Using glove box door for gauge cluster
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I saw a thread on this before, but I've been searching for 2 hours for the thread with no luck.
Simple question: Got info on using a glovebox door for gauges? As many of you know, our trucks were designed to be easily converted from LHD to RHD for sales overseas where the steering wheel may need to switch sides. With that in mind, it just so happens that the glove box door fits over the gauge cluster really well. I have a couple of spares laying around and I'm tinkering with gauge setups like the one pictured below. I want to know: * Anyone done or seen this done in person? * Anyone have tips on how to pull this off? I'm not sure how the person who made the one below attached the gauge cluster to the dash. I thought they might have welded threaded studs to the back side of the cluster, but that would be a pain in the ass to fasten the top two screws. Just looking for ideas. 10,000+ brains are better than one. |
Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
Maybe velcro??? Or auto upholstery door panel clips???
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I know there are a couple of folks on here who have done it. Maybe they will chime in. I am interested too.
DLB |
Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
newer style dash panels, doors, etc. are designed to "press in" and to release you simply apply pressure with a flat tool under a lip and pull. maybe they rigged something like that?
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Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
You could weld 2 or 3 dogleg tabs on the top and put little slots in the dash panel to the slip up into, and then put the studs on the bottom that you could put nuts on. Probably what I would do.
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Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
I started too, but quit when Ryan came up with his billet panels. I cut the fold that held the inner and outer pieces together, and would have probably attached it from the back side somehow. May still do in the future on another project.
Mike |
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you could use duct tape:lol:
That is a really good idea and i didn't know they made them for that reason to be switched to RHD,cool |
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i am going to weld bolts to the back side of the globebox door. then drill hole in the dash for the bolts to slide through. :metal:
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I just made my new dash with an old gauge cluster. I drilled two holes in the inner panel and will attach with hidden bolts to supports in the dash. I could get pictures, but I'm a few hundred miles away right now.
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not always...too many brains spoil the headcheese |
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For now I have a holesaw to drill into "idiot" panel and add Oil Pressure and Temp gauges just for piece of mind. The lights are not my favorite way to find out if something is wrong. I will place them into the four locations that the custom rally locations were located leaving the other spots blank. DD
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Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
this is very interesting but how would yor colum fit a cut in the door?
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Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
I saw the Blazer you have pictured there at Goodguys last weekend. It looked to me like he used the stock bezel and fiberglassed it. Looks good in pics, not so much in person...
I've also contemplated this. My thought was to use a piece of billet to mount the gauges through to get them flush mounted. Just cutting a hole and poking them through wouldn't be nearly as cool looking IMO. As for the mounting, just use studs on the backside and a nut behind the dash through the stock holes. Oversimplified, but you get the idea. How's your truck coming along? |
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I was looking at doing this once and I was just going to use studs on the side as far up as I thought I could easly reach and not worry about the top I would think it would hold it fine. you can titen the meatal door down alot titer then the plastic bezel since you dont have to worry about cracking it.
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Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
why not hinge the bottom since it is a glove box and do studs at top you would have to drop colum when you wanted to open it but it would be easy to access wiring
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Only problem - what about the button? DLB |
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My willys is set up the same way, but the gauges are in the center of the dash. The glove box dor and the access cover over the column are the same part, minus the button hole. I don't think it's factory, but the access cover is secured with 4 studs brazed to the back of the cover that pass through holes in the dash and are secured with star washers and nuts. You could do something similar, but use 1/8" steel rod for the top two instead of studs. Bend the rods into an L shape (probably less than 90 degress or with a kick out near the end so ease alignment). The just hook the rods into the top holes, swing the bottom into place and secure with two studs at the bottom corners. Due to the 'swing' part, you would probably have to drop the column for this too. Herb |
Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
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I want to do a tighter layout, I guess. Something like the '07 Tahoe cluster below, same number of gauges and same general position as well.
I also want to flush mount or get close to it. Not sure how to make that work. Dunno how to cut perfect ~5" holes the large gauges, if they're not cut straight, they won't look nice. I've never seen a hole saw that large. Quote:
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So, that was kinda the straw that broke the camel's back. That put the entire project on hold. I am tied up from the last week of october until the end of november, so I really don't see myself working on it till then. My fiance is getting pissed off. She wants to drive in it already. I'm stopping out to a board member's ("uncle") house this weekend to pick up a replacement pedal support for the firewall. I'll be fabbing up the master cylinder on it, and when I'm satisfied it's done, I'll pull the front DS fender/inner fender, drill out the spot welds on the old one , replace the damaged sheet metal, weld this pre-fabbed one in its place, then button it all back up again. I should have gotten a scrap to work on in the first place, but you know - hindsight is 20/20. This is my first big screwup that's costing me. In the long run, it'll be worth it, but ... you know. Undesireable delay. |
Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
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I am just about to start my glove box door to gage cluster conversion. I am planning on welding studs on the back of the glove box to mount it to the dash (there is plenty of room back there to reach up and tighten the nuts). I have already decided to use Classic Instrument Gages and I will be using hole saws to cut the gage opening. STAY TUNED FOR MORE PICS.
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man, where did you find that big ass hole saw? :D
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They make them up to 6"s. The hole saw that I am using for the tach and speedo is 4-1/2" , 2" for the small gauges and 2-3/4 for the steering column. |
Re: Using glove box door for gauge cluster
I like the lay out your using were are you going to put the head light and wiper switches?
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would like to see more pictures of the finished product if anyone has any.
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