I asked this on the interior board and have searched EXTENSIVELY for any pics or info on the area behind my dash here
Its an '87 RS Camaro dash.
Trying to find out if I have room behind here to install gauges so the depth of the gauge can have adequate backspacing. Anyone know whats behind this section of dash? Ducting maybe, or is it open space?

I know a few here have had their dashes apart. Karl for instance, but you have a Firebird probably with a different dash shape.

Any help before I needlessly tear it apart to find out for myself I possibly can't do it there.

 

Side Veiw

 

here's what's behind an 85 dash, yours shouldn't be all that different:

 

Thank you Project.

It looks like your vents come out flush level (height wise) with the steering column? Mine come out higher near the top of the dash. It looks like I may have a chance to get them into them. I may have to orde somw custom spacers to lift the bezzels off the face a 1/2 or more, but I am going to tear it down and see what I have. That picture tells me its worth a shot to try.

Here's the gauges. Autometer "Z" style gauges. I want as factory of a look that I can get. I am using 3 for now with one more to be added later (CSR digital gauge to automatically moniter water temp and run the electric waterpump so I do not have to toggle it on and off every time I start and stop the car.)
Right now I have an Air/Fuel ratio, Fuel pressure, and trans temp.

 

I will be tapping the fuel rail inlet block (near Schrader valve) later today and fitting the sender unit into it. I'll post a pic when that is finished. Nice having a spare intake manifold and fuelrails to play with so the car remains functional until I am ready for a quick instll of the backup parts.

 

91's have an airbag ecm in that location. I would say its about 1" thick.

I have also added toggle switches in that area. I belive their is enough space to slide a hand down, but not sure it would give you the 2-3" for a guage.

 

Holy crap! That's freakin' cool!

The dash is the only thing I haven't taken out of the car yet... it bounces up and down like crazy when I hit a bump. How much of a pain was that to do? Did the wires "glue" the dash to the firewall, or were all the wires attached to the dash and it just came off clean?

 

the wires were secured w/the plastic ring things like those going above teh blower motor. Taking that much of the dash was a pian.... steering clomn had to be dropped, and constantly finding one more screw that needed to be taken out....

Putting it back in is always worse, but I didn't have any rattles or what not when I had it on the road.

The service manual helped out a lot w/the mysterious extra screws after the dash ws put back together

 

I had someone else tell me they have an oil pressure gauge there and the cavity is big enough to work down into by simply removing the top dash pad. He did not have the A/C crap there though (Was the commemt he made.). I'm going to pull the top pad off and take a look. I may try and use some ABS tube (Plumbing drain pipe) And see if I could get the 2" gauge to recess into the pipe for a spacer that would set the face of the gauge about 1" more off the dash giving more room behind. We'll see. It will need to look pretty otherwise the wife may look like this

 

Understand You know who drove this car before me.

I do have the ac crap, and I do recall thats whats behind it. Cant decide to yank the ac crap out since it doesnt work, or fix it? Why cant I find a convertable v6 5sp with a blown engine

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=178430

Why not try something like that?

Kat

 

Kat, I saw that from someone else linking me to it on the other post in the interior board. I am looking at that as a possible backup option. It would be easier to wire them to that point especially since there is other lighted and power componants there.

Instead of doing wat Wille did and recessing them under a pexiglass panel, I am looking more for a flush mount with these angle cups tilting them backwards slightly for better veiwing.

http://store.summitracing.com/largei...?part=ATM-2234

Edit; I still need to learn how to frikin type

 

I think your idea is extremely sound
I would say go to the docks and check out some boats for the "parts needed" to make the angled gauge package and housing.

If you do a Google search for 1963 and 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix, Bonneville or Catalina, you will see the dash board idea you want.
Protrusion, 3 angled gauges in a chromed housing, center, eye level, dashboard location.
Those Pontiac Dashboards are a thing of beauty!
I know I grew up looking at that dash in my Fathers 1963 Grand Prix, from the back seat.

I'll bet you could use a side pillar 3 gauge housing and some how shape it, intall it, for your idea.

 

For stuff like this I go over to the JY and take a look at some other cars before hacking mine to bits to see if stuff fits Basically using a junked car for a mock up I guess.

 

I went ahead and pulled the dash half way down tonight to see what I had then put it back together. I weighed my options and have decided to go with a different setup over on the passenger side of the car.

This section is still in plain veiw with a quick glance. The gauges going here (3 for now, and eventually a 4th) are all non critical gauges just used more for tuning and trouble shooting. The only critical gauge will be the one I install later to operate the electric waterpump and even then the water temp is redondant from the one in the factory console. It is a programable temp switch with a digital readout for on/off on the pump with a light telling its operating also.. The other three I have listed before ,but again they are from left to right:

CSI WP temp gauge / Fuel pressure / AirFuel Ratio / Trans Temp