I'm looking for ideas on a gauge cluster for my 86 Coupe.
I have 9 gauges in total although it doesn't appear I can fit them all. I'm pretty sure 7 will fit. I've got the 3 3/8" tach and mechanical speedo plus 2-1/16" oil pressure, volts, water temp, oil temp, fuel level, AFR and vacuum. All Auto Meter Z series.
I'd like to see who's done what. I've got a few hits from a search here but maybe this thread will bring a few more out of the woodwork.
Thanks.

 

actually working on that different set of gauges though. I have 3 and 3/8 Tach and speedo, 2 1/4 oil pressure, volt, water temp and fuel. I was thinking

xx yy
-- yy

And I have a Firebird so that doesn't help you much?

 

Yeah. Firebirds and Camaros are different but I'd still like to see your approach. Particularly how you tap into the turn signals and high beam indicator.

 

You have a new dash or are you building one?

 

The wires are already there to the present dash, just like everything else transfer them over. In my case I am using an
overlay so I won't even have to do that.

 

Building one from either ABS plastic or sheet aluminium. That part I haven't decided on yet.

 

Skinny, I have 3) 2-1/16" in the left (driver side) Hvac vents, and 2) 2-5/8" gauges in the hood cowl, then of course my digital gauge cluster.
Here is a couple pictures. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...icture-383.jpg
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...icture-578.jpg

On this car I I said I used a digital cluster, but I have built custom clusters in the past for third gens and other cars.

I don't have pictures of them but I did a few years back where I fitted 3-3/8" speedo/tach plus 5) 2-1/16". It was a real tight fit but did work out. I then did a speedo/tach and 4 gauge layout on another car that I liked better. The layout wasnt so cluttered.

Plastic, sheet metal and even wood works well for a cluster. I made the cluster for my S10 out of plywood, I finished it by covering with 'engine turned' vinyl

Here's a pic of it. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...05141443_1.jpg

 

I like the looks of those. I've already invested in the gauges and the "old school" part of me still likes the analog look. Maybe it's something from my old racing days when digital didn't exist (!).
I like the look of the gauges in the first pic that are mounted behind the factory dash plate. How did you attach them?
I'm trying to keep everything in the dash if I can but I think the space constraints will limit me to only the two large gauges (tach and speedo) and 5 smaller gauges. The other two I'm tempted to fit into the centre air vents but I may build a panel to hang off of the part of the dash that has the lighter and defroster switch. Low and out of sight from anyone looking in the window at a stop light. That's just a preference.
By the way, I like the steering wheel. I had the same in my first hot rod (68 Chevelle).

 

The main cluster is the intellitronix 4003 set.

You take your factory cluster out, removing all the gauges from the housing and bolt this PCB with digital gauges to the front of factory housing, then bolt cluster back in like stock, place the tinted plastic face over that , then put on the factory bezel.

I loved that panel since 1st saw it on a third gen back in the early 90's. From then on I said if I ever really built a third gen camaro it was getting that style gauge panel.

Thanks, yeah I think that style steering wheel is my fav. I had that same style on my 1st hot rod too. It was a 74 vega drag car, with a GM 6-71 blower converted to gas on a 327.. All built from junkyard parts when I was 15/16 with the help of my dad and the junkyard owner.

Of course you see the steering wheel on my camaro and I bought the same one for my S10 lol.

 

I posted this earlier this week, only one comment lol.

Maxi Gauge- Maxi Display (made in turkey by Hakan, I emailed him direct when I stumbled upon this)

http://www.techturkey.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=48

I talked with the maker Hakan and he set it up for my preferences. He can basically have it log sensor you want. Its customizable to 7 inputs and standard has EGT and he offers 4 different size displays. There is one that is a tad bigger than mine. Came in around $500 shipped to my door with an EGT sensor, Oil Pressure sensor, and 2 bullet style temp sensors.

Here is what mine controls…

MAP/Boost- KPA (did this for accurate tuning if I see a surge etc)
Intake Temp
Oil Temp
Trans Temp
Coolant Temp
Oil Pressure
TPS % (also to help with tuning)
EGT (logged off cylinder 7)

Innovate SCG-1
AFR gauge, with Boost gauge, built in boost controller, fail safe and shift light

Speedhut

3 3/8 GPS Speedo with integrated high beam and signals (has many functions like 0-60, ¼ mile, elevation, peak mph etc)
3 3/8 8000rpm Tach with integrated shift light
Fuel Pressure
Fuel level (can’t really see in the pic)
Volts (can’t really see in the pic)




Here is a quick video he made before he sent me it to insure I liked the layout.

 

That's pretty slick. The "information centre" in the middle kind of reminds me of the Dakota digital dash that was installed in my friends Chevelle. I'll be sticking to old school analog all the way mostly out of preference but also becasue I'm sitting on a pile of Auto Meter gauges that I bought years ago.
Of note to me though is how the fuel level gauge and volt meter are hidden by the steering column. It was suggested to me in another thread, that would be the case when I was thinking that I could install 9 gauges.

 

Ya kinda sucks they are hidden but there really wasnt a way around it. I didnt want to cut anything behind the cluster. Not a big deal since they are not gauges im watching during tuning etc

Jay

 

I have no fear when it comes to cutting up whatever's behind the factory gauges. The only thing I'll need to keep is the wiring for the fuel gauge, turn signals and high beam indicator. The speedometer cable will dictate where the speedometer lands and I'll place the tach accordingly so it's symetrical. The gauges that end up in the bottom section, probably my fuel gauge and engine oil temp, can probably be pushed to the corners so there somewhat more visible. However like you said, they're not something that will be observed like the other gauges. If I can fit the last two (for a total of 9) then I'll do it. Those will be AFR and vacuum which are probably the two gauges I'm checking the most (besides the speedo and tach). I'll need those in plain view.

 

Here is a pic of what I have currently:
Sorry, not the greatest pic.

 

How many gauges are there in that cluster?
I think I'll ultimately end up with a couple under the dash vents but may try to build a panel that hangs like a wing off the right side of the dash instead. Just to keep it low and out of sight.

 

Speedhut, made in the U.S.A.

 

night shot.

 

Ultimately I ended up with 7 gauges. I've yet to extend the wiring for the turn signals, high beam indicator and brake lamp. I'll handle that in the off season. That and actually get the speedometer to work. I need a cable that has the correct fitting on the gauge end.
And yes, I'm going to change the lone gauge that has a silver bezel...

 

Good fit there Skinny. Looks good man

 

Thanks. I'm happy with the results.
It's built in such as way, with disconnects on the all of the wiring in the harness, that it can be removed as an assembly and modified or repaired. I definitely needs a better quality backlight as the Autometer originals aren't all that good. Probably upgrade to the LED version of the 194 style bulb.