I used the 3 3/8" Autometer speedo in my current instrument cluster, mounted in original back plane. the bezel just fits behind the instrument coverplate. I've got three other clusters that I've been toying with, but this is my current set up. Using electronic sender, speedo has self cal option on back. I left the meter faceplate on the speedo; fabbed up mounting bracket from behind to hold it in.

Following this build with interest.

Tom

 

That cluster looks pretty good Tom!

 

I have been doing some more trial and error. Messing with the speedometer, I realized that I can't just resize the face and not change everything else. The 1 in the 120 is so close to the odometer opening that if I make the gauge smaller, it will be cut off by the odometer. I also cut a bit off of the speedometer housing to bring the face out a bit closer. I think it looks better that way, but my you can tell that the black ring is not centered very well at all. I made a tapered bezel in solidworks and talked to the shop supervisor at school abut possibly getting it made in the 3D printer.

I also figured out how to use adobe illustrator a bit and made a new gauge face. I really like how it turned out.

 

Here is that face in the cluster. I really like how it looks and might try to go this direction. The only problem is if I go this direction, I will have to modify the gauge housings to the point that my half round face idea will not work. What do you guys think? Should I go with my original idea or try and continue with the rectangular faces?

 

I really like this look, I think it fits perfectly with an F1 décor. Nice job.

 

I'm partial to the rectangular format for the gauges; but your semi-circular openings would be one of.

Depends on your tastes.

Either way' you've put a lot on energy into your project. Keep at it.

Tom

 

Made a speedometer face today. I will have to try and find a smaller pointer if I go this route.

 

I think that I am going to continue with the rectangular gauges. The cool thing will be that unless it's somebody that really knows these trucks, most people won't be able to tell that it's not the stock gauge cluster.

 

Locks nice!

 

That's looking good Nick, close to original which is the look I prefer.

I still have some challenges ahead with compatibility between gauges and senders.

Keep at it.

Tom

 

Looks great!

 

Getting some more work done on the gauge cluster. I got some of the mounts on the back to secure the gauges. I also made small outline face plates to hold the face covers that I made on the computer. I modified the design of the speedometer to cover up where this plate is with black. When I print them on the transparency paper, I'm hoping that it will cover up where you can see the plates I made, especially on the speedometer.

 

Nick are you not going to do the half circle gauges, would have looked really sweet!

 

I like the stock look of the rectangular gauges, in fact I kept my gauges stock except for making a voltmeter out of the stock ammeter. It has the original face and needle. In that case I did have someone else do the conversion, not costly.

 

I have been working on this a lot the last few days. I got the good gauge faces made at fedex kinkos. They are two layers of transparency paper and a layer of normal paper. They turned out pretty well, just have to see how well they hold up. Still deciding on what I want to do with the cluster face. With my patina look that im gonna do, it might look fine to just leave it as is. All I need to do now is wire up the gauge lights, and its pretty much done.