from.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #21 on:** January, 06, 2011, 02:45:43 PM »

HAHAH!! I love it!

miketyler · « **Reply #22 on:** January, 07, 2011, 12:12:58 PM »

Wow - that does look pretty good. Got any pics with the woodgrain overlay in place?

Larry G · « **Reply #23 on:** January, 07, 2011, 01:19:20 PM »

As a matter of fact I do, Just finished. The chrome on the bezel was showing it's 40 years so I just painted everthing semi flat black and added a little silver behind the stock lens.

Here's the finished product.

SAC69 · « **Reply #24 on:** January, 07, 2011, 03:03:23 PM »

That looks great. I've been following this thread with interest as I'm unsure whether it's better to refit the stock cluster + add the console gauges or use a 6-gauge unit like Year One, although it is a cheap-type plastic.

http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?cat=E
---I apparently can't get a direct link to Year One's 69-70 Cluster. For those interested, click on the link above, then on lthe eft-page menu, choose "interior," then scroll to "dash bezels and gauge clusters."

Your conversion came out great.

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Author Topic: 1970 Gauge Conversion. Finished & Pic's (Read 830 times)

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