Notices
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

PROJECT: Custom gauge cluster

Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:25 AM
  #1  
ozziesironmanoffroad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 1
From: Spring Valley, CA
PROJECT: Custom gauge cluster

ok, so since i broke my speedo cable, i decided im wanting to build my own gauge cluster. for now im just gonna get a new speedo cable, then save up to build the cluster. i will be buying 1 or 2 gauges every paycheck. here is a rough picture of the completed project. (i havent built it yet, i made it in photoshop as an idea, will probably change due to the varying sizes of the gauges). here ya go, enjoy.


any ideas, questions, or comments are WELCOME!!
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:30 AM
  #2  
Hayes's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
Please tell me all the guages are going to be the same style...


I would make the Tach and Speedo the same size
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:38 AM
  #3  
ozziesironmanoffroad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 1
From: Spring Valley, CA
im gonna try to keep them the same style. and why would you make them the same size? i mean, everyone already has that. i want mine to be different, unique. you know? im not throwing out your suggestion, im just wondering if theres a specific reason or not. im examining it from all sides. im thinkin tho that if i get a big speedo and a big tach, im only gonna have room for at most 3 gauges.. which if it went that way id want GAS, TEMP, and OIL. i wish i could make gauges myself, but alas, i cant. i can only buy them and put them into a custom enclosure.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:43 AM
  #4  
Hayes's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
speedo and tach front and center (right along the centerline) and then fuel gauge and volts on the left side and oil pressure and water temp on the right side. Maybe an a/f gauge thrown in somewhere...
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:43 AM
  #5  
Hayes's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
Those are the two most important gauges, bigger means easier to read.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:49 AM
  #6  
Hayes's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
also, it seems really cluttered. Simpler is easier to read. Honestly, I like your though process but that cluster looks like it would be difficult to read if you were moving...

Moving three of those gauges into something like this would make quick readings easier.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:51 AM
  #7  
ozziesironmanoffroad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 1
From: Spring Valley, CA
hmm... something like this? (the gauges on top are where they would be if the cluster was installed and the bezel was on it (drilled into the bezel) )
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:53 AM
  #8  
Hayes's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
yeah something like that, just seems like it would be easier to read when you needed that information.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:54 AM
  #9  
ozziesironmanoffroad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 1
From: Spring Valley, CA
yeah. im now kind of debating about those extra gauges.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:00 AM
  #10  
Alex 400's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 775
Likes: 0
From: Shoreline, Wa
You could make an A-pillar gauge holder to hold some of those guages.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:04 AM
  #11  
eighty5yota's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
From: san jose cali
get a smaller speedo .. your never gonna hit a buck twenty

looks cool.

mines getting boring also
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:05 AM
  #12  
ozziesironmanoffroad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 1
From: Spring Valley, CA
Originally Posted by eighty5yota
get a smaller speedo .. your never gonna hit a buck twenty

looks cool.

mines getting boring also
oh really? if i can hit a buck ten, why not a buck twenty?
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:18 AM
  #13  
Hayes's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
Originally Posted by Alex 400
You could make an A-pillar gauge holder to hold some of those guages.


Originally Posted by Hayes
Moving three of those gauges into something like this would make quick readings easier.

click the link...
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:30 AM
  #14  
Alex 400's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 775
Likes: 0
From: Shoreline, Wa
Originally Posted by Hayes
click the link...
go figure i would miss something like that. hahaha
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:32 AM
  #15  
RobD's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 5
From: Calgary, AB
http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugede...id=3646&sid=64

Two 5" gauges covering 6 instruments.

Mind you, Jegs is asking about $650 for the set. Perhaps finding an SR5 cluster and doing that swap might be easier and cheaper.

Last edited by RobD; Sep 23, 2008 at 11:34 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:57 AM
  #16  
fillsrunner4's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville, wa
Keep the big tach idead and what would be really badass would be a digital speedo

I like the idea I know im going to be doing a similar thing to my runners dash now with the 4.3L in. Ill be sure to post up once I do someday You should definitely do the same.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 12:09 PM
  #17  
Cyberman's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 954
Likes: 0
From: Dillsburg, PA
Go digital (this design is obviously for a different car):



The toyota dash has plenty of room.

Last edited by Cyberman; Sep 23, 2008 at 12:11 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 12:18 PM
  #18  
fillsrunner4's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville, wa
imagine to have the digital projection like in the Pontiac that shines the speed in the window right in front of you. My friends mom had a supercharged grand prix that was awesome to drive funny thing is I had no idea what was going on with the lights off the window till figured out what it was

that would be sick!
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 12:19 PM
  #19  
ozziesironmanoffroad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 1
From: Spring Valley, CA
ah... i like that cyberman... where would i get something like that? and is it plug and play?
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 01:41 PM
  #20  
Hayes's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
They make digital gauges, just not ones like that. When I was looking into Digital dashes for my Mustang, they were $1500+. That was a few years ago though.
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:03 AM.