73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: Altec on April 20, 2011, 12:06:54 am
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Thought I'd try and take a oil pressure gauge, and turn it into a fuel gauge...
Parts Needed
1x Fuel Gauge
1x Oil Pressure Gauge (Or gauge of your choice...)
2x 1/8" Rivets
Tools Needed
1x Can of Brake Cleaner
1x Cotton Rag
1x Rivet Gun
1x 1/16" Drill Bit
1x 1/8" Drill Bit
1x 3/8" Drill Bit
1x Drill...
2x Jewelers Screw Driver
First thing I did was take a square and made sure the marks on both gauges matched. As far as I can tell, they do. Next I set the needle of the fuel gauge at 1/2 tank and used the two screw drivers to gently pull the needle off. Making sure not to move the needle from the 1/2 position. After this I repeated this process on the oil pressure gauge.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/Truck%20Project/IMAG0354.jpg)
Next I took the fuel gauge and laid it face down on a cloth. Using the 1/16" drill bit I drill out the old rivets. Then using the 1/8" drill bit I enlarged the holes on the mechanism it self. Followed by the 3/8" drill bit to "bump" the holes to knock off the burs.
Fuel Gauge mechanism (left) next to the oil pressure gauge (right).
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/Truck%20Project/IMAG0355.jpg)
Repeated the last step on the oil pressure gauge, but instead of enlarging the holes on the mechanism, I enlarged the holes on the gauge face.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/Truck%20Project/IMAG0356.jpg)
Taking the fuel gauge mechanism, and the oil pressure gauge face I stuck the rivets through and tightened both the rivets to make sure it is lined up right. The "popped" the rivets.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/Truck%20Project/IMAG0357.jpg)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/Truck%20Project/IMAG0358.jpg)
Now because oil pressure reading aren't going to look right I took some brake cleaner, and a rag to rub the numbers off. At this point you could use water slide decals, or whatever you prefer to add proper fuel level marks.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/Truck%20Project/IMAG0359.jpg)
And finally add the needle from the oil pressure gauge. Making sure to set it at 1/2 liked you pulled the old needle off.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/Truck%20Project/IMAG0360.jpg)
That is the easy part, now I gotta figure out what to do for a tach...
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nice ideal
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That'll be awesome if it works! But doesn't the fuel gauge have a longer sweep?
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Thats a slick idea!
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That'll be awesome if it works! But doesn't the fuel gauge have a longer sweep?
Not that I could tell using a square. Just looks that way because the marks are set further away from the center.
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Are you putting a tach in place of the fuel gauge ?
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so...you have no oil pressure gauge?
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Bake- That is the plan. :)
Beastie- Didn't plan not to have a oil pressure gauge. I figured I would just grab a oil pressure gauge from one of the several clusters I have. The new fuel gauge would go in the blank area.
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Nice idea, but you do know they sell the small fuel gauge for $50.
http://www.classicparts.com/1973-78-Fuel-Gauge-w_-Tach-Regular-Fuel/productinfo/24-842B/
(http://www.classicparts.com/images/24-842B.jpg)
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Lol ouch. Well its home made and he saved a couple bucks
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Kaos- Yep, I know. I'm always poking around Classic.
Irish- I wouldn't consider $50 a couple bucks, but then again I've been accused of being tight fisted. on more then one occasion. :D
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Taking the fuel gauge mechanism, and the oil pressure gauge face I stuck the rivets through and tightened both the rivets to make sure it is lined up right. The "popped" the rivets.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/Truck%20Project/IMAG0357.jpg)
Ouch. I recognize the telltale scratch of a manual pop rivet tool on your gauge there. Been there, done that! Finally "popped" for a cheap pneumatic riveter from HF. What a difference!
I like your "out of the box" thinking on this project!