Homemade instrument clusters

Posted By: 70duster340

Homemade instrument clusters - 05/29/11 03:14 AM

I'm considering making my own instrument cluster so I can utilize more modern guages, speedo, tach, etc. So, can you folks show me yours? Maybe also incluse how you made it? It currently has a '71 Rallye dash instrument cluster.

The car is a '70 Duster, 340, 4-speed, 8.75 with 3.91's.

Thanks in advnace!

Posted By: yellow65

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/29/11 12:54 PM

Here is a link to the article in Mopar Muscle on my car and a picture of the dash its all stainless steel with autmeter guages http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/featu...0/photo_04.html

Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/29/11 05:38 PM

Quote:

I'm considering making my own instrument cluster so I can utilize more modern guages, speedo, tach, etc. So, can you folks show me yours? Maybe also incluse how you made it? It currently has a '71 Rallye dash instrument cluster.

The car is a '70 Duster, 340, 4-speed, 8.75 with 3.91's.

Thanks in advnace!

I'll send you some pics in a week or so, dash is being painted.

Posted By: Andrewh

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/29/11 07:56 PM

couple people used flat aluminum or pvc and glued in pvc tubes on it to give the recesses to mount the gagues.

Posted By: 70duster340

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/29/11 09:41 PM

Thanks folks. Keep 'em coming, please!!!

Posted By: 70duster340

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/30/11 03:49 AM

Anybody else???

Posted By: dart67

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/30/11 09:28 PM

I've got the insert ready and will send a pic as soon as I get my camara back. Yet to put in the car.......but it's ready.

Kevin

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/30/11 10:34 PM

This is the one I had made custom for my 70 Dart after the 340 Rally dash layout.

Posted By: 70duster340

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/31/11 02:54 AM

Nice job, Pyper. Who did the printing on the panel?

dart67, thanks. I'm looking forward to the pics!

Thanks, folks!

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 05/31/11 10:29 AM

those are actually vinyl stickers. Usually in a mall near you, there are those little kiosks that they will make stickers for your windshield or that type of thing. I asked them to make it with Lime green. I think the whole thing cost me like $15 for lettering

Posted By: 70duster340

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/01/11 02:20 AM

Thanks for the tip!!!

Posted By: Xlr8us Rapidus

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/01/11 04:05 AM

CNC machined aluminum...

Posted By: 76Beeper

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/01/11 06:04 PM

Here's the one in a 71 Satellite I just bought.
Has Autometer classic street rod gauges.
I'm taking it all out & putting a ralley cluster in.

Posted By: CUDAJAS

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/01/11 06:16 PM

Quote:

Here's the one in a 71 Satellite I just bought.
Has Autometer classic street rod gauges.
I'm taking it all out & putting a ralley cluster in.

Realy..I like it.

I woudlliek to do soemthign like that to my Cuda!!

Posted By: 70duster340

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/15/11 04:03 AM

Hey Crazy68Dart, did you ever get the pics of that dash for me?

Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/15/11 11:48 AM

Not yet, still being painted. I will once I get it back, promise.

Hopefully this weekend.

Posted By: BEINGmeISaCRIME

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/16/11 03:20 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Here's the one in a 71 Satellite I just bought.
Has Autometer classic street rod gauges.
I'm taking it all out & putting a ralley cluster in.

Realy..I like it.

I woudlliek to do soemthign like that to my Cuda!!

Would it be possible your gauge cluster will be for sale in the future? I'd be interested

Posted By: DANA60

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/16/11 03:24 AM

68 Dart

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Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/23/11 02:26 AM

Quote:

Hey Crazy68Dart, did you ever get the pics of that dash for me?

Here are your pics. These are terrible, no light, on the floor. I'll get some more when I get it in the car. That and the dash pad is filthy. A bit rushed tonight...

Anyway, my goal was to have a "strictly business" look to it, with no visible fasteners. I didn't want the dash to look like a factory dash with an aftermarket insert bolted to it. I also smoothed the ash tray, and removed the lower pad (this is a '68 dash) since it chopped it up too much.

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Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/23/11 02:27 AM

Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/23/11 02:27 AM

Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/23/11 02:28 AM

Posted By: rustbuckett68

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/23/11 03:26 AM

ABS can be purchased in sheets up to 4" x 8' (~$35.00, one side pebbled, one side smooth) and can be molded with heat, and glued with plumbers adhesive. It can be bent in a brake and retain its shape. Neat stuff. Works with normal power tools, table saw, jig saw, router, hand tools, etc.

Posted By: 70duster340

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/24/11 04:18 PM

That looks really good, Crazydart68. I can't tell from the pics, but is that a flat panel or is it bent? Metal or plastic? I don't have a brake, so bending isn't an option, unless there is another way.

Posted By: shanker

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/24/11 04:49 PM

that A-Body dash looks FANTASTIC

I have a complete set of brand new Autometer Ultralight Pentastar gauges that I bought (it took 5 years to piece it all together because Mopar Performance discontinued them many years ago)planning on doing exactly the same..I recently got a restored Instrument Cluster and I'm thinking about parting ways with the whole setup I have now. Since Rocky Mountain gauge works went out of business, I dont have an economical way to do exactly what the above dash looks like.

Posted By: west

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/24/11 06:02 PM

Quote:

those are actually vinyl stickers. Usually in a mall near you, there are those little kiosks that they will make stickers for your windshield or that type of thing. I asked them to make it with Lime green. I think the whole thing cost me like $15 for lettering

what does the "dixie" switch do?

Posted By: 73rrak

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/24/11 06:38 PM

what does the "dixie" switch do?

I want to know that tooo !!!!

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/24/11 07:04 PM

I will wadger it is for the dixie horn blaster

Posted By: radar

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/24/11 11:59 PM

Doo-da doot doot dooda looda doot doot doo-doo

General Lee horn?

Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/25/11 03:15 AM

Thanks guys.

I cannot take credit for the paint, guy that painted the Dart did the dash as well. It is base/clear. I did the prep and metal work, smoothing, epoxied the insert in, etc. He primed, blocked, and painted.

The panel is bent. It is a RMD insert that was one of the first they made. I've had it for *years*.

I'll see if I can come up with some progress pics that I took of it years ago.

Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Homemade instrument clusters - 06/25/11 03:21 AM

Man these pics are old... lol. These frames were not meant for a gloss black paint job, so I needed to straighten it.

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