Opinions please on gauge panel....

[Cakes]

This is something I just drew up in CAD to replace the "granny" gauges in my 1986 Grand National. I want to keep the stocker look but have a nice custom touch. SInce most of the aftermarket gauge panels available are more directed toward copying the GNX style I decided to design my own. The overall panel is 14.25 x 4.25 but these were just numbers estimated by looking at pictures. I then moved both sets of idiot lights to the farthest ends of the panel so I could used up the unused space not used by the factory. In theory everything would fit and all the idiot lights would work. I like this design because both the speedo and tach are dead center to the driver as opposed to the tach being in the center. I also felt that too many gauges would be a distraction so I opped for the volt meter but any other gauge(oil/water/boost/knock) could be substituted. I am just showing this for some opinion Once I get some time I want to try and develop it more and make one for myself.

Thanks

By the way all gauges are VDO Cockpit White Thanks again

 

[Four-Four-Two]

I like it! Especially the 7k tach. Is there enough room to squeeze a water temp and oil pressure gauges above or below volts and fuel level?

 

[Cakes]

Thanks! I do not know if there is room to put an oil pressure and water temp gauges in for one reason; I do not know the exact dimensions of the panel that I am working with. If you or someone could give me the exact width and height and also the width of the idiot light panel and approximately how big the steering colump "hump" is I could manipulate it to see if I can get the 2 other gauges in. I think that would make a very complete panel. The eye tends to like symmetry and that is why I like this design over the GNX design but its just my opinion. Thanks again!

 

[Cakes]

Anyone?

 

[terryk]

I've been considering the same thing but I'd definitely want the big six:

Speedo
Tach
Boost
Oil pressure
Water Temp
Fuel

Volts don't worry me as much.

 

[GNVAIR]

AVC and Performance Instruments and Charged Air System have all designed similar dash panels.
The standard GNX style has front left to right the speedo, tach and then a cluster of 4 gauges and utilizes 1 column of factory warning lights
You can remove the factory warning lights and fit 2 more gauges to the left of the speedometer.
Best bet for gauges are 2 1/16" for the smaller gauges and 3 3/8" for the speedo and tach.

 

[scottyb]

Originally posted by terryk
Volts don't worry me as much.

I agree. There is an idiot light for volts. You got em or you don't. I'd opt for this order of importance (after speedo and tach):

fuel
boost
water temp
knock
oil pressure
oil temp

I would prefer that some of the less important guages came available with 2 gauges in one. As in 2 needles, one points east, other points west, both have about 160 degree sweep. Fuel, pressure and temps would be good candidates.

I want it all and I want it now!
my .02

 

[Cakes]

Hey guys! Thanks for the input! I can put any gauges into my design that I want I just cant do it yet until I get some good dimensions of the panel. As of now my height is just too small to fit another 2 1/16" gauge in on top of the others. If I could get a height and width I think I could do it in no time. Thanks again!

 

[Cakes]

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/3638ae89/bc/My+Photos/__hr_Dash+2.jpg?bcK7qA9Ahgt0ZF0s

I drew this one up by adding a little over a 1/2 inch to the height and I can fit a 2 more 2 1/16 inch gauges over the other 2. Maybe this is a little more to peoples liking. AGain the panel dimensions are just estimatd by looking at pictures. I went to performance instruments websight and I looked at theirs and it seems that their small gauges hit the top and have a about a 1/4 inch space between them so that is why I made my changes. What is your opinion now? I think the gauges are complete now and you will still be able to keep the stock idiot lights to keep a stealthy stock look. Thanks again! Now if I do ever get the time and money hopefully it will be easy easy to build as it was to draw.

PS If anyone ever wants something drawn up in CAD to scale with dimensions feel free to e-mail me and I should be able to do it! Thanks!

 

[NOSjohnWE4]

panel

the panel looks good and i wouldn't hesitate to have u draw something up in C.A.D. your tach. is a little off though - 70 x 1,000 = 70,000 rpm ...unless that's a tach. for your turbo. it would have to be either 70x100 or 7x1,000 to make any sense. take care and good job!

John C.
LedSLED Motorsports

 

[Cakes]

Oops! Sorry about the tach! Thats what happens when your at college and up doing this at 3am! Thanks anyways but I hope you guys catch my drift! Hopefully I will be able to afford this once I get out of college for summer break! Thanks again!

 

[Cakes]

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/3638ae89/bc/My+Photos/__hr_Dash+2---1.jpg?bcK7qA9At86xgbZz

Here is the corrected one! Thanks!

 

[scottyb]

kewl.

 

[terryk]

The positions are great. I'd swap the boost and coolant temp gauge. I like to be able to see the boost and tach at the same time.

Now who's making the faces!

 

[Cakes]

Im going to be home this weekend so I think I am going to take apart the dash and see what I can do with some things. I want to make a dash plate out of plastic (1/8" thick) and that will mount where the stock analog gauge is. Then somehow by either cutting the existing panel so that it can be easily attached again if the car needs to be put back to stock. (maybe cut it to overlap and use commercial grade velcro?? Who knows! I havent thought much of that yet since I was just designing the dash from estimate distances. I will post more info when I get some. Thanks!

 

[terryk]

I got a spare analog cluster and trim panel. It looks like all of the indictors need to go and be replaced with new ones to fit all of those gauges. Maybe along the bottom?

 

[NOSjohnWE4]

dash

i still think the idea of a 70,000 rpm tach. is a COOL idea !! it might be a worthless gauge but how about one for the turbo RPM's ? heh heh


John C.
LedSLED Motorsports

 

[Cakes]

Terryk. Those 2 boxes on the left and right ends of the panel would be for the stock idiot lights. I'm pretty sure they will fit but I really cannot say for sure since I dont know how wide they are in reality and how wide the entire panel is. Take a look at one of the performance instruments panels:

http://www.performanceinstruments.com/GNX6W.htm

If you were to take 2 of the small gauges out and set it up like I have in the CAD drawing I'm pretty sure both sets of idiot lights will fit without a problem. I am a huge fan of custom things that employ stockparts thus the reason for doing it this way. Also you would not have to worry about wiring up your own turn signal lights, SES light , etc, etc...

Thanks again!

 

[terryk]

The speedo and tach are 6-3/4" wide alone. Adding 2x2-1/16" on each side will cut into indicators.

Of course I could always pull out a measuring tape and check........it's just so crazy it might work!

 

[Cakes]

That would be a huge help terryk. If not I could try and rig up some other way of having all the idiot lights or at least the imporant ones. Thanks!