Shrinking A Fuel Gauge

[Altec]

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.



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).


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.



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.




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.



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.



That is the easy part, now I gotta figure out what to do for a tach...

[Irish_Alley]

nice ideal

[slammed79]

That'll be awesome if it works! But doesn't the fuel gauge have a longer sweep?

[78 Chevyrado]

Thats a slick idea!

[Altec]

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.

[bake74]

     Are you putting a tach in place of the fuel gauge ?

[beastie_3]

so...you have no oil pressure gauge?

[Altec]

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.

[Captkaos]

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/

[Irish_Alley]

Lol ouch. Well its home made and he saved a couple bucks

[Altec]

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. 

[bake315]

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.

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!