Gauges

cherryelkyls1 · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:20 am Post subject: Gauges

I'm looking for pictures of 78+ el camio's with aftermarket gauges installed. I want to put new gauges in mine, but i havent had the interior apart yet so i dont know what I'm getting into. I have $700 saved up I wanted to do autometer but i might not be able to. thanks for any tips or help.
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1980 El Camino
2002 LS1, 4L60e swap
345hp, and 23 mpg.

65 ELKY · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:13 am Post subject:

Check these guy out. www.covansclassic.com They might have something your interested in. I used their dash and gauges on my 65. Hope this will help.
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www.cprstreetmachines.com
T-70 TURBO INSTALL EARLY NOV
SAN DIEGO, CA

lil maddog · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:39 am Post subject:

Here is a link to an album of the gauges i just put in my car. They are all auto meter gauges and yes they are very expensive, but in my view its well worth it in the long run. If you find the gauges you want look around on ebay they have some pretty good deals on there thats where i got mine from. forgot to mention when you wire it up daisy chain all the grounds all the positives ect ect it makes life 1000 time easier. This way there aren't 25 new wires that you have to bring under your dash.

http://picasaweb.google.com/duckhunter2424/NewGaugesInTheElky

lil maddog
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1979 el camino 355ci sbc, t56 viper trans, grand national 8.5 rear

cherryelkyls1 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject:

lilmaddog... thank you so much, thats almost exactly what i want and we both have black dashes. pure gold man!!

thanks for the link to the pics. the white gauges look good.

i plan to have:
1) 3 3/8 speedo
4) 2 1/16th guages

do you think all five of those will fit into the main center gauge plate?

i figure i can get 6 autometer gauges from jegs for $630. simple no shipping (retail store). just get it done and over with. no ebay and looking for parts.
_________________
1980 El Camino
2002 LS1, 4L60e swap
345hp, and 23 mpg.

lil maddog · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject:

cherryelkyls1: Yep anytime. My dash is dyed black, but the face place for the gauges is actually black. If you put the speedo in the middle and 2 small gauges on the right and 2 on the left it would fit or you could put the speedo on the left or right or left and on the other side stack the small gauges 2 on top 2 on bottom, but where are you going to put the tach? or no tach?
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1979 el camino 355ci sbc, t56 viper trans, grand national 8.5 rear

cherryelkyls1 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:58 pm Post subject:

I have a sunpro tach on the column.

you think i have a chance at keeping them behind the glass or just get rid of the glass?
_________________
1980 El Camino
2002 LS1, 4L60e swap
345hp, and 23 mpg.

lil maddog · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject:

maybe. the "glass" piece is plastic if you take it out the gauges are behind it in the original set up. I am guessing so if i am wrong do tell me, but you might be able to take the clear plastic away from the black plastic and put your new autometer gauges in the original black holes which would be sweet (and of course put the clear and black plastic back together with the new gauges installed). It would look kinda weird then because you would have an empty whole where the original clock is now. So without getting an autometer tach to go in the clock whole if it will even work that way you would probobly have to make an insert that screws onto the black face plate like mine and forget the plastic.

ps: sorry that was so long i just don't want you to get confused with what i am saying.

lil maddog
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1979 el camino 355ci sbc, t56 viper trans, grand national 8.5 rear

cherryelkyls1 · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:11 am Post subject:

exactly my thoughts. i was gonna take out the stock gauges and gauge panel then fab up an aluminum piece, paint it black and put the autometers in that and keep it behind the glass. I'm just struggling with how to hit the trip button on the speedo with it set up like this.
_________________
1980 El Camino
2002 LS1, 4L60e swap
345hp, and 23 mpg.

lil maddog · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:43 am Post subject:

I don't remember right now (can't find the old plastic housing), but if i recall correctly there is a hole with a metal piece that comes out for the clock. Maybe if you put the speedo in the old clock location maybe the hole would line up with the trip button? Just a thought, or maybe make a new whole and move the long clock thing to the new whole to line up with the trip button (either way it is going to have to be a custom one off thing which will be awesome when it is done). Please keep us posted on this.

lil maddog
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1979 el camino 355ci sbc, t56 viper trans, grand national 8.5 rear

cherryelkyls1 · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject:

Here's a cheap mock-up of what i bought. its in cardboard but i think it looks good on black.

its going in this dash in an 80 el camino

_________________
1980 El Camino
2002 LS1, 4L60e swap
345hp, and 23 mpg.

lil maddog · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject:

Looks good. can't wait to see the finished product.
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1979 el camino 355ci sbc, t56 viper trans, grand national 8.5 rear

Elcaminonyc · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:02 am Post subject: Custom dash

here you go ---they are beautiful---it does not get better than this....

http://www.custommontessparts.com/

Pete NYC/ATL

cherryelkyls1 · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject:

^^ that looks nice but @ 150 bucks seems steep. i wonder if they offer it without holes drilled. If i could get it just plain uncut it might be an option.

thanks guys keep the idea's comming.
_________________
1980 El Camino
2002 LS1, 4L60e swap
345hp, and 23 mpg.