Autometer Cluster Projects - Page 3 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

djracer · 02-21-2006, 12:56 PM

that's wild my 3 3/8 water temp has the aluminum!

Putter · 02-21-2006, 12:57 PM

Wierd....both my water temp gauges, Rob's fuel level, and the fuel pressure gauge Rob sent me were all black. (Well, not for long anyway)

djracer · 02-21-2006, 01:01 PM

looks better aluminum for sure! how did you get the black off with out hurting the gauge?

Putter · 02-21-2006, 01:04 PM

Squirt some of this on a toothbrush, and brush away the black. Takes about two minutes. Very mild remover. Works great. Made for removing gum and crayons with out stripping your walls.

djracer · 02-21-2006, 02:15 PM

Kool!

Terry'sToy · 03-13-2006, 12:31 AM

I am getting ready to do one of these also. I want to put the guages in from the back.
How do you mount them in from the back and would you be able to post some pics from the back also?

many many thanks

Putter · 03-13-2006, 12:34 PM

Here is the only photo of the back that I have on my work computer.
It doesn't answer a lot of questions....but if you look closely at the small gauges on the right....you can see the green 'inner' metal plate. All of the gauges are mounted thru the FRONT of that plate and secured using the brakcets that are included with each gauge.
Just trim the green plate as closely as you can for each gauge to make them fit snugly even before you secure them.
Then trim the outer metal plate to fit around the gauges and re-attach to the plastic bezel using longer screws.
This will "sandwich" with gauges in place as well.

I will see if I can find additional photos.

Terry'sToy · 03-13-2006, 02:43 PM

Putter, thanks very much. A couple more question though. The pin connector you used, is it just a generic 9 pin male to female? And did you run the signals and high beam through that. Any more tips would be great, unless you decide to market these.

Thanks again.

Putter · 03-13-2006, 04:32 PM

That connector is a 12 pin from any electronics store (or even Radio Shack....who is FAR from an electronics store these days...You've got questions, so do they!!!)
Everything runs thru there....gauge sending unit feeds, turn signals, high beam, illumination, ground, power, etc...

The one I built for Hart_Rob uses a 21 pin (I think that is right). He has all electric gauges, fiber-optic high beam, fiber-optic cruise indicator, fiber-optic check-engine indicator, turn signals, etc.....

You can get the little plastic clips that the wire runs thru from Home Depot in the section that has telelphone wire, speaker connectors, etc...

Terry'sToy · 03-13-2006, 05:35 PM

That's great. Thanks. I'm off to buy more stuff.

67chevemall · 03-15-2006, 01:48 PM

Nice thread! Good work!

cstanley · 03-15-2006, 02:38 PM

they look great!
what was the purpose for using fiber optics? clearance issues?

**Hart_Rod** · 04-26-2006, 11:48 AM

OK, I had to revive this thread because I'm going to Chickenwings "shindig" (that means fancy party for you city folk) and will finally get to see my gauges in person. Eric thanks for putting it together, you did a fantastic job. Can't wait to meet everyone (Bill I will finally get those parts out of your way!).

Rob

Putter · 04-26-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstanley

they look great!
what was the purpose for using fiber optics? clearance issues?

Nope. He just wanted indicators for CHECK ENGINE, HIGH BEAM, and CRUISE, and I could not bring myself to drill a hole and just stick an LED on the front of his new cluster....so I kinda talked him into the idea (although I had never tried it). And it turned out GREAT. They are hidden in that little ridge that runs around the plastic right where the chrome meets the black....in between the two upper screw holes just above the center gauge. If you go back to the first page of this thread and look at the photos, you can not even see them. You only see them when they light up.

kevncar · 04-26-2006, 03:37 PM

Putter,

Those things look awesome! I just had a quick question or two.

Where do you get new bezels from? About how much? And as someone already mentioned, are you sure to can get a 3-3/8" fuel level in the Phantom series still? I can't seem to find one anywhere.

Thanks man, keep up the outstanding work.

IvelDesigns · 10-21-2006, 01:46 AM

Great thread! Are there night shots of these gauges with everything lit up? I'd also like to see the fiber optic high beam and turn signal indicators in the dark as well if you have them.

i can only hope my cluster turns out as well as some of the ones posted here.

sixty8c10 · 10-21-2006, 04:10 AM

When I get to point that I am ready for my guage cluster I will be looking you up for sure.

**Hart_Rod** · 10-21-2006, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvelDesigns

Great thread! Are there night shots of these gauges with everything lit up? I'd also like to see the fiber optic high beam and turn signal indicators in the dark as well if you have them.

i can only hope my cluster turns out as well as some of the ones posted here.

I haven't installed it yet (see 69 Burb signature link and you'll know why), but when I do I'll take some pics.

watahyahknow · 10-21-2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuelCellGuy

THis is what I had in my old 68. I will probably build somethimg similar to it for the Blazer, with no so many gauges this time (no air ride).

that is some great looking dash , the gages do point down in these designs think it also would look good to get some close fit shiny or brushed aloy beveled pipe under the gages to get them to point up from the flat dashpiece underneat or get even wider pipe and french them intoo the dash .

Mudder · 10-21-2006, 01:47 PM

They make rings to angle the guages to wherever you want. I may have a pic.

watahyahknow · 10-22-2006, 02:17 AM

that was wat i was talking bout looks good that one

70clone · 10-22-2006, 02:54 PM

where did you get this at i want one

Quote:

Originally Posted by bskylerj

Here is mine. AutoMeter Ultralites. Yes that is a boost gauge. I have a supercharger in this as well.

ghetto_superman · 10-24-2006, 03:41 AM

where do you get the fiber optic stuff, how do you mount it in the bezel, and can you run it through the connector? or just run wires for the lights thru the connector then the lights for the beginning of the fibers are after the connector or something? i suppose the latter makes more sense.. just wondering how you did it- i dont know anything about fiber optics due to never messing with them...

76bonanza · 10-24-2006, 07:45 AM

He putter in that pic did you use a electronic speedo? Do they work ok or is the mech one better?

-Greg72 · 10-24-2006, 09:37 AM

Good Stuff!!!

Here is a shot of how I did mine....

I can't really tell, but it looks like the original poster in that first set of pics has the gauges installed with their complete bezels, etc from behind the bezel???

When I did mine, I went to a lot of extra trouble....I removed all of the glass and bezels from each gauge and installed only the body of the gauge.

One of the subtle things I learned was to cut the opening with an "offset" towards the bottom of the existing opening. Otherwise, the gauge would be partially "shrouded" from view by the bezel at the normal seating position. IIRC making even a 1/16" adjustment helped a LOT.

Anyway....if anyone cares, there are more photos here...

http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Gallery/album37

Someday, I'd like to get the tach, and other gauges "re-screened" to look more like the original factory font and with that same light green printing..... all it takes is lots of $$$$, right???

02-21-2006, 12:56 PM	#51
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects that's wild my 3 3/8 water temp has the aluminum! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

02-21-2006, 12:57 PM	#52
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Wierd....both my water temp gauges, Rob's fuel level, and the fuel pressure gauge Rob sent me were all black. (Well, not for long anyway) __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket**

02-21-2006, 01:01 PM	#53
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects looks better aluminum for sure! how did you get the black off with out hurting the gauge? __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

02-21-2006, 01:04 PM	#54
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Squirt some of this on a toothbrush, and brush away the black. Takes about two minutes. Very mild remover. Works great. Made for removing gum and crayons with out stripping your walls. Attached Images __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket** Last edited by Putter; 02-21-2006 at 01:05 PM.

02-21-2006, 02:15 PM	#55
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Kool! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

03-13-2006, 12:31 AM	#56
Terry'sToy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Victoria B.C Posts: 109	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects I am getting ready to do one of these also. I want to put the guages in from the back. How do you mount them in from the back and would you be able to post some pics from the back also? many many thanks __________________ 69 GMC 1/2 ton lwb, LS1, headers X-pipe 4L60E Yank 3500 stall 3.73 w/eaton brute force. moroso trick front springs,jeep rear springs, QA1's

03-13-2006, 12:34 PM	#57
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Here is the only photo of the back that I have on my work computer. It doesn't answer a lot of questions....but if you look closely at the small gauges on the right....you can see the green 'inner' metal plate. All of the gauges are mounted thru the FRONT of that plate and secured using the brakcets that are included with each gauge. Just trim the green plate as closely as you can for each gauge to make them fit snugly even before you secure them. Then trim the outer metal plate to fit around the gauges and re-attach to the plastic bezel using longer screws. This will "sandwich" with gauges in place as well. I will see if I can find additional photos. Attached Images __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket**

03-13-2006, 02:43 PM	#58
Terry'sToy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Victoria B.C Posts: 109	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Putter, thanks very much. A couple more question though. The pin connector you used, is it just a generic 9 pin male to female? And did you run the signals and high beam through that. Any more tips would be great, unless you decide to market these. Thanks again. __________________ 69 GMC 1/2 ton lwb, LS1, headers X-pipe 4L60E Yank 3500 stall 3.73 w/eaton brute force. moroso trick front springs,jeep rear springs, QA1's

03-13-2006, 04:32 PM	#59
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects That connector is a 12 pin from any electronics store (or even Radio Shack....who is FAR from an electronics store these days...You've got questions, so do they!!!) Everything runs thru there....gauge sending unit feeds, turn signals, high beam, illumination, ground, power, etc... The one I built for Hart_Rob uses a 21 pin (I think that is right). He has all electric gauges, fiber-optic high beam, fiber-optic cruise indicator, fiber-optic check-engine indicator, turn signals, etc..... You can get the little plastic clips that the wire runs thru from Home Depot in the section that has telelphone wire, speaker connectors, etc... __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket**

03-13-2006, 05:35 PM	#60
Terry'sToy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Victoria B.C Posts: 109	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects That's great. Thanks. I'm off to buy more stuff. __________________ 69 GMC 1/2 ton lwb, LS1, headers X-pipe 4L60E Yank 3500 stall 3.73 w/eaton brute force. moroso trick front springs,jeep rear springs, QA1's

03-15-2006, 01:48 PM	#61
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Nice thread! Good work! __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD

03-15-2006, 02:38 PM	#62
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects they look great! what was the purpose for using fiber optics? clearance issues?

04-26-2006, 11:48 AM	#63
Hart_Rod ************* Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 17,827	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects OK, I had to revive this thread because I'm going to Chickenwings "shindig" (that means fancy party for you city folk) and will finally get to see my gauges in person. Eric thanks for putting it together, you did a fantastic job. Can't wait to meet everyone (Bill I will finally get those parts out of your way!). Rob __________________ Rob - https://www.instagram.com/hart_rod_c10 As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another. Proverbs 27:17 FOR SALE: DBW pedal bracket - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651123 FOR SALE: Hood Brackets http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=679945 1987 Silverado SWB - 34.5K original miles http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801834 1969 SuperBurb - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=200387 1968 Farm truck - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=358692 1968 SWB - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=551258 1948 Chevy - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=122164&page=3

04-26-2006, 03:37 PM	#65
kevncar Active Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atwater, CA Posts: 259	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Putter, Those things look awesome! I just had a quick question or two. Where do you get new bezels from? About how much? And as someone already mentioned, are you sure to can get a 3-3/8" fuel level in the Phantom series still? I can't seem to find one anywhere. Thanks man, keep up the outstanding work. __________________ Kevin 72 Chevelle 67 C10...454/TH400 Build Thread:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=193961

10-21-2006, 01:46 AM	#66
IvelDesigns Commander Taco Bello Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 2,232	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Great thread! Are there night shots of these gauges with everything lit up? I'd also like to see the fiber optic high beam and turn signal indicators in the dark as well if you have them. i can only hope my cluster turns out as well as some of the ones posted here. __________________ Bagged '50 3600 - Bumper punchin' road kill since 2009... Bagged '69 C10 Longbed - Bumper punchin' road kill since 2007...



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10-21-2006, 04:10 AM	#67
sixty8c10 MY EX DRIVES A BROOM Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Herington, KS Posts: 869	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects When I get to point that I am ready for my guage cluster I will be looking you up for sure. __________________ They say nobody's perfect. I'm a nobody, so I must be perfect. Building Nemo -1968 C10 Long Bed FRED -1947 KB-2 International

10-21-2006, 01:47 PM	#70
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,339	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects They make rings to angle the guages to wherever you want. I may have a pic. Attached Images

10-22-2006, 02:17 AM	#71
watahyahknow Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: the netherlands europe Posts: 4,335	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects that was wat i was talking bout looks good that one __________________ i got a job again and having fun at it too idea's for the trucks and the order of things to do are taking shape and get closer to being realized , a few more months and i be able to start building for real i complete 2 of the trucks intoo running fashion one custom and one basicly stock the thirth will be sacrificed for parts

10-24-2006, 03:41 AM	#73
ghetto_superman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 1,982	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects where do you get the fiber optic stuff, how do you mount it in the bezel, and can you run it through the connector? or just run wires for the lights thru the connector then the lights for the beginning of the fibers are after the connector or something? i suppose the latter makes more sense.. just wondering how you did it- i dont know anything about fiber optics due to never messing with them...

10-24-2006, 07:45 AM	#74
76bonanza Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St robert Mo Posts: 2,001	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects He putter in that pic did you use a electronic speedo? Do they work ok or is the mech one better? __________________ 1968 c10 lowered 3" 4" 355/Th400 built by Hatfield racing in joplin MO

10-24-2006, 09:37 AM	#75
-Greg72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 308	Re: Autometer Cluster Projects Good Stuff!!! Here is a shot of how I did mine.... I can't really tell, but it looks like the original poster in that first set of pics has the gauges installed with their complete bezels, etc from behind the bezel??? When I did mine, I went to a lot of extra trouble....I removed all of the glass and bezels from each gauge and installed only the body of the gauge. One of the subtle things I learned was to cut the opening with an "offset" towards the bottom of the existing opening. Otherwise, the gauge would be partially "shrouded" from view by the bezel at the normal seating position. IIRC making even a 1/16" adjustment helped a LOT. Anyway....if anyone cares, there are more photos here... http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Gallery/album37 Someday, I'd like to get the tach, and other gauges "re-screened" to look more like the original factory font and with that same light green printing..... all it takes is lots of $$$$, right??? __________________ 1972 K5 - 502BBC/4L80E/Magnum205/Mog-9s/5.26s/38" BFG KM2s Find me on INSTAGRAM @MIGHTASWELLK5 '72 K5 - Greg's "Might As Well™" Build

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