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Gauge placement help requested

Posted By: B1arno

Gauge placement help requested - 09/12/09 07:46 PM

I am working on the dash for my 34 coupe and would like your suggestions for gauge placement. I got some gauges from a friend but still need to pick up a tach. The dash I got with the car was pretty messed up with an oversized hole where the windshield crank hole used to be and then a crudely welded in patch to cover it. The lower section of the dash had been cut off and a flat piece of steel had been tacked in its place.
I took the dash to a couple of welder fabrication shops to see if they could repair the hole and weld in a new lower section. They did not want to deal with it because the metal was pretty thin from corrosion.
I decided to attemp the repairs myself and think it is coming out pretty well.
I would like your opinions on gauge placement. I have include pics. I have my favorites but would like to know yours. First, these are the gauges.
Thanks
Arno

Attached picture 5478311-dashandgauges007.jpg
Posted By: B1arno

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/12/09 07:47 PM

#1

Attached picture 5478312-dashandgauges006.jpg
Posted By: B1arno

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/12/09 07:48 PM

#2

Attached picture 5478314-dashandgauges008.jpg
Posted By: B1arno

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/12/09 07:48 PM

#3

Attached picture 5478318-dashandgauges009.jpg
Posted By: mikeinkc

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/12/09 08:21 PM

you need a larger gauge to center those little ones... tach/speedo. my .02 worth
Posted By: B1arno

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/12/09 08:42 PM

Quote:

you need a larger gauge to center those little ones... tach/speedo. my .02 worth





Those little ones are the larger 3 5/8" gauges. All four would be the larger gauges with one of the gauges sharing fuel/oil and the other sharing volts/water temp. I could only go to the "monster" 5" gauge to get bigger. I actually prefer the two larger gauges speedo/tach with four individual gauges, but I got these cheap.
Arno
Posted By: landon1

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/13/09 02:40 AM

i like layout #2 with temp/volts far left, then tach, speedo, and finally oil/fuel working to the right
Posted By: moparx

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/13/09 03:00 PM

arno, you did a very nice job on the hacked dash ! i can't help with the gage placement tho. i would need more info on your interior theme.......
Posted By: B1arno

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/13/09 04:02 PM

Quote:

arno, you did a very nice job on the hacked dash ! i can't help with the gage placement tho. i would need more info on your interior theme.......




Interesting that you mentioned an interior theme. I never thought of it that way, but that makes sense. The exterior of the car is meant to be like a streetrod you would have seen in the sixties with the exception of the large rear wheels and tires.
The interior is more modern with 1999 Intrepid bucket seats, power windows, and a modern stereo.
The gauges I have are designed to look like the 20s and 30s cars. I definately don't care for digital gauges but I might have to rethink using the gauges I have and look for something a little more modern.

Thanks for the input!
Arno
Posted By: RodStRace

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/13/09 08:44 PM

Wait until the seat, steering and dash are mounted. It would be bad if your beautiful layout placed a gauge right where the steering wheel blocked it...
BTW, you could place the gauges on a copier so you have the faces in your layouts...
Posted By: Supercuda

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/13/09 08:53 PM

Depending on what you are going for, a driver or a show car, I'd put the seat and steering setup you plan to run in it and tape your templates in variouus locations. Ain't nothing more annoying that a guage hidden by the wheel, or in an odd location.

Dang, beaten to the punch
Posted By: B1arno

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/14/09 01:58 AM

Ok, I'm going to take the suggestions and back off of the gauges until I get some other things worked out.
Thanks
everyone!
Arno
Posted By: RUMBLON

Re: Gauge placement help requested - 09/14/09 03:53 PM

Quote:

you need a larger gauge to center those little ones... tach/speedo. my .02 worth




I agree as well, a TAC and speedo and you may as well match them to some smaller gauges. I dont know what brand those are that you have but gauges are not real pricy and I would get the ones you need for your application, that are of a good quality. I tend to use Auto-meter sport comp, which looks good in many vehicles, including my 70 cuda vert and my 38 plymouth. You really need a quality gauge, so your not going under the dash several times.

I would also do what was suggested and make copies of the gauges on the copier and space them after you seats are in.

Dave
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