I am tearing out my "idiot sweep" dash on my 71' and putting in a set of guages... not sure which brand yet. But I need something to purchase or something built, some steel or metal to fit in the hole where I tear out the old..... does anyone know where? I dont have a welding torch so I cant do it... rah......

something to mount my guages in that is. And then into the dash it goes...

I did mine in plastic http://members.aol.com/chvellss/dash.jpg http://members.aol.com/chvellss/216.jpg

I relocated my headlight switch and molded in a shift light where it was. I have a lot of time (and money) in this.. hope if gave you some ideas

When I re-did mine, I made trip to Home Depot and picked up a piece of sheet metal. Easy to work with (tin snips, shears,air nibbler..etc. ) Then when it was all laid out. I covered the sheet metal with a piece of vinyl to match the rest of the interior.

nice job Hot66ss! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Nice, I love it! Did you have the idiot sweep dash before, was the wiring a bitch to get in?

Here's another idea which retains the idiot lights so you can still use the original turn signal indicators. It requires the use of Autometer Street Rod Series guages.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Dcp_0438.jpg

Both dashes look nice.

:eek: Nice. Very cool pictures. I noticed there were all guages holes made for the top, and your final product there were 3 put down by the stereo, what made you change your mind, If I saw it right. Did that set of guages come with wiring? I've seen alot of kits and sets Im having trouble making my final choice. tongue.gif

Oh yeah... The headlight switch was a nice idea, You did exactly what I've been starting. Have anymore pics of the inside? or out?

I think I can answer that question for HOT66ss. The size of the guages will determine the location and placement of the guages, as well as the finished look you choose. His removes the sweep speedo housing entirely, while the one I made retains the old housing. But to do this with the panel in the picture I posted, it does require Street Rod Series guages which smaller outside diameters.
I abandoned this plan after I ran across a cheap Monte Carlo dash for my car, but I still use the panel to make templates for people who want to do this to their dash.

Also, if you want to use Randy's dash. I would reccommend not asking HIM for the template as it will take 30 years for him to send it. ;)

Lol, j/k. :D

BTW, Randy, I finished it, and it looks great. So thanks again. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Ill throw one of these in too. Since I like beer. graemlins/beers.gif

ha smile.gif Well I picked up 5 Autometer guages, a few people have told me I'll have a bitch of a time hooking up my speedo and might need a custom cable made? I just bought it all today so I havent gotten into it yet, kind of curious what else I may need for the speedo. :eek:

You will have to be careful with the location of the speedo because the cable is not very flexible and it must dodge the metal frame behind the dash cage. You will see what I mean when you take the dash out.

You can get around the speedo cable issue by going with the electronic speedometer. All you'll need is a sender for the transmission, which Autometer also sells.

FUBAR, the sun was in my eyes, my dog ate my homework, my alarm didn't go off, I was sick with the flu, and I had a flat tire!! http://216.40.249.192/s/ups/DeNiro/fight.gif

How about some pictures?

Excuses, excuses. graemlins/clonk.gif

Randy is correct about the electronic speedo's, but you may experience sticker shock when you price one.

great :

Well Home depot has crap for sheet metal. Anyone know a good place to find sheets of good metal to custom build my dash? Im going to just rip through the yellow pages tomorrow. :eek:

recycle an appliance, washer, dryer, refridgerator

When mounting the guages did you use another peice of steel or plastic for the back? Im using steel for the front which they will slide into, and be visible, but the back which will be inside my dash area, how to the guages stay in yours? There are the 2 little bolt stems on the autometer guages, should i get another peice of smaller steel or plastic to run along the backs of them? If that even made sence.... :eek:

Ohhhh yet another question smile.gif with the wiring on these suckers, Can I splice them all together (for the postive neg. light wires) then run them to my power and ground? graemlins/beers.gif

Run them in parallel. The would mean to splice them all to a single wire, (of larger gauge) then run that wire to a fuse 12+ that is controlled by the headlight switch. Orange wire I think.

ah, perfect, just the answer I was looking for. Thanks alot smile.gif

I bought a slab of nice enough alumminum for the dash, I'll post some photos in a few days when its all finished and show you all what you helped me with! Thanks :D