Some really nice looking work you all have done. I'm still working some rough ideas on the computer. Thanks to everyone who replied, it does help!

 

Thanks Chris. I'm really happy with it. I'm a big fan of trying to keep it as original as possible. But you need to appease the speed gods too!

A few weeks ago it was just a bench seat shifted on the column. I don't think I'll ever recover a set of seats again. What a PITA!

Jim

 

Thanks Jim, really didn't take all that long, minus drying time for the glass and body filler, maybe 2 or 3 hours. And I am anything but skilled at fiberglas and body filler work.

 

No problems. I did a test fit first, to see if I would bang into anything.

I'm 5' 10" so if you're 6" 6" you could have problems. IMO, the factory buckets in these cars do not slide back far enough to accomodate everyone. Another click or two would be nice, especialy for the tall guys out there.

I don't have a clutch either, though I don't think that would change anything, not sure.

Damn Brad. Sounds like you put a lot of work into that. Pretty cool.

Jim

 

I made a front panel from 3/4" plywood, then trimmed a section out of my dash pad, fiberglassed a form into the trimmed out section, glued the plywood into the form, and then stretched fleece over the whole thing followed by fiberglass resin. After smoothing it out with body filler I sprayed it with rubberized bed liner (sold in spray cans at hardware store). I am very happy with it. Puts the gauges right beside my line of sight when driving, does not interfere at all with my view through the windshield (I can still see both front corners of the hood). And if I ever wanted to go back, I would just need a new dash pad.

 

jim m.- do you ever have problems with kicking that gauge panel on the left or your knee's hitting it?

 

fixed the pics. sorry.

I agree. As stock looking as possible but still functional.

Jim

 

Ken .....I dont have any bright ideas for you but FYI I installed the Shiftworks guages as well and in the case of oil pressure tee'd it into my SW guage ....also running an SW water temp guage .....to my surprise the Shiftwork guages are very close if not bang on to the mech guages especially the water .......I find the factory guages easier to see so check them more now I know where the factory guage should be for certain parameters ........... I know you want to use larger guages and want to reinstall your heater ...... but fabbed up a panel and tack welded it to the back of dash where the heater controls used to be ......took the control delete panel and expoxied magnets to the back to install over the guages for shows etc .......looks heater delete stock with cover on and easy to pop off for when I need to see them ......but only room for 2 1/16" guages also used some autometer angled bezels ( black plastic) to orient guages at an angle ...............do you still have the knee knocker tach in car ?? if you do and have got it to work with your MSD ignition box I'd luv to know how to do that ...... Sounds like you on right track .... fab up a metal box/panel under the dash that blends in at the same angle as dash paint it the same color .....think about those angle bezels ..... or maybe hang a row of guages from rollbar crossbar like xmas lights

 

here is a dark picture...I will take a couple more once I get some light in the garage...

 

That's what I'm planning to do, Eric. I was debating on whether to use aluminum rather than steel. The interior of my car is black as are the inset of the gauges. An aluminum panel might provide a nice contrast and make the gauges easier to read. Decisions, decisions....

 

If you start with a steel insert (just fab one?) you could trim it to fit, cut the holes for whatever gauge configuration you need, and powder coat it.

We used a DSE steel insert in a friend's 69 Camaro and we powder coated it with a black crinkle finish and it looks awesome. I'm sure you could fab something similar for a velle.

 

Thanks for the ideas, guys. Pro67, you're pictures aren't showing up for some reason. Yanniz, I restored the factory cluster earlier in the year and did a conversion to full factory gauges (mine was a no gauge car) using the ShiftWorks kit. I prefer the look of the factory cluster in the dash, but I also realize those gauges aren't the best for accurate readings. My goal is to try and keep the car stock appearing yet functional. Last night I started drawing some gauge cluster designs in a CAD program I have. I'm sure I can come up with something Whatever I design will include an electrical junction (or 2) that are integral to the gauge panel. I want to cut down on the under dash wiring. Running individual wires to this many gauges makes for a lot of wiring.

 

ken,
I just finished my interior as well.....I installed the Covan's dash and I think it looks really good...I also put my tranny temp gauge on the vertical cage bar on the driver's side, and I will put the vacumm gauge right below it...

hard to explain, I will see if I can grab some pictures today...

 

NHRA doesn't allow fluids to be inside the passenger compartment, so you would have to run electric gauges or isolaters for the fuel and oil. That's why many people put those gauges on the hood or under the cowl so noone can see them. I had a mechanical gauge in my Olds and I blew the plastic line apart, so I went with the copper line to cure that problem. This was driven on the street and street legal to the letter. Not a very economical car. At wide open throttle with the nitrous on, it got two gallons per mile. (not a misprint) Idleing around and not getting on it, it got about 3 miles to the gallon. Anyhow, this is a bit extreme, but here's what I did.

 

Hey Ken,

I just finished wiring up my new gauges. Sounds like I have a set-up aweful similar to what you described. I really like the location of everything and the autometer angle rings really help out with viewing the gauges in the middle.

In the middle I have three mech. 2 5/8s gauges:
oil
water
fuel

On the left I mounted a 2 1/16th mech. trans temp gauge with an open spot for whatever. I think it will end up being a vacuum gauge. Here's a couple pics...

Jim

 

Hey Ken,

I just finished wiring up my new gauges. Sounds like I have a set-up aweful similar to what you described. I really like the location of everything and the autometer angle rings really help out with viewing the gauges in the middle.

In the middle I have three 2 5/8s gauges:
oil
water
temp

On the left I mounted a 2 1/16th trans temp gauge with an open spot for whatever. I think it will end up being a vacuum gauge. Here's a couple pics...

Jim

OOOOh...that is nice. Just the right touch of speed parts & originality.