[Engine-Ear]

Seeing the pic of the brake-levered '61 reminds me of something I wanted to share...

You can add a gauge to your dash similar to what's shown in the pic but instead of drilling a hole in the dash, use the ash tray door instead. Remove the ash tray bin, punch the 2-ish inch hole in it and voila! A gauge in the dash without the commitment of doing so in the main (welded in) dash panel.

[mviker]

Matt,

I didn't know you played the viola!

Yer pretty smart. Darn good idea.

[Stuart]

Not a bad idea, and it can be reversed if desired by simply putting in another ashtray cover. I suppose you could be really stealthy and mount the gauge inside the ashtray, then open it up when you're driving and close it when you're parked.

I actually kind of like the idea of putting gauges in the dash like that - I've seen it on several cars over the years - but I could never bring myself to cut the holes.

[perryka]

I'd have a real hard time drilling holes in my dash too, but the ash tray thing is not a bad idea. Thanks, Matt.

Alan

[Engine-Ear]

Thanks for the replies, guys...

Stuart, I mocked up the peek-a-boo, in-the-ashtray idea...on '62s anyway I found it hard to read the gauge, certainly harder than the facing-out approach.

And just to geek out a little more, you could add more gauges to a spare glove box door, but they start getting too far away at that point (IMO).

[Teej]

Great idea... Looking at my '58 ashtray, that might be an idea to consider.

And I must have missed the original post on that picture... Is it a hand brake as opposed to the heel-toe method?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Teej

And I must have missed the original post on that picture... Is it a hand brake as opposed to the heel-toe method?

I posted a link about that car in the thread about SD parts. It's a a hand brake, to hold the car on the line before a race.

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

And just to geek out a little more, you could add more gauges to a spare glove box door, but they start getting too far away at that point (IMO).

Just don't line them up on the A pillar, like in a Honda Civic.

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Just don't line them up on the A pillar, like in a Honda Civic.

>DOLP!< (gag reflex sound) ...actually I don't mind A-pillar gauges (well, OK, I don't need neon-surrounds and carbon fiber pillar trim) if they are mounted for business.

To that end, I have seen the parent of that look on a '61 where the '62 tach / cup was anchored to the inner A-pillar trim with the tach wires run behind the trim...

[texasprix]

I added gauges to my '64 GP ashtray. Works great and hides them when closed...

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by texasprix

I added gauges to my '64 GP ashtray. Works great and hides them when closed...

Excellent!