I have a 92 Camaro that here after a while will be getting a carb powered 350sb attached to a TH350 trans. I'm wanting to keep things simple on this car, so the less electronic stuff I have to deal with, the better.

Right now as we speak all of my gauges are either not working at all, or are extreamly off. I'm not sure what happened to them, but I bought the car that way. So what I'm wondering is can I remove the stock gauges out of the stock cluster, modify the cluster a bit to fit in after market 5" and 2 1/16" gauges to replace the stock ones. And then wire those gauges to the appropriate sending units on the motor? I don't care to keep any of the small indicator lights on the cluster except for the turn signals.

Or would it be easier to get a sheet of brushed alluminum, cut out the design to fit the mounting location where the stock cluster goes, and mount the aftermarket gauges that way while trying to figure out how to wire up the turn signal indicators?

I'm looking at possibly using the GM Performance black faced gauges with the red Chevy Bowties from Autometer. Like the ones listed in this URL:

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugede...id=4123&sid=82

I'm sure somebody has had to of done this before, I mean race cars and stock cars do it all the time. I don't see why it cant be done the way I like with the stock cluster unit.

 

classicdash.com....$160 for a gauge panel thats a direct bolt in replacement....

 

Thanks, I'll look into it!

 

They sell empty panels, or panels loaded with gauges.

 

Yeah I saw both, I'm probably gonna buy an empty panel for I wish to use different gauges. Plus almost $1000 for a guage cluster is a bit high haha.

 

Not that big when you consider they arent the el chepo gauges. I spent almost $800 just for a full set of my phantom II gauges...

 

I've used Autometer gauges for years, and currently do in my Datsun, but only because I had some kicking around the OEM gauges were inaccurate at best.

If I was starting from scratch I'd either get the stock gauges working again, or use something else. I've found some of my Autometer gauges to be grossly off of actual readings, temp, boost pressure, etc. The flat faces on them (the clear plastic I mean) will get washed out easily by reflections or direct sunlight.

I'll be pulling most or all of my Autometer gauges out real soon, if everything goes to plan and I find some cluster or gauges that I like.

 

It is only a direct bolt in after you do a LOT of carving on the factory dash behind the guages at least on a 91 rs
just did it with the complete kit from classic dash
i bought the pro comp guages the 5" tach an speedo are big in the dash
if i do it again i would buy a blank an use smaller guages
Its a very good kit it comes with a loom to tie into the factory harness
good schematics an directions and lots of pics
but its not for a beginner with no wiring expertise
unless you really pay attention

 

How much carving, and what exactly did you have to cut?

 

I had to cut the support box around the headlight switch and the same on the otherside by the cigar lighter for the big guages and under both of them for the two lower outer guages
the box around the switch was a pain cause i didnt want to cut anymore than i had to because the switch is big an heavy