73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Projects Posts (NOT VEHICLES) => Topic started by: modular93fox on October 26, 2010, 10:51:04 pm
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About 2 years ago I seen a wicked cool hybrid looking cluster. It was in a cummins conversion suburban, (original photos not hosted anymore, and my photos I had taken are misplaced) but it was so wicked good looking, I went out and picked up a Dodge Ram 1500 instrument cluster. The gauges alre a perfect match for the factory bezel, the small gauges are a 100% perfect, the 6k tack and 120mph speedo are like 1% too small due to 1 notch in one spot on each of the gauges. I never got hot and heavy about the project but its always in the back of my mind. Well about a month ago I jumpstarted the project by figuring out exactly how to mount these gauges.
Seriously after about 2 hours of brain storming I got the perfect solution.
(http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/9571/voltsoilgaugecarrier.jpg)
and
(http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/7702/fuelandtempcarrier.jpg)
the MPH and Speedo are not shown becuase I need to tweak it just a bit.
clint
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by design its a 3pc carrier, the back, the block spacer and the front trim. Screw the gauge and make the electrical contacts to the back plate and screw in the spacer followed by the gauge face trim ring. With the cluster assembled the idea would be to mark the center of the gauge needle on the clear lense of the cluster for reference. Disassemble the cluster and cut the lip of the black plastic (not available online :( ) trim that surrounds the gauges. Now that the black trim is nice and flat (no lip) & with the gauges in its new carrier, place it on the back of the black trim (with the clear lense fitted on the front side) and align it so that the center of the gauges is where the center of the marks you made on the plastic clear lense. Make a pilot hole in the middle use a screw to hold them together. Once fitment is good to go, I need to see what epoxy glue would be best to glue the 2 together. Just to ensure they are stuck together real good :). Sounds good to me anyway.
clint
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Got a quote using the SLS method. its not to bad, low 300 for all 3. Im gonna sleep on how many I am going to order.
clint
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Is this the Suburban you're talking about?
http://www.devilscastle.net/cummins2006-dec.htm
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yep. I went through my external and found the photo of when I put all of the gauges in the cluster...
(http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/4022/hybridcluster.jpg)
clint
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Great concept but not very stylish gauges.
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true, but thats what I was looking for.. Im not into the white faced flamed look that aftermarket might offer... but there might be kits offered to change the face or needles to something more exotic. Ive seen needle kits for the NNBS silverdao's... neat but not for me. For function, this setup is great for me, it gets rid of the tach on the dash and gets the sleek look of through the dial lighting with the more MPH on the dial.... my 5.3 engine doesnt like the 85mph speedo
clint
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Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it at all! They still look cool
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I wish someone made a good aftermarket replacement tach with the built in gas gauge like the newer 85 on up I have seen. I would like to find the GM part # on it and see if any exist any more.
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yep. I went through my external and found the photo of when I put all of the gauges in the cluster...
(http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/4022/hybridcluster.jpg)
clint
I like it....
What gauges are they?
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came out of a dodoge ram 1500 96-98 gas v8
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I wish someone made a good aftermarket replacement tach with the built in gas gauge like the newer 85 on up I have seen. I would like to find the GM part # on it and see if any exist any more.
Contact this guy that sells the factory tachs
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-1986-Chevrolet-Chevy-truck-tachometer-gauge-set-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ150481634140QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
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his tach looks like the fuel gauge with some sort of tack fixed to it and a overlay. none the less, its a lot less work. When I pull the trigger I will have invested about 50$ more than that guy is selling his kit for. 270 for the adapter carrier and 50 bucks for the cluster. Once I get my project finished I might take apart my autogauge tach and see how to fit it to the gas gauge... but thats another project another time.
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I wish someone made a good aftermarket replacement tach with the built in gas gauge like the newer 85 on up I have seen. I would like to find the GM part # on it and see if any exist any more.
Contact this guy that sells the factory tachs
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-1986-Chevrolet-Chevy-truck-tachometer-gauge-set-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ150481634140QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
The one I am looking for has the gas gauge built in the tach. I have seen one only on eBay.
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Contact that guy, last I knew he sold the diesel, heavy truck and 10-30 tach's as well as complete assmenliees. 99.9% of the used ones you'll find on eBay will not be functional.
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I really like that cluster!
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Finaly got the MPH and RPM gauge cluster pod finished. That one took a while. The RPM face has a check engine, oil and gen light. After measuring, plotting, and more measuring.. I was able to recreate the light structure for those 3 spots. Now that I have all of the designs, I will see about getting a formal quote.
(http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8765/mphandrpmcarrier3d2.jpg)
I found the bulb # 168 (instrument cluster bulbs) holder ... which is a T10 style holder on ebay for cheap... china made, but atleast I know they are available. They are the holder for the correct bulb and they come with a pigtail so the connections will be solid. I will try and source some of those T10 pigtails locally if I can...
clint
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I bought one of those pigtail bulb holders at OReilly's once years ago. I look for them every time I am in the HELP! isle but haven't seen them since. I bet they can be found in one of their books behind the counter.
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I like it man. Not what id like in my truck but its super clean looking. Whats that 3d image? are u planning on having that made? cause its verry interesting and im just wondeing how u go about having something like that actaully made.
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I designed it in Autocad. Otherwise if I took my idea to a prototyper, it would be $$ lots $$ to design it for me + making it. As far as making it, there are a few ways to do it, one is SLS, CNC mill start to finish or CNC mill + lathe + assembly (on my end)... what ever is cheaper (material thickeness is why option 3 might be a good one to go with.
Im waiting on another forum member on another board.. he owns a shop that has a few CNC mills and a CNC lathe :) hopefully he can offer a good price.
clint
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Great concept but not very stylish gauges.
You could always do something like this:
(http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/jugo_74/gaugeconcept.jpg)
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That is a nice clean looking setup. I really like how the guages aren't too flashy, it suits these trucks.
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That's awesome I ever seen, someday I'll get 'em for my baby Truckin'
Thanks for sharing! 8)
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I designed it in Autocad. Otherwise if I took my idea to a prototyper, it would be $$ lots $$ to design it for me + making it. As far as making it, there are a few ways to do it, one is SLS, CNC mill start to finish or CNC mill + lathe + assembly (on my end)... what ever is cheaper (material thickeness is why option 3 might be a good one to go with.
Im waiting on another forum member on another board.. he owns a shop that has a few CNC mills and a CNC lathe :) hopefully he can offer a good price.
clint
Look in your area and see if Anyone does 3D printing, We have a place near me and they can make some bad ass shoot.