What material do you guys use to make gauge panels for the dash?

 

This pretty close to the same texture as the factory insert.

6six6 did his dash with this.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/230720451239?...84.m1423.l2649

 

ABS black plastic sheets is what I am using for mine, then covering it with the 3m Dinoc carbon fiber film. Like the Project eluded to, just search ABS sheet in ebay.

 

I used a material normally used for store signs.
Its aluminium sheet with a foam filler inbetween - then covered it in carbon vinyl.
Ill find a pic for you

 

Here you go

 

Like the project siad I used that plastic sheet and it came out awsome

 

that is sweet! Great job.. all new sending units? or did you tie into the stock harness somehow? j

 

It depends what gauges you get, i.e. water, oil, fuel, volts, tach. The stock fuel and oil pressure gauges use a 0-90 ohm signal. 0 being empty or no pressure and 90 being full or 60 psi. So if you used a fuel gauge that was 0-90 you are fine, or if the fuel gauge is programmable you are fine again. If the oil pressure gauge is 0-60 psi and reads a 0-90 scale you should be fine. It isn't too difficult to find a 0-60 oil gauge but you would need to ensure it read 0-90 ohms. I am unsure of the coolant gauge ohm scale but it is easy enough to simply screw in the new sensor/sending unit the coolant gauge came with. Volts gauge should simply splice into the existing location easy enough.

A quick note, you may be wondering what size gauges you can fit and that is not easily answered. Depends on the year and if its camaro or firebird and how many gauges you want and how you want them laid out. For instance I have a 90-92 camaro and fitting two 4" gauges and four 2" gauges was a very tight squeeze. However on an 82-89 camaro they would have fit easily.

 

All the gauges are elcetrical and some use the stock harness like the volts, oil pressure, tach, speedo, water temp, fuel. the rest have their own harness and as I have a LS swap i like the electrical guages but they dont come cheap. I did a few mechanical ones but I have the nylon tube as the oil pressure line decided to take a dump on me on the hwy and pour hot oil over my legs. Not fun

 

Gauge assembly I just finished, fits in the stock housing (90-92 Camaro) and bolts in as stock. It uses different rewired connectors though.

 

that's great!

 

I used 1/4 thick marine grade HDPE. This can be purchased online from McMaster Carr Supply. Take a look at the spec sheet attached. I am very happy how it is a close match to the texture used in our dash and consoles.

 

Dig it, looks slick!