clyde004
11-19-2007, 07:37 PM
THIS IS NOT DONE!!!! I WILL FINISH IT AS I GET THE PICTURES TOGETHER.Well, everyone seems to like the idea, so here goes with the how-to for all those wanting to try!
tools you will need:
Soldering iron w resin core solder
Pop rivet gun and 3/16 rivits
Jig Saw with 14tpi blade or scroll saw
Bench vise
Bench grinder
Roto zip or Dremel tool with multipurpose cutting bit
Drill
sharpie markers...a few different colors helps
ummmm....i'll add as i think of it.....
materials needed
complete dash gauge bezel
14/16/18 gauge wire
electrical distribution blocks...6 post and 12 post
led's...color fo your choice
led holders, style of your choice
ummmmm....i'll add as i think of it
6x18 sheet aluminum...6/32? thickness
first things first, assemble all materials and tools...
disassemble the gauge assembly into its 4 main parts.
back cover
gauge mounting assembly
gauge bezel
assembly cover
put all but the bezel away for later use and get the sheet aluminum ready. the sheet aluminum can be purchased at any Home Depot or Lowes for around 7 bux.
place the bezel face down on the sheet aluminum and trace all the circles for the gauges and all the squares for the signals and lights. using a colored sharpie for this is suggested as u will need to make more marks later. this will be your base pattern.
6x18 sheet with bezel transfered
http://home.comcast.net/~clyde004/Gauges/100_2016.JPG
now, decide which lights and signals you will want and need....for my bezel, i decided the abs, seatbelt, volt, oil pressure, and SRS lights were unecessary. i wanted to keep the turn signals, e brake, engine, brite lights, cruise, and gas lights, as well as the open door, trunk and busted break light which are integrated into the tachometer:eek: ...but no fear, that will come later
with these ideas in mind i decided placement for the lights. 3 on the left, 3 on the right both above their perspective gauges ( water temp and fule lvl), and in the upper center would be the turn signals, e brake, high beams, and engine in a t shape. using the boxes marked in to the sheeting, i found the centers of the boxes on each side mmoved the turn signals in on each side, and marked those centers and drilled my 1/4 inch holes for the led holders later.
now, the aftermarket gauges you are using will likely have larger circumfrences than the stock bezel will allow....so now, with a differet color sharpie trace the outsides of the actual gauges onto the aluminum makeing sure they have room and are cintered properly.
once you are satisfied with this, drill pilot holes in the circles big enough for the jigsaw blade. place the jigsaw upside down in the bench vise. using the jigsaw now, somehting like a scroll saw ( USE EXTREME CAUTION HERE> IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH POWER SAWS, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS) trim the gauge circles. once they are cut out, test them with the actuall gauges for fittment. use the dremel to grind out any imperfections of to expand the holes. DONT MAKE THE HOLES TOO BIG. YOU NEED A TIGHT FIT!!
http://home.comcast.net/~clyde004/Gauges/dashgaugeboard.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~clyde004/Gauges/Dashgauges.JPG
tools you will need:
Soldering iron w resin core solder
Pop rivet gun and 3/16 rivits
Jig Saw with 14tpi blade or scroll saw
Bench vise
Bench grinder
Roto zip or Dremel tool with multipurpose cutting bit
Drill
sharpie markers...a few different colors helps
ummmm....i'll add as i think of it.....
materials needed
complete dash gauge bezel
14/16/18 gauge wire
electrical distribution blocks...6 post and 12 post
led's...color fo your choice
led holders, style of your choice
ummmmm....i'll add as i think of it
6x18 sheet aluminum...6/32? thickness
first things first, assemble all materials and tools...
disassemble the gauge assembly into its 4 main parts.
back cover
gauge mounting assembly
gauge bezel
assembly cover
put all but the bezel away for later use and get the sheet aluminum ready. the sheet aluminum can be purchased at any Home Depot or Lowes for around 7 bux.
place the bezel face down on the sheet aluminum and trace all the circles for the gauges and all the squares for the signals and lights. using a colored sharpie for this is suggested as u will need to make more marks later. this will be your base pattern.
6x18 sheet with bezel transfered
http://home.comcast.net/~clyde004/Gauges/100_2016.JPG
now, decide which lights and signals you will want and need....for my bezel, i decided the abs, seatbelt, volt, oil pressure, and SRS lights were unecessary. i wanted to keep the turn signals, e brake, engine, brite lights, cruise, and gas lights, as well as the open door, trunk and busted break light which are integrated into the tachometer:eek: ...but no fear, that will come later
with these ideas in mind i decided placement for the lights. 3 on the left, 3 on the right both above their perspective gauges ( water temp and fule lvl), and in the upper center would be the turn signals, e brake, high beams, and engine in a t shape. using the boxes marked in to the sheeting, i found the centers of the boxes on each side mmoved the turn signals in on each side, and marked those centers and drilled my 1/4 inch holes for the led holders later.
now, the aftermarket gauges you are using will likely have larger circumfrences than the stock bezel will allow....so now, with a differet color sharpie trace the outsides of the actual gauges onto the aluminum makeing sure they have room and are cintered properly.
once you are satisfied with this, drill pilot holes in the circles big enough for the jigsaw blade. place the jigsaw upside down in the bench vise. using the jigsaw now, somehting like a scroll saw ( USE EXTREME CAUTION HERE> IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH POWER SAWS, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS) trim the gauge circles. once they are cut out, test them with the actuall gauges for fittment. use the dremel to grind out any imperfections of to expand the holes. DONT MAKE THE HOLES TOO BIG. YOU NEED A TIGHT FIT!!
http://home.comcast.net/~clyde004/Gauges/dashgaugeboard.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~clyde004/Gauges/Dashgauges.JPG