Print Page | Close Window

Gauges in!

Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=492
Printed Date: 28-March-2024 at 6:32AM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Gauges in!
Posted By: Psquare75
Subject: Gauges in!
Date Posted: 04-February-2006 at 11:34AM

So I finally finished this. It's not IN, just in place. This is for my 78 XR7.While waiting for some info on my brakes, I got this together. My friend jeff cut out the panel. It's actually a piece of plexiglass, with that vinyl overlay on it, fit into my original piece. I'm not thrilled about the indicator lights, but they work for now. I also have a door open/fasten seat belt light and a trouble light, which will work on the original sending units.



-------------
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500



Replies:
Posted By: Torinogts73c
Date Posted: 07-February-2006 at 12:43AM
Looks good are those Autometer gauges? Gary

-------------
Gary 73 Gran Torino Sport 351CJ,17 Mustang Ecoboost,15 Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD, Ford Ranger parts hauler


"Never complain Never explain" Henry Ford


Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 07-February-2006 at 1:56AM
Yes, Phantom I's.

-------------
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500


Posted By: Torinogts73c
Date Posted: 07-February-2006 at 12:52PM
Very cool did you make your own backing plate for the gauges?

-------------
Gary 73 Gran Torino Sport 351CJ,17 Mustang Ecoboost,15 Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD, Ford Ranger parts hauler


"Never complain Never explain" Henry Ford


Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 07-February-2006 at 7:41PM
The mounting bezel is a combination of the factory surround, cut out, and a piece of plexiglass I had cut to fit in the original panel. I had done this on a 72-76 style panel once before.

-------------
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500


Posted By: corder13
Date Posted: 08-February-2006 at 12:51AM

Looks good, but where's the clock?!!    J/K  It does look good, though.  If I was going to go with any aftermarket stuff on the my Torino, I might have you build me one of those.

Rick



Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 08-February-2006 at 1:42AM
Clock is on my radio face

-------------
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500


Posted By: corder13
Date Posted: 08-February-2006 at 2:48PM
LOL


Posted By: GranTorinoSport
Date Posted: 08-February-2006 at 4:47PM
Ummmmmm......

That's really really damn nice.

Give us some more dish! Please!

What you have just accomplished is extremely rare, but yet very necessary to all of us mid-size owners as the older gauges lose what accuracy they did have, and also the backings (the white plastic main back) start to erode with time as they are inexpensive plastics.

So give me more detail as to how you mounted the autometers into the modified factory face? Is it easy mount or is there cutting/gluing involved?




-------------
Scott Eklund

Webmaster


Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 10-February-2006 at 3:23PM

Two ways to do this.

1.Take a stock gauge surround, and remove the wood grain (you need one with a wood grain) trace the outline onto a piece of plexiglass (I used 1/4" you could use thinner). Cut this out. Trace the circle for the vent hole (or oval, if you have a 72-76) on the plexiglass, using the woodgrain as a pattern, and cut that out.

You now have the "filler" piece.

You can now lay out your gauges on the panel, and cut the holes, depending on your layout. I went with the factory layout, and used 2 5/8" gauges. you could probably fit more if you used 2 1/16".

Cut these holes out. Hold your plexiglass piece over the factory surround, and note that there is some material that needs to be removed/cut out from the surround in order to have the panel fit and the gauges slide through. So... cut this out. I don't advise cutting out the whole panel in one big piece, because the surround is rather flimsy. Leave a lip of at least 1" around the edge as much as you can

Several ways to mount. Screw it to the panel (like I did) or use panel glue/epoxy.

Mount the gauges, indicators, etc.

Done!

2. Take the gauge surround, and cut out ALL of the inside, leaving just the edge with the trim. Take a piece of plexiglass, roughly cut it out to the shape of the woddgrain piece. , leave approx 1.5" around the panel. Same as #1, trace and cut out the vent circle. Glue this panel to the back of the gauge surround. Only issue I think would be clearance for the vent on the drivers side, I think.

I would have done #2, if I had thought of it.

This help?



-------------
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500


Posted By: corder13
Date Posted: 11-February-2006 at 1:25AM

Wow, I just noticed how the front piece of the two big circular "knobs" on the radio match thefront piece of the knobs for the wipers & headlights, etc.  That's a heck of a nice touch!!!

Rick



Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 11-February-2006 at 3:42AM

That was why I got that radio. It "looks" old. Kenwood EZ500. It's actually a newer model from Kenwood. MP3, etc, you can change the color of the light up buttons from red to green... and it's a simple unit visually. No crazy things going on.

 

 



-------------
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500


Posted By: corder13
Date Posted: 11-February-2006 at 3:45AM

Originally posted by Psquare75 Psquare75 wrote:

No crazy things going on.

LOL



Posted By: GranTorinoSport
Date Posted: 17-February-2006 at 6:47AM
Originally posted by corder13 corder13 wrote:

Originally posted by Psquare75 Psquare75 wrote:

No crazy things going on.

LOL



Like those insane animated graphics? What is up with that, and why would I want to spend money on it? As if I am going to sit there and watch it while I am driving? Or even sitting in traffic?

And the part that gets me is the companies like Sony and Pioneer actually list that as a major point in the selling of them?

Is that much of the market really driven for Ricers?
 

-------------
Scott Eklund

Webmaster


Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 17-February-2006 at 6:50AM

I have a Pioneer 7500MP (or something) In my Cavalier. I will admit, I HAVE looked down at the (in my case, knight slaying a dragon) while waiting at a stop light. You can also upload your own video (I haven't tried it). I imagine it'd be cool to see a smoke show from your car on your radio, in your car, at a car show :-)



-------------
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500


Posted By: GranTorinoSport
Date Posted: 17-February-2006 at 6:56AM
OK, you have me there with the home vid of your own car doing a burnout.

I cede the argument!


-------------
Scott Eklund

Webmaster



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2023 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net