Wanting to replace my Chevrolet's gauges. I have the stock bezel and speedo, with what looks like a plastic panel and autometer gauges I don't care for. While I keep my eyes peeled for a stock unit, does anyone know of some aftermarket or reproduction gauges that'll fit and look stock? I wouldn't have the stock ones redone, I'd just use a voltage reducer, as I've seen on The H.A.M.B. I'm just tired of these out of place gauges. Any thoughts, guys? Thanks!
check out Dolphin gauges. I got one of their replacement panels for my 50 (single setup) with antique beige style gauges and they look pretty good in the car.
i bought some reman gauges from this guy, havent installed them yet so i cannot verify anything. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Take a look at New Vintage Woodward series: Woodward 3-1s 1940 Series All made in Detroit. Something different and familiar all at the same time How to install in a GM truck http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269446&referrerid=75613 http://www.flickr.com/photos/26014986@N07/sets/72157622841898720/ Mark
The labor of restoration is never cheap. I would find a set here or on eBay that is guaranteed to come functional, then have them checked out by a gauge shop. A basic test, maybe a speedometer rebuild and voltage conversion shouldn't run more than a couple hundred $.
I am not sure I have pics of it somewhere, but when i did my 54, I made a sheet metal plate that sat behind the bezel. I cut out 4 ovals (hole saw+cut off tool), 2 up high, and 2 lower, staggered. I took the bezels, and lenses off 4 S-W gauges, and mounted them behind the ovals, with machine screws welded to the backsides, so no hardware showed. I then painted the sheet metal to match the dash, and used rub-on transfer lettering to "name" the gauges, then clearcoated it. Looked good, almost factory, and easily replaced the gauges, if one failed. Also had the correct voltage, and pressure/temp ranges for a modern V-8. I used ovals so they kind of matched the shape of the factory bezel better, and didn't look so "added on" like aftermarket gauges usually do.
hahaha, im not cheap just broke! i got lucky and found a set for my shoebox already done in the hamb cl***ified!
I put a '72 Firebird speedo and gauges from about a '70 Olds 442 in my '52 Chev bezels with very little triming. Used sending units to match gauges. The only problem I found was the dashlites were a little shadowed. Could be corrected simply, but I didn't want to take everything apart again. Jim
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