gauge project

[Fake Name]

Finally making progress on my LONG list of runaway iottas.

Started out simple with a new grille and tranny cooler- then iotta do the radiator, AC system, water pump, PS pump. Then batteries, hold-downs, starter, header gaskets, primary wiring, alternator replacement, overflow bottle. And, since I had the dash apart iotta remount stereo, overhaul the heater/ac controls. And, while I was doing that, iotta replace the gauges:

[71 LONG BED]

Wow, nice lookin' gauge panel you got there!
Uotta do the column, and the seat, and the head liner, and...
I see what you mean.

[FLATBEDFORD]

That's not the F600 one is it? Where is it from? I want on just like it.

[Fake Name]

Nooo, that's not an f600. It's a modified factory surround piece and a billet panel from these guys:

http://boeseengineering.com/

and a full $et of Autometer gauges. The billet panel is nice, but their little attachment tabs were a strong disappointment. But it beats the heck out for trying to fabricate a panel myself. That's also a Painless gauge harness, and I've added a few connectors for the indicator lights so it's entirely modular if I need to service any of the pieces.

It's good to have that part finished.

fn

[Fake Name]

Uotta do the column, and the seat, and the head liner, and...I see what you mean.

You're not helping!!!

Yes, a pair of "real" bucket seats are in the distant future. Headliner was done by the po!

fn

[Big D's 69]

Man that looks good. Nice work.

[rjewkes]

Hey wanna make a couple more?

[Fake Name]

$ure! But it's not real tough to do it yourself. The Painless harness really is- it all plugs right it.

fn

[rjewkes]

couldn't find the one you have on their sight is there a part #?

[dcbullet]

Very very nice. Is the stock surround you are using plastic or metal?

The connectors plug right into your stock wiring (except I guess the volt meter)?

[Fake Name]

They make two, one for electronic spedos, the other for manual. Here's the Jegs link:

https://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/ ... 2_13689_-1

I added another pigtail for my tranny temp gauge mounted in the dash adjacent to the instrument cluster. I also soldered a lot of the terminals I used just cause iotta.

fn

fn

[Fake Name]

Very very nice. Is the stock surround you are using plastic or metal?

The connectors plug right into your stock wiring (except I guess the volt meter)?

It's plastic, but I'd have preferred metal, I think. I've never seen a metal one.

No, the harness is NOT a plug-in replacement. Sorry if I mislead. The harness connects all the gauges, indicator lights and instrument lights together and comes back to a few multi-pin connectors. You then have to rewire the connector in the truck. For me, this was fine, as I was replacing all the instrument wiring anyway. I will be using the existing (tested) fuel sender wires, B+ wire and instrument light wires. But the tach (obviously), the OP, WT, speedo and voltmeter will be run with all new wires to fresh senders.

I'm not trying to be factory stock. I'm trying to create reliability in a 36 year old truck. And my eyesight is old and poor- I couldn't handle that factory speedo anymore. I also can calibrate the electronic speedo with great accuracy.

fn

[hutch1973]

Nice panel. I saw those when I was messing with my bump, but never saw one fully assembled. Looks great.

[gonzalo medina]

Aren't those made by that dolphin company on ebay. I seen them for $140 on ebay and there stainless steel. I beleive they just bolt on to the existing dash right?

[widegauge]

I have a metal one but the factory gauges bolt from the front on metal not from the back like the plastic ones. but if you are using the aftermarket round gauges I guess it wouldn't matter.