So today I started with the hardest task, mounting the fuel gauge. Lots of trimming to get this done. I took my time doing it with baby steps.

I had to gut the fuel gauge and separate the two circuit boards so I can fit it the way I wanted it.



Here is the trimming I had to do to the cluster





Here i how the gauge mounts to the cluster



Here is a rough of how the fuel gauge will look. I still have to make a face so it covers the entire hole and only expose the number for a clean look. I also have to secure it to the cluster but this is just an idea of where it is going to sit.

 

Okay semi done with the fuel gauge. Just got to connect the other circuit board to it but I will do that at the end.

Some 3M double sided tape to hold the cover I made. I used a combination of hot glue gun and some strong glue (Plasticaid) to hold it in place.



This is what it looks like with the cover installed. Remember that this is going to be behind the OEM glass.

 

very nice!! props to doing something different!

 

That is it for today. It 117 outside and tonight is poker night. Tomorrow morning I will start with the main gauges. The goal is to have the cluster done tomorrow night.

 

Sigh. Could this be any more awesome?

 

Interesting option, I'm liking it

One thing, an oil pressure gauge that only goes to 100 psi in an FD isn't ideal. You'd be better with 120-140, not sure if that was an option.

 

Rich, Speedhut on the 2" size goes from 100 then to 200 psi. I though I ordered the 200 psi one but I mistakenly didn't. At least I can monitor a low oil pressure warning that IMO is more critical than high pressure considering my driving (mostly cruising). I am planning on getting the 200psi one though. Swapping the gauge out is going to be a plug and play thing.

 

this is very cool ! love the stockish look, but updated technology in the cluster when you get done.

how much did everything set you back if you don't mind me asking ?

 

The Autometer gauge is really bright, so I would get the Autometer 9114 module.

 

$800
I have a solution for that but now that we are talking about that, when you hook yours up, did you hook up the illumination?

 

Yes. The Autometer LEDs were so bright that I just hooked the ill. up to 12V all the time. Even the dimmer setting was really bright.

This is with the ill. hooked up to 12V
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp9g3G6uv7A

I have the speedhut gauge series though which aren't LED, so my gauges aren't quite as bright as yours.

 

Well I can either put a resistor in the lighting wire or put a tinted film in front of it.

 

How accurate are the GPS speedos?

 

Speedhut makes some awesome gauges and their customer service is top notch! I've thought about going the same route, but since my factory gauges work fine at the moment I went with four of the Speedhut gauges.

If any one is interested in just having a gauge that matches the stock gauges I think these are as close as you are going to get. I'll have to see if I can take a picture of them later.

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

Probably more accurate the the OEM speedometer. Especially with some of the tire and wheel setups some of us are using. Just don't get caught speeding in a tunnel!

 

Agreed. My stock tach and speedo work, but the other stock gauges are garbage.

Speedhut gauges are AWESOME. I requested some custom features, and they did them with no issue. Customer service is excellent too. Best part, I have the electric speedhut gauge series, and I paid only $340ish for 5 gauges, and I missed the sale. I've tried Defi, prosport, PLX digital, and Autometer gauges, and these are my favorite so far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEOAu72-8v8

 

Looks like more stuff I'm gonna need to buy...

 

I'm going to take the speedo in my truck with my GPS Navigation. I'm going to compare the Speedhut unit to both of them and see. But right now the only speedo I'm using is the one on my Tom Tom.

If you really want your after market gauges to match your OEM gauges, you can send them a high resolution picture of your gauges and they will match it.

 

Wasn't even needed really. The font, lighting and color matched perfectly! Here is a horrible iPhone photo after the initial install. (Big props to my wiring Guru need-a-t2!)

 

Awesome! I've been dying for a tach like that... I like how the gauges have lowest readings @ 6 o'clock. Very nice!

 

that's a clean set up specially the tach.

 

Small progress today so far. Had a long fun night with friends and woke up too late to be working outside in the heat so I just did the mold. Tonight I might work on the black part of the cluster cutting it to fit the new mounting surface.

I took the glass of the Speedhut gauges and taped them to the OEM glass. Not only this will mark where the gauges will mount but it also gives me a sunken mounting surface so the gauges be against the glass. Once the black part of the OEM cluster is skeletonized, I will put them two together and lay fiberglass on the glass making the mounting surface. If you trim the holes in the black part you can get the gauges to sit in them but my tach was sitting a bit too low and not centered.

 

So I applied a THICK layer of wax to the OEM glass so the fiberglass doesn't really stick to it. Yes it is broken but when I'm done this one will go in the trash.



And the black gauges surround skeletonized

 

Mold



Fiberglass laid down. Had to work fast because the heat here make the resin cure very fast.

 

FWIW, I think it looks really nice.

About you FG work. You can use packing tape or aluminum foil next time instead of duct tape and trying to wax that you will see it will save you a ton of finishing work.

 

I was using packing tape but I could get it to stick well and to form to it. I was debating on the aluminum foil but I have no clues why I didn't use it. My wife asked me the same thing.