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Old 08-28-2009, 01:57 PM   #1
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Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

After collecting a full set of Autometer carbon fiber gauges, I was ready to start modifying the original plastic piece. I used a 5" speedo and tach, so I had to enlarge those holes using a 4-1/2" hole saw. The other five gauges are 2-1/16" and I cut holes in the panel to make an oval (like ghettocruiser did). Then, I used 1/8" abs plastic and a 2" hole saw to make the insert. Next, I glued it in and here's the result:





Next, came the wiring and I used 8 row terminal strips to organize sets of wires easily (power, ground, light).



Finally, the only thing left was to run the power/ground from the factory wiring harness and the sending unit wires to the gauges. I used about 2ft. of wire for each, which made connecting everything up before mounting the panel a breeze. Here is what it looks like:



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Old 08-28-2009, 02:19 PM   #2
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Looks great. What color is the back lighting?

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Old 08-28-2009, 03:43 PM   #3
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

I have the red backlights, but I might change them to white. I figured I'd give it some time to see how I like them. I'll post a pic whenever I get one. I also haven't done anything with the turn signal/high beam indicators, so I'll have to figure out what to do there.
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Old 10-07-2009, 10:15 AM   #4
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

I finally got a decent pic of the gauges showing the red backlights. I'm loving the programmable speedo, since I've already changed rear end gearing once.

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Old 10-07-2009, 10:53 AM   #5
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

looks great
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Old 10-07-2009, 11:26 AM   #6
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

I've never owned one, but I really like the Firebird dashes with the aftermarket gauges. It looks fantastic!
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Old 10-07-2009, 11:33 AM   #7
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Just great....Now I have ANOTHER mod to add to my "want" list!

Looks great!
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Old 10-07-2009, 02:14 PM   #8
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Turned out nice!
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Old 10-07-2009, 05:32 PM   #9
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

looks AWESOME! how hard was it to run the wiring? could you have used the stock harness and sender? i've been wanting to do something like this for a while.
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Old 10-08-2009, 09:57 AM   #10
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Thanks all for the compliments. The wiring ended up being easier than I thought it would be. Using the terminal strips to group wires made it clean and simple. I don't think you can use a stock sender with an aftermarket gauge, and even if you could it would be a good idea to have new senders anyways.

I did use many wires from the factory harness including the power, ground, light, rpm, and fuel level. For the speedo I just had to run the sender wire down to the transmission, and wired the oil pressure and water temp. to the Autometer senders I already had in place (since those gauges in the factory panel didn't work).

This has been one of the coolest mods I've done and it's nice to have finally finished.
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Old 04-28-2010, 11:15 AM   #11
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

that looks sweet man!! did you have a wiring diagram to go by? did you have any trouble? i'm looking for all the help i can get to do mine.
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Old 04-28-2010, 12:52 PM   #12
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

No wiring diagram, I just used a test light to find what wires I needed. The hardest part was fabricating the plastic oval insert to fit within the cutout from the factory panel. You camaro guys have it easier since there is an aftermarket panel available.
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Old 04-29-2010, 11:03 AM   #13
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Wow, I must say that it looks good. Normally I find that aftermarket gauge installation looks terrible but this really came out nice.
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Old 09-24-2011, 04:08 AM   #14
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

how much was this to do and what sizes are the tach and the little guges???
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Old 09-25-2011, 09:56 AM   #15
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

My first post has the gauge sizes that I used. The total cost was about $600. I bought most gauges used or new from Craigslist. Also, most people wouldn't need an electronic fuel pressure gauge, so it would be $450 without it.
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Old 09-26-2011, 11:21 PM   #16
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Wow, that looks fantastic. The best I've seen so far for the birds.

I really like how you used gauges with a black face too, similar to original.
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Old 11-23-2011, 12:11 PM   #17
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

what is mounted in the defroster switch area?
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Old 11-23-2011, 12:50 PM   #18
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Quote:
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what is mounted in the defroster switch area?
Clever spot for a radar detector

Dash looks good! When I re-do mine eventually, Im going to keep the same configuration, but Im going to make the 2-1/16" gauge panel part of the main assembly like you did. The way I have it now is nice...because things kind of unbolt and come out like factory. But I have that separation between the big gauges and the small gauges which makes it kind of a pain. I plan to re-wire and re-work things a little.

Good job!

For the lighting... I used orange 194 bulbs in all of mine. I like the orange light better than straight up red. I think it matches the original backlighting better.

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Old 11-23-2011, 01:22 PM   #19
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Quote:
Originally Posted by ghettocruiser View Post
Clever spot for a radar detector
Yep, I have the concealed display for the Valentine 1 radar detector mounted there.

Quote:
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For the lighting... I used orange 194 bulbs in all of mine. I like the orange light better than straight up red. I think it matches the original backlighting better.
The red ends up being slightly orange-red, but what I don't like is that it is too dim with the colored bulb covers. I have lots of those 194 bulbs around, so I give your idea a shot next time I have the panel off.
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Old 11-23-2011, 06:30 PM   #20
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

that is awesome!, how does it get signal?
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Old 11-23-2011, 08:43 PM   #21
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

damn very nice setup
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Old 11-23-2011, 09:36 PM   #22
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

The main unit is mounted above the rear view mirror and is hardwired to the concealed display. It makes the controls easier to reach.

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Old 11-24-2011, 12:10 AM   #23
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

that is sick. definitely gonna have to do that eventually. how much modding was there to do to get it to fit. Love the gauges also
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Old 11-26-2011, 04:19 PM   #24
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Thats a lot of gauges!

What are they all?
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Old 11-27-2011, 10:30 AM   #25
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Quote:
Originally Posted by dctrouant1995 View Post
that is sick. definitely gonna have to do that eventually. how much modding was there to do to get it to fit. Love the gauges also
Not sure which part you're talking about. If it's the concealed display, it fit in that spot easily. For the other gauges, I just had to remove the entire back plastic piece and just use the front trim to hold them all.

Quote:
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Thats a lot of gauges!

What are they all?
All but the a/f ratio gauge are Autometer carbon fiber gauges:

(left to right)
- boost/vac
- Innovative XD16 a/f ratio
- programmable speedometer
- tachometer
- volts
- oil pressure
- electric fuel pressure
- water temp
- fuel level

Since I'm out of room in the dash, if I wanted to add another gauge, I'd have to replace the 2 gauge pod with a 3 gauge pod. I was thinking an exhaust temp gauge or air intake temp gauge would be neat to have with the turbo.
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Old 11-27-2011, 11:42 AM   #26
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Thats one of the cleanest setups I've seen. One thing that's deterring me from putting an aftermarket panel in my GTA is that I haven't found a simple way to angle the gauges up to the eye like they were from the factory.

Looks like it would be easy enough with the way you cut the panel like that, I could cut some styrene tubes to fit in the insert panel and angle the gauges that way, and then coat the entire thing with plasti-dip! The only other thing I don't like are the huge ugly autometer bezels on all their gauges!
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Old 11-28-2011, 11:57 AM   #27
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Quote:
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The red ends up being slightly orange-red, but what I don't like is that it is too dim with the colored bulb covers. I have lots of those 194 bulbs around, so I give your idea a shot next time I have the panel off.
Just to show you a couple pics of my Phantoms with the Amber/Orange 194 bulbs...

Here is an OLLLLLDDDD pic of my pillar gauges along with my stock dash cluster.



And a newer pic. Not my current set up 100%... but an earlier version. In this pic, the lights are cranked. They are PLENTY bright. I usually run the car with the dimmer set at 50%. Its perfect for me.



Turned down a bit. The only things left that are stock illumination are my HVAC and headlight switch. So it all blends pretty well.



J.
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Old 12-01-2011, 12:44 PM   #28
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Thanks for the pictures, I think your gauge setup looks really nice. I'm not sure if my gauges will be able to get as bright as yours even with the bulb swap since mine have a black background instead of white. I think it's still worth a shot to try it out though.
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Old 12-22-2011, 10:41 PM   #29
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Did you ever swap to white?
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Old 12-22-2011, 10:42 PM   #30
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Wait my bad read it wrong, do you still have the same color or have you changed it yet
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Old 12-23-2011, 07:44 AM   #31
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

Not yet. I'm currently swapping to a First tpi intake, and afterwards, some of the smaller projects like this will get done.
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Old 12-23-2011, 09:56 AM   #32
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

alright sweet
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Old 12-23-2011, 10:04 AM   #33
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Re: Another firebird Autometer gauge panel

nice car
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