i'm thinking of updating my gauges. or in my case idiot lights. i've seen pics of the dakota package whereby you send them your instrument cluster and they fit their gauges to it. includes everything but the fuel level sender for $637.
sound expensive? i've ordered their catalog but i wonder if that's better than fabricating my own or even using analog gauges. i would also have to fabricate a bezel if i did it myself.
i noticed the car manufactures went back to analog gauges after a short run with digital??
any opinions..

Might want to check out this post. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=003005#000006

I just posted this in another topic but it seem worth repeating.

I’m doing a custom SS dash right now. Much like the one SS520 did. I am using the Auto Meter Phantom white face gauges that have the black bezels on then so it will look like your looking into a hole at them.

I got an SS dash off eBay as well as a gauge housing to modify. The housing needed some repair work so I have been using plastic specific epoxy to reinforce some of the areas of 30 year old plastic and bond the aluminum framework for holding the gauges in place.

This is a lot of work and requires a lot of “outside the box” analytical thinking to solve the problems of how to mount the gauges, how to secure them and make it reliable enough that it will last through the bumps and grinds of everyday driving.

The three main gauges are the 3 3/8” tach and electric speedo plus the 2 5/8” fuel gauge and the 2 1/16” oil, temp & volts. The three main gauges are not too bad but the smaller 2 1/16 gauges are trickier to get mounted and positioned in the housing so that you will be able to see the markings on the faces. I had to do a lot of grinding with my Dremel to get things to fit just how I want them.

I am also going to mount an AM radio in the original location. I got a non-working one off eBay and gutted it so that is just for looks. I am mounting a disappearing face (flat face) El Kameleon in the area where the heater controls were. I took out the air and I don’t need anymore heat than I already get from the BB on the other side of the firewall !

The key is don’t try to do this project on a set time frame. It will take some time and a lot of it is staring at the stuff trying to figure out the best way to accomplish what you are trying to do. Then fabricating it, assembling it and taking t back apart and then doing it all over again before you paint everything and assemble it for the final time. I have been at this for the last three weekends and I’m about ½ way done – like I said you can’t hurry this project. The finished product will reflect the time and care you put into it.

Oh by the way, if you think this is a cheap way to get an SS dash FORGET IT ! So far I have spent more on the used dash, gauges (almost $400 alone), old radio and gauge housing than I would have an a good used SS dash with working gauges. That doesn’t count the epoxy, paint, aluminum sheet & strap material – it all adds up. But you end up with a one of a kind custom dash the YOU built.

I will post some pix of the “in process” work under a new topic.

Hope this helps !

Tom