Has any one done something similar to this to their gauge surround?
 

I'm thinking about doing this to accommodate my custom gauges but wanted to see if there was enough room to accommodate another 4" gauge where the other gauges are. BTW this is a photoshop I made.

This is what I want to do. The gauge where the speedo is, I would like to mount that gauge on the left then then tach and speedo on the OEM location. I want the same flush mount as the one on the picture. I would have to create a back panel to mount the gauges. The spacing between the gauges in the picture is the same as the OEM one. I just reversed half the picture. BTW not my cluster.

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5...281024x683.jpg

http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/7...291024x683.jpg

Actually Gordon, you have given me an idea to make this work. Guess I have to shop for another gauges surround and try it.http://forum.e46fanatics.com/images/..._something.gif

This is a rough of what I'm thinking of doing. The only difference I will use a white back ground with red letters and a tach without the lights and the buttons. In the Quad gauge there will be boost, oil pressure, temp and fuel level.

If I don't go this route, I will put the same after market gauges except the oil, boost and temp will be individual and mounted on the OEM location using the OEM "glass" to keep the original chrome rings.

I just want to avoid mounting a gauge on a pod. So I need to get creative a come up with a way to mount the fuel level either out of sight or make a pod that will look OEM some where else. My boost gauge is currently mounted on the steering column and I'm not really liking it. A-pillar is not an option and the the center speaker will look out of place.

After looking at what I was thinking of doing for a while, grew not liking it. Now I'm trying to decided what color combo to go with. Kind of have this idea right now.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5165/ideacluster.jpg

If not then I will do all of them on white kind of like this but with red letters and a different font (more like the 99+ font)

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/7982/wtach.jpg

Im in the middle of doing something extremely similar, we actually have about the same ideas. Ill try and get a pic of mine when I get a chance. Also, if you wouldnt mind sharing could you post, or PM me where you found those Defi speedos and tachs? I was looking before but all I could find from Defi was that all in one HUD thing,and I didnt want that.

Actually they are made by www.speedhut.com They will pretty much create the gauge anyway you would like.

That quad gauge looked cool

What size gauges are you using for the tach and speedo?

I'm planning to use the 4" ones. I'm waiting on a PM from the guy that using the quad gauge adove to verify size. For the speedo I'm ordering the GPS one. Once I decide on a design I will order them.

4" is slightly smaller than our stock tach I believe. I just measured a bit and it looks like our tach is 4.25", while the speedo is 4". I was wondering if I can still use a 4" speedo but oversize the tach hole a bit and use the 4.5" tach they offer. I had the exact same idea as you with the red-backed tach. I always loved the centered yellow tach on the ferraris:

http://www.zercustoms.com/news/image...Scuderia-6.jpg

Should look just as nice in red.

I completely agree Gordon. My interior will be all black with red accents on a few things. I dont want to threadjack the OP, but mine as of now (messy as it is). Seats are brides covered in black leather with red stitching.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...hmentid=432029

I wanted to mount them like this but all the gauges. The only issue I see are the recall buttons on the tach and speedo interfering with the OEM glass fitment so it might not be possible. I'm thinking just drilling the holes in the glass but not sure.

http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopi...41091&start=75

http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...ges/index.html

Here is a 4" tach installed from their site. I don't want to enlarge the opening to fit the 4 1/2 gauge because I want mine gauges sunken in. I'm going to contact them again tomorrow and see if the gauges can be ordered with the recall buttons remotely.

http://www.speedhut.com/upload/0813091104.jpg

im tempted to try something similar.. hmm

Okay decided what to do about the fuels gauge. For the fuel I'm going to get an Auto Meter digital gauge and take it apart. I will install it where the warning lights are on the left side. Just going to be showing the numbers not the full gauge.

http://www.phoenixtuning.com/zenstor...ometer6510.jpg


Now for the rest of the gauges, I'm between these 2 finishes.

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sel...t_Black_sm.jpg

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sel..._silver_sm.jpg

But the red one still hunts me. I know the red one will look cool but I be afraid that it might grown old and I will get tire of looking at it.

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sel...ost_red_sm.jpg

I just finished up my setup in the stock gauge surround. I'm using Speedhut gauges, and I love them. The customer support is excellent, pricing is great, and they will customize your gauges if you ask.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzeSbS9sgqc


I also had that same fuel gauge that you are looking at, but with a black face. I'm actually selling it, so pm me if you are interested. The gauge is pretty bright, but you can add in the Autometer LED dimmer module to better fit the rest of your gauges.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp9g3G6uv7A



I actually like your idea of using different color gauge faces. It won't look OEM if that is the look you're going for, but it would definitely look cool.

I just noticed you're going to mount the fuel gauge so that the face doesn't show, so the color doesn't matter. I have it right next to me like-new packed up. Let me know if you need any dimensions or pictures of it, I can take it apart if you'd like to see how it looks. I also have an extra cluster I can take pictures of.

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=37423

I like the multi color gauges but I think it is something I will grow tired of. Do you have pictures of how did you mount the gauges? I can see that you mounted them behind the OEM glass which is what I would like to do but the buttons on the Tach and speedo gauges might present a challenge.

The speedhut gauges have little plastic pegs on the housings when the bezels are taken off. I drilled holes the same size as the pegs in the plexi-glass to line up the gauges, and just secured them. I'm not sure if this would work for a tach and speedo since those gauges are way bigger.

I know someone who drilled holes in the plexi-glass and put the button-grommets on the plexiglass. There is a thread with pictures and info, but I don't think I can post it here. He also uses a speedhut tach and it fits perfectly behind the plexiglass.

That thread would be awesome. PM the thread if you have too. Where in SoCal are you at?

Deciding on the color combo is what is keeping me from ordering them. I like the idea of just keeping the low level light for the fuel but none of my low level fluid light work or at least for the coolant. Never ran my fuel that low to find out if it works.

So I got a link with some helpful inputs on how I'm going to install the gauges. Here is the semi finish product I'm shooting for but with different color gauges.

http://i917.photobucket.com/albums/a...lfspec/358.jpg

http://i917.photobucket.com/albums/a...lfspec/351.jpg

very cool, can't wait to see it lite up.

Here is a vid of what does gauges up there look like lit up

http://i917.photobucket.com/albums/a.../th_gauges.jpg

Man, that looks really nice!! I want to do that one day, now..

Is there any way for those gauges to glow more like the OEM red/orange color though?? I like the red/orange glow...

Could you please post a link to where you bought these gauges, so I can price out doing this conversion too please?