Ideas for sport guages placement?

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 

 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

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

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

Sweet!

Wow! Very well done. 

I pretty much did the exact same as phordnut. Ill take some pictures the next time I take it out