Projects Need some opinions on some gauge panels I made up

Working on my roadster pickup and trying to get the extra gauges where I want them...

Having a hard time figuring out the best looking place to put them..

Made up three different panels

First


Second


Third


The one with three has a volt gauge in it..

I have a high output generator.. 90 amps..

The amp gauge I see at macs for high output only goes to 30amp.. Would be nice if I could use it since it would fit in the original dash...

Using the stock tank so don't really want to cut into the tank at all...

Had to make a few minor hits with the hammer and shorten the thumb nuts in the lathe to get the speedo to fit..

Anyway which do you guys think looks better or any pros or cons on either..

 

#1 could be confused for a cheap auto parts store panel (even though to the trained eye we all know better).

#2 shows a lot of class and really fits in with the speedo above it. the volt meter is an added bonus.

#3 is good but not as good as #2.

 

I like the 2nd one most.
- It looks better because it's centered in the dash.
- It's more ergonomically correct- reducing the time your eyes are off the road- because it's adjacent to the other gauges.

 

In my opinion, #2 looks great!
It's so nicely done to what it is there doing.
If you get what I mean

 

That was kinda my concern with the first one as soon as I made it... It looking like a boughten mount...

I do the second one would be easy to run the wires through the channel where they originally run..

 

#2 no doubt

 

How about taking the 3 gauge cluster and cutting the center gauge out or making another in the same shape to wrap around your steering column,it would clean up the column drop where it fits at the dash and give it a more symmetrical look. HRP

 

#2 is cool but it is a little flashy/busy looking for my taste. #3 is pretty classy and not something you see every day, I think it could use some refinement, but gets my vote.

Nice metal work by the way! I'd be interested to see a step by step of how you made them.

 

Number two for me.
Very cool, and certainly does not look homemade.

 

Second

 

I like two best. I think the gauges look to foo foo for the car. I'm old however!

 

Aw, just mount them out on the hood.
Which one is the easiest to see the gauges from?
I'm leaning towards #3 if you can see them... nice metal work

 

Number 2 looks the best; but that leaves the question of what to do with the stock ammeter hole?

Just me; but I would prefer gauges that looked a little more "hot rod".

 

Something like this HRP?

 

The gauges are autometer old tyme series gauges..

Didn't want to go with a white face gauge and these seemed pretty easy to see..

The t-5 has a electronic speed sensor so I went with electric gauges..

A guy on Instagram was wanting one of the three gauge ones, I'm gonna send him some more pictures of it and if he still wants one I could do a step by step on how I made it...

It's pretty easy to do.. Put it this way.. I'm learning as I go so I don't have much practice at it haha.

 

Are those SW gauges? what model ?
Terry

 

great clean work - so, what are you going to place in the center cluster where speedometer is? the idea of having only one area to have to look at is a good one. but, it looks overwhelming/bulky. if I "had" to choose from only one of the three would do #2.

 

Autometer old tyme series is what they are called





I used a spare factory instrument panel to cut on so I wouldn't mess up the nice one I have.. Just incase anyone was wondering

 

Going to put the key switch back in, the original light that went in the middle and not sure in the old amp gauge hole.. Any new gauge is way to tall/deep to fit without hitting the tank..

I think a clock would be nice in the same style gauge but they are just as deep [emoji107]

Anyone have any suggestions on what to put there??

 

Number 2 looks best to me but number 3 looks good too. I'm thinking like HRP that if you had a mirror image of number 3 with extra gauges or switches, that would look really cool. Just my thought.

 

Oh ok it went over my head for a bit..

You guys mean just make a cover for the drop in the same shape.. I will have to make one up quick tomorrow and see how that looks.. [emoji106]

 

I vote this one.

 

The fourth one (cardboard) looks get my vote.

 

I like HRP's idea the most. Otherwise #2

 

Yeah,that's what I was thinking,just make it tighter around the column and possibly move the gauges in a little more,but overall I believe this design is clean & simple. HRP

 

Could be the clock mechanism itself is shallow and just uses a regular depth gauge can; may be possible to trim it to fit, something to consider anyway.

 

#2, until I saw the column deal.

 

#2 Nice looking panel.....

 

I like the one Bratton's sells http://www.brattons.com/product.asp...artPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=any&PT_ID=all

It goes around the steering column. There may be a problem with the diameter of the gauges but I assume it could be solved with a file.

Charlie Stephens

 

Then there is always the "Aristocrat" panels. They used to be available as a repo but I don't think they are still available. The originals and repros were available for both round and oval speedometers. On the down side the holes will probably have to be enlarged slightly for modern instruments and there isn't a lot of room behind the panel for the gauge to fit.



Charlie Stephens