*Ask Broadfield*

[drivnovrdaedge]

Originally Posted by Broadfield

Do you have any pictures of the cluster out of the truck?... front, back, side etc.?

here is a good thread with pics:

How To Restore and Detail an Original Gauge Cluster - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

i also noticed that most of the gauge panels use 3 3/8in large cut outs for the 2 large gauges. i want to put 5in gauges in the cluster.

here is a link to a source that has a panel already made:
Classic Dash :: GM :: Chevy Truck :: 1964 :: Drilled Panels :: 1964-66 Chevrolet Truck Black 6 Hole Dash Panel No Gauges

[Broadfield]

Originally Posted by drivnovrdaedge

i also noticed that most of the gauge panels use 3 3/8in large cut outs for the 2 large gauges. i want to put 5in gauges in the cluster.

So if there is barely enough room for a 3-3/8", how do you plan to fit 5"? On top of that I need even more room to flush them in. It appears to me the only way to fit larger than 3-3/8" is to utilize the angled area at the front edge of the cluster. Everything on that angled ledge would need to be relocated to either somewhere else in the truck or maybe into new locations on the cluster. So basically the new cluster plate that I make would be angled from the front bottom edge of where the angled ledge is now and then up to where the top edge of the cluster plate sits now. Hopefully that makes sense to you.

[redline racer510]

Toby I remember you mentioning somewhere on this forum about mounting gauges in a s14 in place of the din pocket under the radio. What is the best way to mount them, I am also thinking about using dark plexiglass in front of the gauges but am worried about the aem uego and tru-boost gauge color LEDs not being able to show through especially during the day?

[Broadfield]

Originally Posted by redline racer510

Toby I remember you mentioning somewhere on this forum about mounting gauges in a s14 in place of the din pocket under the radio. What is the best way to mount them, I am also thinking about using dark plexiglass in front of the gauges but am worried about the aem uego and tru-boost gauge color LEDs not being able to show through especially during the day?

52mm gauges do not fit in that location without molding the area closed and then either flushing them in or surface mounting them. I just finished up this exact piece and Defi 52mm's(which have one of the smallest bezel diameters) BARELY fit. I haven't taken high res shots yet with my good camera, but here's an iPhone pic for you to check out how tight the fit is. There is only an 1/8" of material or less left over between the gauge and radio and gauge and ash tray opening:

[drivnovrdaedge]

Originally Posted by Broadfield

So if there is barely enough room for a 3-3/8", how do you plan to fit 5"? On top of that I need even more room to flush them in. It appears to me the only way to fit larger than 3-3/8" is to utilize the angled area at the front edge of the cluster. Everything on that angled ledge would need to be relocated to either somewhere else in the truck or maybe into new locations on the cluster. So basically the new cluster plate that I make would be angled from the front bottom edge of where the angled ledge is now and then up to where the top edge of the cluster plate sits now. Hopefully that makes sense to you.

i understand what you mean. i previously had imaged that my gauges were the same but comparing the 5in to 3 3/8th the rim of the gauge would be against the bottom "beveled" edge and sticking out kind of like this. i wouldnt mind having to pick less gauges in the dash but i would have to find a place for them. the other things on the beveled area would be moved into the steering column so no worries:



which i am ok with. i think it would bring a modern look and bring some curves into this rather flat interior and dash. im looking at the Porsche interior and i would like the 2 large gauges kind of sticking out but then have the rest in the background giving it some sort of depth.

having the center tach gauge x2 for the tach and speedo would be good like this center tach in porsche panamera:

[Broadfield]

Originally Posted by drivnovrdaedge

i understand what you mean. i previously had imaged that my gauges were the same but comparing the 5in to 3 3/8th the rim of the gauge would be against the bottom "beveled" edge and sticking out kind of like this. i wouldnt mind having to pick less gauges in the dash but i would have to find a place for them. the other things on the beveled area would be moved into the steering column so no worries:

which i am ok with. i think it would bring a modern look and bring some curves into this rather flat interior and dash. im looking at the Porsche interior and i would like the 2 large gauges kind of sticking out but then have the rest in the background giving it some sort of depth.

Yeah, but you can't overlap aftermarket gauges like that. The body is almost the same diameter of the bezel. So basically the bezel of the front gauge wouldn't even hide the bezel of the gauge that's mounted behind it. You have to keep in mind that these OEM gauge setups that you posted pics of are simply a facade on the front. There's no actual "gauge" in there... as in there is no body to the gauge. It's just faces of gauges essentially mounted to a circuit board.

[S14DB]

Originally Posted by Broadfield

Yeah, but you can't overlap aftermarket gauges like that. The body is almost the same diameter of the bezel. So basically the bezel of the front gauge wouldn't even hide the bezel of the gauge that's mounted behind it. You have to keep in mind that these OEM gauge setups that you posted pics of are simply a facade on the front. There's no actual "gauge" in there... as in there is no body to the gauge. It's just faces of gauges essentially mounted to a circuit board.

So, you're saying you can remove the gauges from the cups. Mount them on a board and reprogram their sweep?

[Broadfield]

Originally Posted by S14DB

So, you're saying you can remove the gauges from the cups. Mount them on a board and reprogram their sweep?

No, that's not what I'm saying at all.

[drivnovrdaedge]

Originally Posted by Broadfield

Yeah, but you can't overlap aftermarket gauges like that. The body is almost the same diameter of the bezel. So basically the bezel of the front gauge wouldn't even hide the bezel of the gauge that's mounted behind it. You have to keep in mind that these OEM gauge setups that you posted pics of are simply a facade on the front. There's no actual "gauge" in there... as in there is no body to the gauge. It's just faces of gauges essentially mounted to a circuit board.

i understand that, i was just referring to the rim of the guages going over the imaginary box panel of which the other guages sit in and what their dimensions are contained in

i DO NOT want mine stacked up like that either cause it would protrude out too far and would NOT look nice either.

i simply wanted to show that i understand that the gauges being 5in and not 3 3/8 (like the others examples i have seen) that it would over lap over the panel into the bezel edges of the gauge cluster. the pictures show the example of what i am expecting with ONLY the 1 middle single gauges rim protruding outward.

the already massed produced panel that uses 3 3/8 would need to be heavily modified to fit the 5in guages and would ultimately have gaps around the edges of the 5in gauges would not look good either and look like a hack job. it would need to be molded into the panel bring it back to where i started with needing fabrication.

i could also buy that massed produced panel if it would be a good starting point for you and decrease the amount of time and effort to have a starting molding point ... in return maybe reducing the price... .. LOL