Substitute for original gauges ?
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Denison, Tx
Substitute for original gauges ?
Question: Has anyone ever replaced "just the gauges" inside of their original "round" instrument cluster, and if so, were they the special order variety or off the shelf versions ?
I have a 51 F-1 with a 12V system and the original gauges were bypassed for an AutoZone Special Instrument Cluster (Oil/Volts/Gas/Temp) mounted under the dash. They work ok of course but I do not like to look. I would like to have the original look with modern technology.
Problem: The 6V gauges to not work "Broken needles, springs, etc"
I took the gauge cluster out of the dash and disassembled the gauges to find out how they work and was very pleased with my findings. Voltage simply passes in through one terminal of the gauge, through a coil of wire wrapped around a small bar and out the other terminal. A magnetic field is created as current passes through this coil and attracts the needle to the bar. The more voltage the sending unit sends to the coil, the more the needle moves.
Thanks for any help
Mike
I have a 51 F-1 with a 12V system and the original gauges were bypassed for an AutoZone Special Instrument Cluster (Oil/Volts/Gas/Temp) mounted under the dash. They work ok of course but I do not like to look. I would like to have the original look with modern technology.
Problem: The 6V gauges to not work "Broken needles, springs, etc"
I took the gauge cluster out of the dash and disassembled the gauges to find out how they work and was very pleased with my findings. Voltage simply passes in through one terminal of the gauge, through a coil of wire wrapped around a small bar and out the other terminal. A magnetic field is created as current passes through this coil and attracts the needle to the bar. The more voltage the sending unit sends to the coil, the more the needle moves.
Thanks for any help
Mike
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Seattle USA
Substitute for original gauges ?
I've never disassembled the guages on a '51, but if you look at the back side of the guage cluster, do the individual guages come out leaving a hole? If they do, perhaps you could install the aftermarket gauges in the holes. I've considered that on my '56 (they do fit in the stock holes).
Barring that, you could subsitute an aftermarket billet type plate or manufacture your own.
Tim in Burien
Barring that, you could subsitute an aftermarket billet type plate or manufacture your own.
Tim in Burien
