gauge question

[bigblue09]

those gauges are they made for that truck or universal? how hard are they to install??

[VileZambonie]

I don't know why anyone would buy Covans when you could build the same thing but better for a fraction of the price.

[1983stepside]

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

[bigblue09]

ok thanks. im getting kinda tired of my stock gauges. lol

[69byrd]

how cold dose that wheel get in the winter lol  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.

[69byrd]

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.

[69byrd]

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.

[1983stepside]

k thanks for all your help

[bigblue09]

ok thanks. it looks really good tho. i dont see myself doing it anytime soon. lol

[1983stepside]

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

[1983stepside]

  i ment sportcomp gauges

[69byrd]

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.

[1983stepside]

yes the dummy lights and thanks foe all the info

[69byrd]

I also used the mechanical speedometer

[silvrbreez]

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