adding more guages?

[JimM]

I want to add a widebrand AFR and a vacaum guage to my 68 Camaro.

Current setup is stock speedo and tictoc tach, and autometer console pod holding fuel, temp, oil pressure and voltmeter. Guages are a/m ultralites.

I have an Innovate LC1 wideband controller.

I could sacrifice the temp and voltmeter, and use an autometer vac guage and innovate AFR in the console, but... a/m don't make just a vac guage anymore, all read boost too (maybe I can correct that by putting a procharger on my todo list?)

Toying with the idea of using lcd readouts somehow. Peice of cake for the voltmeter, and doable (calibration????) for the temp, but where to put them?

It's a non a/c car, so the center of the dash above the heater controls is available. What about the slot in the console to hold the seatbelts, room for 2 LCS readouts there.

Any ideas? pics? what have you guys done to hold more than the normal number of monitors?

Here's a pic of what I have to work with:

[awr68]

I did the Covan's Classic insert that holds 6 gauges itself...then did a lot of metal work (actually hand built a new center section) to fit the head unit, VA control, A/C louver, and 3 more gauges.

In your case you could just add the CC dash insert and still use the four on the console.

Or leave the stock gauge cluster (possibly add 5" Auto Meter gauges), add Vintage Air and move the HVAC controls to the seat belt pocket you mentioned above, the streamline control I'm using just might fit. Then you use the DSE VA control panel to house three gauges in the stock heater control location. That's all I got at the moment!

[Maximum Bob]

Originally Posted by awr68

I did the Covan's Classic insert that holds 6 gauges itself...then did a lot of metal work (actually hand built a new center section) to fit the head unit, VA control, A/C louver, and 3 more gauges.

In your case you could just add the CC dash insert and still use the four on the console.

Or leave the stock gauge cluster (possibly add 5" Auto Meter gauges), add Vintage Air and move the HVAC controls to the seat belt pocket you mentioned above, the streamline control I'm using just might fit. Then you use the DSE VA control panel to house three gauges in the stock heater control location. That's all I got at the moment!

Build me one of those center sections, just leave it blank...that came out nice...many hours...I know.

We built one and had to trash it, we counter sunk gauges to match the look of the stock ones, we didnt consider the angle of the dash when installed, the gauges eneded up being pointed downward....duh.

Nice work.

[JimM]

Originally Posted by Maximum Bob

Build me one of those center sections, just leave it blank...that came out nice...many hours...I know.

We built one and had to trash it, we counter sunk gauges to match the look of the stock ones, we didnt consider the angle of the dash when installed, the gauges eneded up being pointed downward....duh.

Nice work.

Anthony, that center dash is flat out gorgeous!
Nice work.

The lil panel with the 4 knobs is the vintage air control? That's sweet, but with my drop top, don't have much need for a/c.

I'm going to try to get them in where the A/C vent would go if I had one. The autometer ultralite vacaum and wideband gauges came in today, also got some angle rings so I don't end up where Bob did..lol. I'm gonna have to trim the rings a lil, the space is tight, but I'll make em fit.

I shoulda bought boost / vacaum... starting to think ProCharger!

[Maximum Bob]

Jim the angle rings were on the backside to recess the gauges into the panel, they werent just mounted flat on the steel.

I think thats why is tougher to get the correct angle.....it was funny though when we mounted the finished product.