Need pics of modified '69/'70 dashes!

[johnpro]

If you got 'em, flaunt 'em.  I'm in the process of building my new instrument cluster.  I'll have the speedo, tach, fuel and water temp gauges in the dash.  I will have oil pressure and volt gauge somewhere else ... either where the '70 console ashtray is, or on the a-pillar.  I haven't decided yet.

Oh, this is for Scary, my '69 sportsroof, which has stock gauges at the momemnt (except tach on the column).

Help me out, guys!  I know some of you have done this ... 70_Fastback and mach514!

[JeffTepper]

John:

A couple of ideas:  Jeremy did a custom guage panel for his car that is very nice about a year ago but I am unable to locate the pics.  Perhaps he still has them and can post.

Additionally, there is one set up that doubles up the ancillary guages so you can get all 6 into the four existing instrument panel openings, check this out:

http://www.mustangandfords.com/howto/30584_haneline_aftermarket_gauges/index.html

[Fast68back]

Here is J's post from VMF, his pics are gone, lost with the hosting site he used IIRC.
http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/vintage-mustang-forum/594227-my-radio-delete-gauge-bezel-fab-pics.html

[buening]

Not sure if you want to keep the original housing, but here is a thread for another option besides the uber expensive JME (depending on your patience)   http://www.1969stang.com/mustang/forum/showthread.php?t=7285&highlight=dash

You will loose your woodgrain assuming you have deluxe interior if you make your own though.

Due to the fact that my T56 has an electronic speedometer output, I've been looking into possibly replacing my gauges with aftermarkets as well.  I wasn't impressed with the lighting in my Autometer Phantom gauges in the console, which resemble the factory gauges with the glow around the gauges.  It appears the lighting is the same for the Pro-Comp and Carbon Fiber.  What gauges are you leaning towards?  I kind of like the Stewart Warner Maximum Performance gauges but they only make 2 1/8" gauges.  I'd like to have them a little bigger than that to closer match the factory size. There was a site by VMFer kvinklar for his Elvira project but that website is now down and I didn't think to save the pictures. He was one of the first that I can remember to put aftermarket gauges in a 69/70 housing.

[mach514]

Hey John, here is a shot sorry it doesn't show the A pillar gauges well but I put the fuel gauge and ampmeter in the A pillar and oil pressure and water temp on the main cluster along with speedo and tach.

http://www.stangfix.com/testforum/gallery/2/218_02_08_09_6_42_46.jpg

[johnpro]

Excellent. Mach514, do you have any bigger pics of it?  Did you use the stock '69/'70 lenses in the bezel, or just the lenses in the gauges themselves?

[KBMWRS]

A-pillar gauges? Really? Too much like ricer-boy add-ons...don't do it. :scar

[70_Fastback]

Damn Eff'ing MustangMods site...

Here was my StangFix post.  http://www.stangfix.com/testforum/index.php/topic,1216.0.html


I'll see if I can dig up all of the old pics and edit that post John.

[70_Fastback]

Damn.  I don't have any of those pictures here at work.  I'll have to fix it all tonight John.

[daveSanborn]

A-pillar gauges?

I go back and forth on A-pillar gauges.  On some cars they look great... on others, not so much.  I think they fit nicely on the MACH1 above, but might not look as good on another MACH.  It probably has more to do with the overall car than anything else I guess.

Were else would you as neatly incorporate additional gauges onto the 69-70 cluster/dash?

[66gt350]

A-pillar gauges? Really? Too much like ricer-boy add-ons...don't do it. :scar

A-pillar gauges aren't just used by ricer-boys.  It's more of a late model addition.  It's easier to put the gauges on the pillar than trying to deal with the new molded dashes.  Lot's of late model mustangs have 'em.  I've used them for gauges on my truck, until I went to a digital readout.

With that said...I'd stay away from a-pillar gauges.  It just don't look natural in a classic vehicle.

[70_Fastback]

Were else would you as neatly incorporate additional gauges onto the 69-70 cluster/dash?

[Fast68back]

Jesus J, that shifter is as tall as your scoop! I would think with those grape ape arms of yours you could shorten it a bit....




 :beat

[66gt350]

Jesus J, that shifter is as tall as your scoop! I would think with those grape ape arms of yours you could shorten it a bit....

I've seen "ape hanger" handlebars on old Harley's, but I think this is a first for classic mustangs!!!

[lethal289]

I think its a nice shifter, but i built a console to cover the Kleenex box it comes in.   :craz

[70_Fastback]

Thanks Jake!

Everyone else:  :fbomb



 :)

[daveSanborn]

Honestly?  I like them better on the A pillar.

While mounting the gauges in the old radio spot is a clean installation, it's not a line of sight location for monitoring vital engine signs.  Personally, I want the oil pressure and water temp gauges staring me right in the face while I'm driving.  The cluster and A-pillar gauge mounting locations do that very well.

If you've ever lost oil pressure, you know that it only takes a few seconds to cause irrepairable harm to the rotating components.  Having to "look over" at the oil pressure and water temp gauges every once in a while/20 seconds isn't going to do you much good when you see "0" oil pressure.... other than to let you know to shut the engine off and start planning for an engine rebuild.

If the oil pressure/water temp gauge is in your line of sight you're much more likely to notice any malfunction and take immediate action before it turns into a costly repair.

[Horseplay]

Honestly?  I like them better on the A pillar.

While mounting the gauges in the old radio spot is a clean installation, it's not a line of sight location for monitoring vital engine signs.  Personally, I want the oil pressure and water temp gauges staring me right in the face while I'm driving.  The cluster and A-pillar gauge mounting locations do that very well.

If you've ever lost oil pressure, you know that it only takes a few seconds to cause irrepairable harm to the rotating components.  Having to "look over" at the oil pressure and water temp gauges every once in a while/20 seconds isn't going to do you much good when you see "0" oil pressure.... other than to let you know to shut the engine off and start planning for an engine rebuild.

If the oil pressure/water temp gauge is in your line of sight you're much more likely to notice any malfunction and take immediate action before it turns into a costly repair.

That's why factory "idiot" lights are not such a bad idea. They do grab your attention when they illuminate. You can (should) do something similar with lots of aftermarket options.

FYI -- There is a new gauge pod on the market that mounts a trio of gauges in place of the single radio speaker up on the dash for the 65/66 crowd. It not only maintains the defroster ducts but I think improves them. To Dave's point, it puts 'em where you will see 'em. I tried to find a link to post but no luck yet. I thought it was made by MP Products but it's not on their website. I saw it on E-Bay a couple weeks ago. I'm not familiar with the dash on later models or if this would even be available for them...just putting it out there for my fellow 65/66'ers.

[70_Fastback]

I've never had a problem monitoring my gauges.  The Oil is in the dash cluster though.  The temp is on the console/radio area.  I guess I am just conditioned to always checking my gauges.  And to be honest - the one in the radio bezel are easier to see because the damn smaller diamter steering wheel I am running runs right through the middle sweep of the guages.  More so on the speedo & tach than on the two ancillary side gauges.

[AtlantaSteve]

That's why factory "idiot" lights are not such a bad idea. They do grab your attention when they illuminate. You can (should) do something similar with lots of aftermarket options.

I've always thought it'd be neat to install both an idiot light sender AND a gauge sender, and use both so you'd have the gauge for accuracy, but the idiot light to grab your attention.  But the main problem was i couldn't ever figure a way to install a Y on the oil pressure sender tube that wouldn't look like cobbled together crap when I was done...so I'll just run the stock gauge for now.

[70_Fastback]

Aren't idiot lights 'electric'... not mechanical.

[AtlantaSteve]

Yeah, but the gauges in my car are electric, too...

so I'd have to get a Y or a T of some sort to screw into that extension for the sending unit, and screw the big "variable" sending unit for the gauge, and the smaller "on/off" sending unit for the idiot light, then run a wire to each of them.  Not sure it's worth all that, and I KNOW it'd look horrible when I was done.

[Horseplay]

Here's and example.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/REB-140-1280/

[mach514]

John, I used the gauge glass only they fit well into the cluster and we made straps to hold everything in place. if i had it to do over i would probably not gone A pillar but would have bit the bullit and picked up the 69/70 Shelby console insert and placed them facing the driver where the ashtray should be.  but this opens a different can of worms because then you have the toggle switch holes in the Shelby console insert to deal with.... maybe one for the NOS and one for the line lock??? I'll try and dig up better pictures.

Dan

[buening]

I have mechanical temp and oil pressure gauges in my factory mach console using the pod that replaces the ash tray (like the shelby).  You don't have the switches to deal with and buying that little pod for $20 is cheaper than the entire repro shelby insert  :$$$

I don't have a problem monitoring the gauges down in the console, but they are out of sight whereas the pillar is up at eye level.