Ideas for sport guages placement? |
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CJJ
Member Joined: 10-January-2021 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 114 |
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Posted: 10-January-2021 at 8:12PM |
i have a 76 Gran Torino with same instrument cluster. I’m putting in a high performance motor and want to use the Sport guages. Anyone done some good placement or ideas? I have a center console, but not sure how user friendly that would be? Thanks in advance
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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do you have sport gauges in your car now? or are you thinking of swapping from a standard cluster??
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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if you are swapping read through this... it was super helpful when i converted to sport from std gauges
i had to swap like 3 wires in the main connector and wire in the tach and amp gauge... http://forum.grantorinosport.org/info-72-79-gauge-clusters-and-wiring_topic2933.html |
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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CJJ
Member Joined: 10-January-2021 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 114 |
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I was actually thinking of using them somehow separate from the instrument cluster. The one in there is basic Torino so instead of buying guages I thought maybe I could make something to use the sport guages somewhere?
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phordnut
Member Joined: 13-April-2004 Location: Waukesha, WI Status: Offline Points: 136 |
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I used the original sport gauge base, black bezel,and faceplate. Removed everything from the base and cut needed sections for clearance. Then I attached mounting brackets directly to the back of the bezel and mounted VDO gauges directly to the bezel. Attached the bezel w/gauges to the housing and ran the wires out the back. Installed the housing and bezel unit, then installed the faceplate as usual. Gauges didnt add much added weight to the bezel and I was able to use all the factory mounting locations to the housing which secured everything.Ran separate wires to VDO sending units and wired the dash lights in series. Gives me VDO gauges with correct sending units all in stock configuration. Saves needing to mount external gauges anywhere else. Just another option...
Allen Edited by phordnut - 12-January-2021 at 3:52AM |
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CJJ
Member Joined: 10-January-2021 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 114 |
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interesting. Can I see a pic? Thanks
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phordnut
Member Joined: 13-April-2004 Location: Waukesha, WI Status: Offline Points: 136 |
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Unfortunately I didnt take any pics while I was working on it, and its back in the car with the car stored for the winter. But I can say that if you focus on the black bezel piece, the one that the lens attach to, it is possible to mount aftermarket gauges in those spots from the back. VDO gauges come with a metal ring that serves as a bezel. It is just large enough to keep the gauge from slipping through the hole. Then the bracket attaches to the back and presses the gauge from the back, keeping it in place. Its sandwiched between the bezel and the bracket. There is some cutting to do on the housing, to get the gauges to clear once the unit goes back together, but thats easily done with a dremel. I then simply wired the gauges independantly, using quick connects so I can connect them to the wires leading to the sending units as i installed the cluster. Lights were wired in series, and tapped into the factory harness. I wont say it was easy, but its definatly possible. Obviously your application may be different depending on what gauges you would want to use. Point being is you can attach them to the bezel, make room for them in the housing, and wire them individually. Hope that helps a bit.
Allen |
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CJJ
Member Joined: 10-January-2021 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 114 |
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thanks so much Allen! Something to think about
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NorthElite
Member Joined: 22-February-2015 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 195 |
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Based on 1978 thuderbird and aftermarket gauges. |
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lynchster
Senior Member Joined: 07-January-2006 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 2150 |
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Damn that looks sharp.
Been a while! |
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Chuck
72 Gran Torino Sport 13 Taurus SHO "Mr Pig" |
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handsofstone
Senior Member Joined: 13-April-2018 Location: Northeast Status: Offline Points: 3941 |
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Sweet!
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NorthElite
Member Joined: 22-February-2015 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 195 |
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Europepean Speedometer 200km/h |
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Steve M.
Senior Member Joined: 08-June-2019 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 1740 |
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Wow! Very well done.
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Steve M.
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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that's a good idea using the 77-79 bezel as they are straight to the line of sight, but tipped out like the 72-76
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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302ford
Member Joined: 24-February-2008 Location: vancouver Status: Offline Points: 178 |
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Autometer guages work well for me
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79 LTD II 408/TKO/3.7's
11.78 117.3mph. drag radials |
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Compton
Senior Member Joined: 22-April-2017 Location: Auckland Status: Offline Points: 626 |
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that looks sweet...will be doing the same thing but with NVU aviator series gauges in the near future...
what did you use to mount the gauges...any pics without the bezel installed? tips? in NZ we have to have the speedo converted to km/h so with that and the ammeter to voltmeter conversion it was cheaper to swap to new electronic...go figure |
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302ford
Member Joined: 24-February-2008 Location: vancouver Status: Offline Points: 178 |
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I pretty much did the exact same as phordnut. Ill take some pictures the next time I take it out
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79 LTD II 408/TKO/3.7's
11.78 117.3mph. drag radials |
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