i have collected a complete set of early stewart warner crescent moon pointer, curved gl*** gauges. all but one of them are the cup style. one is the back mount auburn style gauge. i'd like a matching set. is it possible to remove the innards of the auburn gauge and transplant it into a cup style mount? has anyone done it?
Yes. I have. Go to ebay... Buy a reproduction front mount 2 5/8 bezel. Remove the rear mount bezel from your gauge and replace with the new front mount. Done.
do the two mounting ears come off with the bezel? how is the gauge secured to the dash panel? there's no studs on the back for L-shaped mounting clips. that's why i was asking if everything had to be switched over to a cup. i guess i can put a hose clamp around the auburn style gauge to hold it tight against the dash.
My brother has done it. Get a used modern step bezel 2-5/8" S/W (like all the stock car racers use) from e-bay or your next swap meet. They still use the same bucket as the original 40's curved gl*** version. Peel off the stepped ring and pull out all the guts. Your older guts should fit right in. If all goes well, that repro bezel you buy off e-bay fits nicely. If not, you may need to remove a tiny amount of metal from the inside of the bucket (if too tight) or use your favorite bonding agent (JB weld or other) to help tighten it up.
The ears are usually a part of the br*** case. I sent you a pm on possibly just swapping for the gauge you need. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
All I did was cut the ears off... I then drilled two holes in the back of the cup to use as mounting studs for the U-bracket. The gauge is now in my model-a. If I get a chance, I'll take it out and post pics.
I should mention I did this to an oil pressure gauge... Obviously, this wouldn't work with a water temp gauge as you'd have to cut/ruin the tube. At the point, it becomes more cost efficient (if you can even say that when mentioning these old gauges) to get a new/old gauge.
The guts from the old oil pressure, oil temp, and water temps will fit directly into the modern (1960's on up) 2-5/8" buckets. Some of the amp gauges will go right into the new amp buckets, but some need the holes on the backside filed a little to line up. Same with the fuel gauges. A benefit of using the modern 2-5/8" bucket is the light chimney, so you can have a light in the gauge instead of relying on an outside-the-bucket light source. I've never used any of the repro press-in rings, so I can't vouch for their fit. I have the modern buckets chucked in a lathe to take a little sliver of metal out of the inside edge so the original rings press in easily. I use a little dab of form-a-gasket to seal them in rather than a hard press fit. When I've had a ring rechromed it is usually thicker, as the new chrome is thicker than the original chrome was. There. Now you all know my secrets.
Awesome. That's the difference between a hack like me and someone with a reasonable melon between their ears. I like your way better.
If the bezel is really tight, (and you don't want to screw it up by bending it) I find that about half of these old gauges , I end up using a propane torch and slowly heating up the gauge bucket, that it will expand enough to free up the bezel without causing any damage. I've collected 3 complete sets (gas, oil, water, water, amp, vacuum) of six.
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