73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: 1983stepside on December 03, 2008, 05:28:14 pm
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does any oneknow how to chang from stock to after market gauges and make them look factory like this pic
i like this better than the gauge sitting out a little bit
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Search the site. Someone modified theirs, but for a how to. Look here:
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/interior/gauges_recessed.htm
This has been posted SEVERAL times...
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wow thanks alot for that link it was very infomative and i realy like the way the recessed gagues look
and if any one has a better way or even more pics of what they did please post them thanks
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It would be easier doing a search for "recessed gauges" on the board especially if that user isn't on here frequently.
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go to summit racing you can buy the new style gauge cluster just like that. its pretty expensive though.
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And it fits like crap and is flimsy.
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I havent installed it yet but this is what I did
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/frogman1968/front.jpg)
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that looks pretty cool but i realy want my gauges to look factory even tho there not
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And it fits like crap and is flimsy.
Yep Covan and Similar Panels just aren't up to par when it comes to the price they're asking, their overall appearence afterwards is also less than desirable....
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i like the style of them but i would get the digital ones before i got those they are a lot cheaper.
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I've liked the Looks of Covan's since they were first released, but was Highly disappointed when I actually got to experience their quality..... The first one I saw, was severely warped, and the next one broke while being installed... Every other ones that I have seen or come into contact with, usually had cracks at the mounting points(Yep just like the Stock Surrounds do, but the Covan's take less pressure to get them that way), or had cracks like the Guages were being pulled/pushed through the back....
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Just to add another review of the Covan's Classic product, it is true that is extremely flimsy. Also, they don't cut out the area for the transmission gear selector needle (Good luck mounting that piece). It is also neccessary to relocate the blinker indicators because they don't drill the holes for those either. Finally, don't bother to pay for rush shipping as they will likely "process" your order for 2 to 3 weeks before sending it out to you. Then when you finally receive the dash you'll have to wait an additional week for your gauges to come in because they were out of what you wanted. When those gauges come in, you'll have to call back to remind them that they forgot to send you the speedometer sending unit that you paid for. Other than those issues, Covan's Classic is nifty!
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I used the autometer sportcomp gauages. The 5" speedo and tach and the rest of the guages were 2and5/8. I followed the instructions in the link above and I think they turned out good. The only thing I did different was make a bracket to hold the guages in. I drilled holes through the panel and bolted to the brackets. I am going to put the billet trim piece over it to cover the bolt heads. Most people dont even notice that I have aftermarket guages and I get a lot of compliments on them. Here are a few pics.
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/scan0001.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/scan0002.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/truck007.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/truck005.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/truck004.jpg)
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wow that looks awsome they look like there factory gauges and thats what im looking for you have any pics of the
bracket you made? and does that billet trim panel stick on or screw on where the factory screws are thanks
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how cold dose that wheel get in the winter lol :o looks awesome tho buddy
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those gauges are they made for that truck or universal? how hard are they to install??
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I don't know why anyone would buy Covans when you could build the same thing but better for a fraction of the price.
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hey bigblue if you go to the first page of this thread theres a link to click on it will tell you how to do it and they arent made foe the truck you have to make them work read the first page cuz i want to do that to my truck and youll see what people told me to do
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ok thanks. im getting kinda tired of my stock gauges. lol
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how cold dose that wheel get in the winter lol :o looks awesome tho buddy
Yeah it is cold in the winter and hot in the summer but I have another steering wheel that matches the wheels and it has a half wrap I will be putting it on when I get the truck done.
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I don't know why anyone would buy Covans when you could build the same thing but better for a fraction of the price.
I agree it saves you money plus you have the pride and satifaction of building it your self. Also I think it looks better.
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wow that looks awsome they look like there factory gauges and thats what im looking for you have any pics of the
bracket you made? and does that billet trim panel stick on or screw on where the factory screws are thanks
I dont have a picture of the bracket I will try to get one but it is u shaped with a flat tab on the bottom that the screws go through the panel, the guage sits in the u shaped area. You will want to use a flat head bolt and counter sink it in the panel as much as possible. I also have access to a mill and I am going to mill some relief for the bolt heads in the back of the billet panel. The billet panel just bolts over the panel using the existing holes.
Bigblue they are not that hard to install. Go to the link on the first page and read it, then reread it. Then get yourself a game plan and go at it. That is what I done and I was suprised at how easy it was and how well they turned out.
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k thanks for all your help
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ok thanks. it looks really good tho. i dont see myself doing it anytime soon. lol
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i was wondering since i have those dumb lights instead of gauges to the left of the speedo would i have to do any thing different to install the gauges like the autometer procomp gauges thanks
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;D i ment sportcomp gauges ;D ??? ::)
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I guess you are saying your truck has dummy lights? You can still use the guages you will need to get sending units for them. Autometer sells those also. I used the mechanical oil and temp guages if this helps.
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yes the dummy lights and thanks foe all the info
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I also used the mechanical speedometer
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Sport Comps look great in there. I've always been a big fan of the aluminum faced Ultra-Lites, but this weekend I got to see two of our body style trucks side by side, each with this conversion, and each with those two style of gauges. The Sport Comps won hand's down in my opinion.
This has been on my list for awhile. I too contemplated the Covan's kit, but after reading through all the posts on this site and talking to the two guys this weekend that chopped the stock cluster themselves to mount the gauges, I'm going that route too. Hopefully I'll have this done in the next few months.
I'm planning to go all electrical with this harness from Painless to help me out...
http://www.painlessperformance.com/webcatalog/largeview.php?SearchField=30302
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You will be pleased with this swap when you get it done and you will be suprised at how easy it is. Keep us posted on your progress.