Aftermarket gauge mounting ideas
 

I have a thread going in the Street section about aftermarket gauges. I'd like to mount aftermarket Oil Pressure and Water Temp. gauges in my 71' GTO. The car only came with idiot lights,and I don't want to convert to factory gauges to keep the car original as it is pretty stock looking/original still,and it would be easy to remove the aftermarket gauges if I ever sell the car.
I thought about mounting them on a swivel mount on the bottom of the dash,and I could angle them up towards me for easy reading. After going out and looking at my dash it runs quite a ways under and out of sight towards the firewall,so I don't think this idea will work.
So how do you guys with stock interiors mount aftermarket gauges without cutting into things? I'd also like to mount them as hidden as possible if I can,to keep it looking original.

I run a two pod gauge under the dash using one of the screws holding the bottom of the ashtray bracket in and maybe one other hole drilled up underneath to hold it from twisting.

Car's in the storage tent buried in snow right now, this is the only pic I could find in the archives, not a good shot, but you can see them if you squint!

I remember seeing someone use a couple of clips off or tape measures on the gauge housing so they didn't have to drill the dash - seemed like a good solution. I think the post was either here or on CP quite some time ago-might find it with some searching.

Here's what I did when I wanted to add extra gauges into my dash facia.....

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...4/DSCF7438.jpg

I cheated and bought a carbon fibre one from Thunder Road.

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps27c7a257.jpg

And I installed SoCal Gauges.

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps67384385.jpg

So this is what she looks like at the moment. I installed this dash in Janaury last year and so far haven't had a chance to drive her yet to tie in the speedo, but all the rest of the gauges work real fine.

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps6bbf4aab.jpg

And this is her.....

falcon, that's a pretty radical change from stock! Looks cool though. I notice your car's got AC but that dash insert blocks off the upper vent with that 5 light bar. What are the lights for?

I'll have to look into that area. I didn't know if I'd have enough room or if it would interfere with the ashtray. Looks like I don't have too many options though. Thanks for the pic!

I did a search here and over on CP and didn't find much. Thanks for the tip though. Interesting idea.


Falcon,yes that looks great,but I'm looking to not stray from original as much as possible.

I have a 2 pod gauge mounted pretty much the same as gto4evr. That lower metal dash piece comes off, so if you modify it it's easy to replace with another one if you want to remove the gauges later.

I also run a two pod bracket under my dash, I've always thought the third pod for voltage is close to pointless.


Dennis, I love what I see of that car!

The original owner actually installed oil and temp gauges over the A/C vent, and then blocked off the A/C box so no air would flow. So I just followed suit. The Bezel was cracked and had pieces missing.

The lights are left indicator, idiot light brake fail, high beam, idiot light E-brake and right indicator. The little chrome box with the hole in it is for a right hand side remote mirror.

Thanks Drake, no problems, do you have a console? Why not use something like this and mount it to the console, or better yet the floor if you don't.

http://www.jegs.com/p/Auto-Meter/Aut...34739/10002/-1

Thanks Mitch! I've been much happier with how the car looks once the I replaced the faded stained white top with my new black one I've been sitting on for 3 years waiting for the old top to rip so I could justify tearing it off!

yeah, another vote for oil and temp only. Also, I ran the temp off the other side of the intake and T'd off the oil sending unit so both my idiot lights and the gauges work. A gauge is fine, but it doesn't draw your attention to the problem as fast as a glowing red light of death in your dash does!

I looked at those too. My original dash and console are crack and hole free. The only way I can see to use that would be Velcro,and I don't know if that will hold up. I figure in that location the wiring will be running over the top of the carpet also.

That is what I thought too. I'm not really as concerned with my amp output as oil & water. I also would probably do the T at the oil sending unit too.

I mount mine in the cut out for the ashtray. Mounting them like this eliminates the ashtray, but it was the only place I could find where they'd be visible and I wouldn't have to make any holes in the dash.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1280673813

One of my 'when I have time' projects is to take an extra ash tray and modify it so the gauges fit inside/attach to it with the wires connected with Weather Pack connectors. If I want to remove the gauges for a show I can remove and unplug them, and then install the 'good' ash tray.

I used earth magnets and extreme velcro from Lowes, worked great plus easy to remove.

I mounted mine on the plastic A/C duct under the dash. I did put two small screw holes in it but it's just the plastic duct and easily replaceable if need be.
Also I taped a piece of sandpaper, grit out, to the area in which I wanted to mount the pod. By doing this, I was able to carefully rub the pod back and forth across the sandpaper until it conformed to the shape of the duct.
Not a great pic since it was before I mounted it back into the car but you get the idea. Also, I painted the pod the color of the dash. I need to redo the 'chrome'... It's just silver paint.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCF0287-1.jpg

Great idea!

On my 66 i just got another dash pad core and made one with gauges, used quick disconnects so i can swap back to stock dash pad if i chose.
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...t/102_5963.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...t/101_5616.jpg

instg8ter - don't be rubbing in how simple it is to swap dash pads on a 66 -- this is the 70-72 forum so that's just plain mean!

Greg, where'd you get those pod cases? I like them! Mine's the standard cheap metal L bracket leaving the gauges exposed from the sides, yours looks way more finished with the covers like that.

i used 2 small old sun gauges...gutted my ashtray...when i open the ashtray door..i have gauges..when i dont, i close the door. in a 68 tempest