I started installing my gauges today. I decided to mount three of them where the ash tray was. They fit prefectly...well, after a bit of modifying. First I made a template out of plexiglas to make sure it would work. Now I'll make the finished piece out of a chunk of thick aluminum I had laying around. I haven't decided if I'll paint it the same color as the rest of the center console or if I'll polish it. I also haven't decided for sure how I'll hold it in place...more than likely I'll just use some JB Weld or other epoxy.

These 3 pictures show the gauges mounted in the plexiglas template.




These shots show how I had to remove some of the flange for the ash tray mount in order to allow the gauges to fit on the sides.



Here's the aluminum piece partially cut to rough size.


Rich

 

That looks really nice.

Personally, I would say to paint it to match. Dents in aluminum don't look nice when they're polished.

 

looks good rich. I would paint gun metal gray.

 

Actually, I was leaning toward that, or maybe a charcoal gray.

I have a 4th gauge, for oil temperature. It's a good thing I can't figure out where to mount the sending unit, because I'm not sure where I'm mount the gauge

Thanks,
Rich

 

Here's my progress. I got the aluminum panel cut out and shaped to fit, then cut the holes for the gauges. I still need to do some smoothing, and figure out how I'm going to mount it, then paint it, along with the stereo surround.

Rich

 

lookin good man

 

More progress. I figured out how I'm going to mount the gauge panel. I made four "Z" shaped brackets and mounted them using the ash tray mounting screws, then drilled the front panel so I could install 4 small allen head screws. I'll epoxy nuts to the z brackets for these screws to screw into, so I will be able to remove the gauge panel without having to remove the entire center console. Tomorrow I'll take pictures of the wiring harnesses I built for the wires from the sending unit.

Rich

 

looks awesome!

 

no bueno for smokers. other than that, good job.

 

Wow that looks like a nice job. sweet.

 

Today's progress report.

I did some wiring for the gauges today. Here is the harness I built for the sending units...this part goes under the hood and runs from the sending units to the firewall on the passenger's side. The big wad of tape on the left side is an extra wire. This is for the sending unit for an oil temp gauge. I haven't figured out where to mount the sending unit yet, but this way I have the wire in place in case I do get it figured out. And this wad will be hidden unter the alternator so won't be as ugly as it looks in this picture.


And here is the harness that will go from the firewall to the center console.


These next few shots show the wires in the engine compartment. The green wire is for the boost sending unit, and the white one is for the fuel pressure sending unit.





I ran these wires in the engine harness that comes out of the firewall on the passenger side of the engine compartment.



Here's how I fished the wires through the firewall. First I took the electrical tape off the end of the large grommet that the existing harness goes through, then I fished a coat hanger through, with the wires taped to the end of it. It took about an hour before I could find the hanger on the inside of the car, but I finally got it.



And here's the finished product.



I hope to finish up the wiring tomorrow. I bought some Krylon Fusion "nickel" colored paint today and will try that on the center console. Hopefully I'll have this part of the project finished by the end of the weekend.

Rich

 

Looks very professional! more gauges the better.

 

Today I did the wiring on the back of the gauges. Tomorrow I plan on dropping the center section of the exhaust and the heat shield so I can cut a hole in it for the wires from the O2 sensor. Then I'll run the wires for it and reinstall the exhaust. At that point I should be ready to paint the center console.

Rich