When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I really don’t love the look of aftermarket gauges hanging down from a largely original dash in an stock resto.
BUT… I’m not trusting an engine that will be driven to idiot lights.
I have no issue with aftermarket gauges under the dash. Been doing this since high school in the 80s, and I’m sure I learned it from those-who-came-before.
Kenneth, don’t get me wrong, I have and have had plenty of cars with gauges under the dash and cut into the dash, but when you see a period resto and the gauges are obviously new…it kinda kills the vibe.
Great idea, this is what I did, temp gage for my D88, didn't want anything under dash. Double sided tape, small hole thru corner of dash, not thru wood grain, It's not a car gage, but industrial, very accurate, dimmable and has an alarm you can set. Temp gage mock up
This is a two-edged sword. Of course gauges are better than idiot lights because they can show a problem developing early on. HOWEVER, gauges only tell you this when you're looking at them. One big advantage of idiot lights is that they LIGHT UP when a problem arises, and that attracts your attention, even if you're not looking at the dash.
Your gauges are way down low. How often will you be looking at them while you're driving? I would guess not often at all. So what good will they have been if steam starts coming out from under the hood, and THEN you look down and see that the temperature is too high?
Many people poo-poo idiot lights, and with reasonably good reasons. However, remember that, back in the day, about 99% of humanity relied solely on idiot lights to drive their cars, and they did so mostly without problems.
Are you saying your speedometer is useless. Same with your tachometer.
I don't know about you but I have the ability to glance at my gauges in a split second.
Yes, an idiot light will grab your attention when looking at elsewhere.
But it won't tell you what a gauge will.
I think your missing Peter's intentions.
Maybe he has the same ability as most in being able to glance at his gauges.
And maybe he wants to hide them while putting his fine automobile on display at a show.
Looks great Peter !
No negativity here !
I didn't say the speedo monitors engine health.
Regardless, it's an indicator.
I'm guessing you drive around clueless of how fast your going.
Figures...
I didn't say the speedo monitors engine health.
Regardless, it's an indicator.
I'm guessing you drive around clueless of how fast your going.
Figures...
It's an indicator, but not an indicator of engine health, and it doesn't need to be monitored constantly.
I think that, save for your occasional "split second" look at your gauges, you drive around clueless about how your engine is doing.
Originally Posted by jaunty75
This is a two-edged sword. Of course gauges are better than idiot lights because they can show a problem developing early on. HOWEVER, gauges only tell you this when you're looking at them. One big advantage of idiot lights is that they LIGHT UP when a problem arises, and that attracts your attention, even if you're not looking at the dash.
Your gauges are way down low. How often will you be looking at them while you're driving? I would guess not often at all. So what good will they have been if steam starts coming out from under the hood, and THEN you look down and see that the temperature is too high?
Many people poo-poo idiot lights, and with reasonably good reasons. However, remember that, back in the day, about 99% of humanity relied solely on idiot lights to drive their cars, and they did so mostly without problems.
As a drag racer, I've been trained to CONSTANTLY check my gauges.
I just feel much more comfortable with doing this then waiting for a light to maybe come on to catch a problem.
I'm not bashing seeing them on most cars...but when you're not going with the "performance look" they generally seem out of place.
And thanks for the compliments Rick! I've been practicing my VO...
IMO, this is excellent idea!! Flip the gauges down while driving to monitor what's going on, then flip them back up under the dash for that "clean" look at car shows. Sorta like putting a modern stereo in your glove box. No harm, no foul. I just wish I had the ability to do it myself. GOOD JOB, Pete..
IMO, this is excellent idea!! Flip the gauges down while driving to monitor what's going on, then flip them back up under the dash for that "clean" look at car shows. Sorta like putting a modern stereo in your glove box. No harm, no foul. I just wish I had the ability to do it myself. GOOD JOB, Pete..
NJCutlass...that's my thought exactly.
Other than when the 70-72 guys add gauges to the 8-Track housing, I really don't think there's a way to add aftermarket gauges to a car where they don't look like a somewhat flimsy aftermarket add on...unless it's a race car and you're adding pods or cutting up your dash.
They always look more utilitarian than aesthetically pleasing.
I love what you did for the exact reasons you stated. When I owned my 67 4-4-2 from 1969 - 1973 that space was continuously occupied by several (because they always went South) 8-track tape players until I finally mounted the 8-track on the tranny hump & then installed a set of gauges in same area - but, it was too cumbersome - couldn't get to the 8-track. Girlfriends didn't appreciate any gauges in that location, they seemed fine w/ the 8-track though.
Do as you like with your car, who cares what other peoples opinions are, do what makes you happy. I'm sure there are addons that you could use and your phone could possibly be used for gauges.
I really like factory gauges, but you have to know the car to know what they mean, and all you're going to get is "grossly off." Although I will outfit my 67 with many options, about all I really want is gauges and a FM radio. I kind of want to make a 67 post coupe 4 speed some day with a track pack and a tach and that's it for options.
It's not how long it takes you look at them. It's the fact that you have to look at them at all and HOW OFTEN you look at them.
Back in school one of my friends was riding in the back seat and after a while commented that he noticed I had a routine: I looked in the rearview mirror, looked down at the gauges, the looked forward again. He said it repeated every 30 seconds or so, the entire time we were on the road.
I was never a big fan of the Oldsmobile gas gauge rallye pac. The Hot/Cold of the temperature and Low/High oil ranges leave you guessing what's really going on with the engine.
To that end on my Oldsmobile's I usually leave the factory dummy lights installed (and working) and also install aftermarket under-dash gauges. This gives me the best of both worlds.
Back in school one of my friends was riding in the back seat and after a while commented that he noticed I had a routine: I looked in the rearview mirror, looked down at the gauges, the looked forward again. He said it repeated every 30 seconds or so, the entire time we were on the road.
Yep. That's me with any of my old cars. Road-mirrors-gauges, road-mirrors-gauges...
I had a oil drive shaft strip out the bottom of a bronze distributor gear. I saw the problem happen real-time on my gauge.
I wasn’t going to post this here as I didn’t see decent relevance for Olds dashes but just saw a potential location (ashtray opening) that it might work in. I am quite happy with the one I installed in my 69 el Camino. Just figured it might appeal to someone. Puts temp, tach & oil pressure in one gauge, cheaply.
One vote for the (not well placed) glove box option for the gauges.
Works well in 65-66 big cars with that fairly large compartment. I’ve had stereo head units & 3 gauge packages in there for decades. I suspect the A bodies could accommodate either a head unit or gauge package.
Open it & you see what’s going on. Close it and you don’t have to see it.
The coolant sensor is small body (like partial pinky size) with 1/8”npt and the oil sensor is “normal” size, diaphragm style, similar to Olds w/ gauges, also has 1/8”npt iirc. I really like the gauge.
Here's a couple other options to consider......first---switch to the Dakota Digital cluster where the new gauges are digital and work amazing. The cluster comes with new sending units that report the engine conditions very accurately.
Dakota Digital Cluster
Or second, do like I did on my 67 Chevelle and put them up on the cowl so that you don't have to look down or take your eyes off the road to see what's going on.
Here's a couple other options to consider......first---switch to the Dakota Digital cluster where the new gauges are digital and work amazing. The cluster comes with new sending units that report the engine conditions very accurately.
Dakota Digital Cluster
In this case, that would not be an option as dakota digital does not make a dash for 64 or 65 cutlass. That said, I have a set of dakota digital VHX gauges in my Vista and love them. I also just bought a set of their RTX series for the 65 chevelle wagon I am building now, and I can't wait to see those lit up once I finish the car.
Last edited by Loaded68W34; Aug 22, 2024 at 04:10 PM.
In this case, that would not be an option as dakota digital does not make a dash for 64 or 65 cutlass. That said, I have a set of dakota digital VHX gauges in my Vista and love them. I also just bought a set of their RTX series for the 65 chevelle wagon I am building now, and I can't wait to see those lit up once I finish the car.
Cool---good to know on those model years. I love my DD clusters and have installed many of them on other cars.
Nice to see this topic and some good ideas. Real gauges are a must, I look at them all the time.
A cheap chrome bezel and parts store gauges might be better than nothing, but they sure look like an afterthought.
There are plenty of quality gauges to choose from. Full sweep, partial sweep, black on white, white on black, etc. Why not plan it out nice, like any other aspect of the car.
The ones I added in the Starfire match the look of the factory dash as close as possible, even the red pointer. Position wise I ended up framing the factory tach, because I'm looking down there anyway. I wasn't a lot of work, the couple holes that were needed would never be noticeable, and everything matches up.
On the hot rod (52 Studebaker) I had more freedom to cut the dash and fit them into the old speaker area.
Plenty easy to monitor and the look fits right in with the rest of the car.
I know this isn't the route the OP mentioned but several guys have mentioned installing gauges in an 8 track housing under the dash and others seemed interested in that idea so I thought I'd offer this info. I build gauge and stereo housings that are based on the size, shape and mounting method of the 68-72 Cutlass 8 track player. They are NOT repurposed 8 track housings. They are all made from 100% new materials and I have vinyl woodgrain to match the 69-72 cars so they look like they "could be factory". Here's a link the the ad I have on this site. If the link doesn't work for some reason, just search "gauge and stereo housings" on this site.
