Figured I'd post some progress of my attempt of installing gauges where I can. The most obvious spot would be under the dash, however I have an A/C in the way. Fortunately for me there is a 3/8" metal bracket attached under the main A/C unit I can use to attach Randy's gauge housing.

I had to cut the bottom of the housing out to accommodate the tunnel, which helped me support the bottom of the housing. Randy also assisted me in determining the best way to mount the gauge housing.

Sorry in advance for the quality of the pictures, my garage is awful dark and I have the car on jack stands, so I wasn't able to get it out in the sunshine. In person it looks very good. I will follow up with better pictures when it is all complete.

Right now I have everything mocked up as I still have a little bit of fitting to do to get everything the way I like it.

Thanks Randy for selling a quality product.

 

Hi Shaun,

Glad the housing made to you safely.

Looks like you already have the install mods figured out. It looks great. The angles of the a/c box flow really well down to the gauge housing. Looks like the housing is just an extension of the a/c box.

You're welcome Shaun.

Thank you for the compliment. Glad to be able to help.
Randy

 

have you tried using real housings?

 

Looks nice.
I have thought about it and have seen pics of some that have been converted to hold a stereo. I've actually built a custom housing for a customer to look like an 8 track player but actually have a cd player inside. Here's some pics of the one I did for him in progress. All parts except the front trim piece are NEW materials. I personally think it would be a waste to ruin a prefectly good original 8 track housing but to each his own.

Here are some pics of various other custom housings I've done to date if anyone is interested.

DoubleDINCustom.jpg

 

I have one of your 3-guage housings in a customer's car. I'm glad to see your expanding your product line.I need some for myself.I just need to figure out where to start,or which car.

 

Hi Brian,
I've always built custom housings. I just mainly advertise the standard single stereo or three gauge versions because those are the most popular. But even in those ads, like the one above, I mention that custom housings are available.
I'd be happy to build one for each of your cars. I do offer a few bucks off of multiple housing orders. I'll reply to your email as well.

Anyone interested in a custom housing can shoot me an email at w70442@hotmail.com with what they have in mind. A pic of a sketch/drawing would be good. I'll work with you to design one that you like and that will work within the limitations of the space available.
Thanks,
Randy

 

I went with Stewart Warner electric Green Line gauges, they followed the theme of the factory gauges pretty close. Solder connections instead of crimp was a little labor intensive but they won't pull off or corrode.

Quality of the housing is top notch!





003.jpg

 

Nice choice on the gauges. Looks great. Man, you got that sucker installed Quick.
Thank you for the compliment.
Randy

 

I saw one where it still had the 8-track look but could swing open like a door R-L and behind it was a cassette player. Today a CD player would fit too. I like the idea of "original looking".

 

Ken,
Scroll up in this thread a little and you'll see some pics of one in progress that I did for a customer. I don't have any pics with the ***** and all installed because he modified and installed those parts. I just built the plastic housing with the flip down face and cd player mount inside.

 

Those just rock in my opinion!! I definately added a bookmark for when the interior time comes

 

Hi Charles and Thank you.

I assume you mean you'd like to put one in your 88. I'm kinda new around here and don't know what all everyone has yet. Forgive me for not knowing what year your 88 is but if that is what you want to put a housing in and it's a 72 or earlier, I could put the correct "big car" 8 track mounting brackets on the housing making it that much easier to install in your 88.

Randy

 

will there be any for 64-67 cutlass's coming in the near future?

 

Hi Jim,

I would love to be able to offer these to every car out there. There are just too many cars for me to test fit a housing in each one. I have had several guys install these into cars other than the 68-72 Cutlass. One in a 68 GTO, one in a 65 Mustang, one in a 74 Dodge Dart 340 and two in 71 Lemans'. So it can be done and, in most cases, a simple L bracket is all that is needed. In those cases, I provide the semi-tubular rivets for the customer to install their fabricated brackets onto the housing for a nice, professional looking installation.

Basically, if you have a flat surface 12" wide on your lower dash with room for a 4" tall by 7" deep box toward the firewall, you can probably install one of these in your car.

I don't currently know anyone with a 64-67 Cutlass that will let me crawl under their dash to test fit a housing but I would be glad to work with you to research the possibility of installing one in your car.

If you can email some front and side view pics of the underside of your dash to w70442@hotmail.com, I'll have a look and see what we might be able to come up with.
Thanks,
Randy

 

I think am going to wing it and save up for the houseing for three gauges and modern radio believe after looking at your pictures things should go well, thanks and well be getting with you soon...jim

 

Sounds good. Just give me a hollar when you're ready.
w70442@hotmail.com

Randy

 

Randy.
This is exactly what I've been looking for.
I need one.
Already sent you an email about buying one.

Jon

 

Hi Jon,

The housings are made of new abs plastic and accept paint/dye very well when prepped properly by cleaning with dawn dishwashing
soap. You can also use prepsolve. I usually use an adhesion promoter called "Bulldog" anytime I paint/dye plastic. It comes in a spray can and you can get it at walmart. You just spray a couple very light(mist) coats on after cleaning and immediately prior to painting/dyeing.
Sure, I can send the trim so you can install it later.

I'll email the rest of the details directly.
Thank you,
Randy

 

Hi Guys,
Just thought I'd bump this add instead of taking up more site space with a new one.
Christmas is right around the corner and with the car tucked away for the winter, it's a great time to upgrade the sound system.
Order by December 3rd to have it delivered before Christmas.
Happy Holidays !
Randy

 

It's that time of year again. Your car is part of the family isn't it? It deserves a present too!!

 

Any pics in the '66-'67 cars?

 

Hi Doc,

I've sold some to guys with 66 and 67 cars but haven't had any send me pics of the install yet. I'm sure you'd prefer the real thing but if you send me a pic of your dash, I may be able to photoshop one into the pic to give you an idea.
As I've mentioned before, the mounting brackets that I currently have are specifically for the 68-72 A body dash but simple L brackets are usually all that are needed to mount one to most dashes. I can send the housing with the brackets I have or make it with out brackets so you can decide how best to mount it in your car.
Let me know if you have any other questions. You can reply directly to w70442@hotmail.com if you'd like.
Thank you,
Randy

 

Just got my housing from Randy last week. It is very well made. Will post pics when it is properly installed! Thanks Randy!

 

Thank you Phillip. Glad you liked it. Cant wait to see pics of it installed.

Best gettem up quick too. You don't tease the guys around here about pics....... They're serious about their pics.

Thanks again,
Randy

 

Here it is. The plate over where the regular stereo goes is a bit rough right now, but i'll be fixing that with a proper "stereo delete" front plate eventually.

 

Will keep you in mind for the winter..

 

Looking good Phillip. You can prob get a nice looking factory am radio to put in the dash for like $40. May or may not work but it might be cheaper than getting new wood grain. Either way, nice ride there.

 

Hey Alex72cutty,
Sure thing. Hit me up at w70442@hotmail.com when you're ready.

 

How far apart are the mounting holes? I have two holes drilled in the bottom of my dash, I never knew what they were from. Possibly an 8 track, we'll see.

 

The two 3/8" holes in the channel that runs under the dash are 14 1/4" apart. If the car did have a factory 8 track at some point, there will also be two small 3/32" holes for the small screws that go into the front tabs on the 8 track mounting brackets and into the dash. They will vary because they weren't prepuched at the factory and there are no dimples to indicate where they go. I think they just installed the housing by inserting the threaded studs into the 3/8 holes and drilled the holes through the holes in the mounting brackets wherever they landed. They may have even just shot some self tapping screws in there with out drilling a pilot hole. These holes are about 13 3/4" apart but will vary a little from car to car..

 

This is exatly what I was looking for to add a double din stereo to my 71 cutlass supreme. Do you still build these housings? I sent you a email with stereo information.

 

I just spoke to Randy today and he is going to make me a custom double din mount for my 71 cutlass supreme. I cant wait to see it, only 2 weeks to complete it, I will post pictures when I get it installed

 

good thread,, bump

 

Thank you Charlie. I'm still building them.

 

I could use one of those. Sent you an email

 

bump.

 

Big huge thanks to Randy for the mount. I think my stereo came out great and it looks fantastic. And i managed to save my dash kinda, need to get them cut a little better but it came out great!
Thanks Randy!!! definitely will recommend

 

You're very welcome. I'm proud to be associated with such a nice car. I love the color combo. Well done.

 

Randy, different subject but tangentially related. My lower dash is in food shape but has been cut out for a radio. The wood grain is beat up. Any ideas about making a repair plate that would adhesive from the back and then putting new woodgrain on? Have you tried anything like that?