Latest project

[swervin ervin]

Here's a pic of my latest project.

I installed a vacuum gauge and transmission temp gauge in the place where the radio used to be. I used some angle rings to tilt them back at the top so they are easy to see.

They're not hooked up yet. Not wanting to have to check too many things once I get the distributor back and installed. I've done a few things since I sent it off and will remove the tranny pan later to have the fitting brazed in.

[Tom]

Mike, how exactly did you do that? It looks like those rings and the filler panel are one piece?

BTW: I am mailing the "package" today

[67_SS396]

Sweet! That looks really good.

[swervin ervin]

Tom,

you remember the piece I made to cover the radio hole. It was a piece of aluminum trim metal, the kind you use when you do vinyl siding on a house. I had painted it black to try and match the other black on the bezel. The angle rings are a flat/satin black too. So I glued the rings to the gauges, using black silicone caulking. The metal is thin and flimsy when you cut the holes in it. The u shaped gauge clamps don't work on it very well. So I glued the gauges to the metal from the back with the silicone. The silicone is some tough stuff. After I glued them in, the tranny temp gauge had slipped a little and needed to be moved. It took everything I had to spin it around. I had to cut the silicone just to get it to move.

Clean any of the silicone that oozes out before it dries. It's a pain to get off after it dries. Then paint around the gauges again to cover any scratches and such. It ends up real neat. As you say, it's like they are all one piece.

[Razorback_Fan]

Mike,
Very slick great idea.

[LOHRTBT]

Looks NIce mike!

[Cole's 87]

Mike just one question? Do you ever sleep You just got the console put in then the dash trim. By the way I like where you put the High beam, Choke lights. Very well thought out by using space that would no longer have function. Keep up the good work

[mike reeh]

sweet! i always wanted a vacuum guage........................

mike what you need is the air:fuel ratio guage now.

-mike

[Bowed]

Mighty fine job , Mike .

[Big Paul]

Sheeesh, is it just me or does Mike make you feel like s#!t with all the stuff he does?

I have to motivate myself just to change the oil, while Mike is re-creating the Mona Lisa.

[racedvl]

Mike, you are one busy man! Very nice!

[Myride]

nice work.

[79BIG10]

Quit Mike!!! You're making me drool so much I'm getting dehydrated!!! Dams that looks good!! I was wondering what's the green bulb for on the passenger side of the column by the screw? Another question- How can you drive it while watching all your gauges, shifting gears, and tuning the radio ???

[carlvr76]

hey mike where did you get all of your billet inserts? like the gauge bezel, dash insert and the pedals. Did they come polished like that or did you get it done? thanks.

[1FaastC10]

Mike, quit while you've still got friends! you're gonna make us all look so bad before long, nobody is gonna wanna talk to you.

in all seriousness, i think it looks great. just wish i had the patience to get mine looking like that.

i just know that when i get my cab and chassis back together im going to want to shortcut everything i can to get it drivable again. as we all know, a drivable truck is easier to get motivated to work on.

[bigd65]

that looks great Mike, i really love that truck. if you ever deside to have it painted, what color are yougonna paint it. then how much areyou gonna sell it to me for

[swervin ervin]

Thanks guys. You know I really value all of your opinions. You are all cracking me up though.

carlvr76,

the bezel, door panel inserts, and dash insert, I bought at TruckandVans They are made by Empire Motorsports.

The pedals are Billet Specialities. I bought them from Summit.

Everything is polished billet.

[apstguy]

Hey - Those are the same floor mats that are in my truck!!! Beautiful truck though - love the way you did the inside. I would get gauges like yours, but I want to get some Dakota Digital ones! I have to same mucho bucks for that!

[c10scotty]

man do you ever stop coming up with great ideas??? looks great, keep it up!

[carlvr76]

Hey mike do you know where i can get the polished dash insert that is for non air conditioned trucks. I have seen the ones in chevyduty and lmc but aren't they just satin. I would prefer the polished look. I f you could help me out that would be great. Thanks.

[swervin ervin]

Originally posted by 79BIG10
I was wondering what's the green bulb for on the passenger side of the column by the screw?

Brandon,

the green LED is for my electric fans. The screw you see beside it is actually a button to manually cut them on if I ever need to. I put the LED in the power wire so it would light up when they are on.


carlvr76,

I checked at TruckandVans and they don't sell any with no vents. They have them polished or satin, with normal vents or the ugly turbine vents.

[gchemist]

Mike,
You have to drive the truck more than 50 miles a week to enjoy all that stuff. Looks like a plane instrument bezel. :p Nice work.

[swervin ervin]

Sheat. I wish. I don't drive it near enough. I haven't drove it at all in the last 3 weeks. Still waiting for my distributor to get back from MSD. Been doing a lot of stuff to it though.

As a side note, I don't drive it much period in the winter. Only on real nice days.

[79BIG10]

Thanks for the info Mike Seems like you think of everything.

[PHOENIX]

Loks good Mike, I like it. I always wanted a vaccum gauge too. You know whats cool though, AutoMeter makes air pressure gauges to match their current gauges. If I had the money to airbag my truck, I would have all matching gauges too. Do you still have that air/fuel ratio gauge in the ash tray?