Tach and gages in/on a boxie dash?

Well, the personalization process is bumping along nicely, on my "new to me" '89 Estate Wagon...

I want to add a tach, water temp oil pressure, oil temp, volt meter and a tranny temp gages. (I really hate idiot lights) Problem is where to put them all. (with out making it look like an airplane cockpit or a fart can tuner) I'm building a long distance cruiser, so I want to keep tabs on temp's and pressures easily, without the "Grizwald" look.

I considered a hood mounted tach, 'till I saw the prices I found a plastic, three gage, hood pod, but it's swoopy and round, not a good match For the Boxie's clean lines. Is there anything out there, that when bolted to the hood, wouldn't look like a turd on a carpet?

Is there a "B" body dash that can be swapped in, with a more gage friendly lay out? What about a mini console on the tranny hump?

Well, that's the questions, (the easy part) Now I need to know how you guys have solved this problem.

Any input would be appreciated. As usual, smart azz comments and sarcasm will be considered and graded for content.

Thanks, Paul

 

when bolted to the hood, wouldn't look like a turd on a carpet? YES !

On my son's 1976 El Camino he used a three pod plastic mount that hooked on the A-pillar.

 

If there was a factory gauge cluster, it would only have four of the six gauges you want, so my suggestion would be to build a trans hump console to hold all six gauges at an angle for you to be able to read them.

 

89 Estate Wagon what?
Howbout a pic of your current dash, so we have an idea of what your wantin to do?

 

My 87, basically 99% identical dash as a 89....not much you can do, I'd also suggest the tranny hump gauges or IMO you are just going to destroy the dash.

 

This is the setup we made on my Son's 93 Ranger, just used the original interior screw to mount the pillar gauge pod, and made the instrument cluster out of 1/8" plexiglass:


70's Nova small console setup, PRICEY:

https://www.yearone.com/Product/1962-74-nova/bg592


http://chicago.ebayclassifieds.com/m/ViewLargeImage?adid=29921550

Summit gauge pod that could be fitted to the above consolett:

Just some food for thought!

 

This post mount is what our son had in his 1976 El Camino but it was a three or four pod one.

 

You could try these.

 

Those look nice Stickman. Personally I don't like making holes in a perfectly good dash. They'd look nice on a homebuilt wooden console covered in matching vinyl.
Somewhere there is a thread about building a center console.

 

To me the console idea is the best one. I agree about the turd on the carpet .....

This Nova set up looks like a good idea but build your own console box that incorporates that cluster, add a tach too as well as cup holders: old cars don't have cup holders: drive me crazy. You could even go with digital gauges but have them hidden in the console with a flip or slide open lid. Digitals have illuminated numbers: easy to read from a distance. Just some thoughts. If you don't have the building skills an automotive upholstery shop could handle that easily. Good luck, post what you do when its done!

 

I see the Dreaded Cheap plastic Line going to the Mecanical Oil pressure Gauge!!!!! With the line out in the open ready to spray Hot oil under pressure all over the interior and driver!!!
I tell you how I know but it would prove that I was in fact young and dumb.
I would suggest what ever way you decide to go to get a electronic Oil pressure gauge, or at least use copper tubing on a direct reading gauge.

 

I've had many cheap plastic oil lines in my past. About the only problems I had was leaks at the fittings until I finally got them sealed.
But as soon as I could I'd switch to copper. After a few years under the hood plastic lines get brittle.
I still remember clear plastic spark plug wires and the plastic see thru ones that were red or blue.

 

Ya'll are making this too hard, ad least for adding everything but the tach. There is already a setup that is easy to do in the big Buicks. Find a 1980-85 Buick Skylark with the optional gauge package, optional on base cars, standard on T-Type/Sport Coupe/Sport Sedan option. Was easier to find about 10-years ago, but they are STILL out there in salvage yards/Ebay/Craigslist if you look.

 

That's a nice idea Mike. I'm sure there are some U-Pull-It's in central Florida with those cars.

 

Not sure why the gauges were not an option on the big cars. The right panel on the base Skylark is a big gas gauge, just like on the larger cars. The temp and volts were optional and just replaced that big single gas gauge. Should be a fairly easy project to use in a big car.