The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop anyone ever tried these gauges?

I am planning on some 5" quad gauges for my truck soon and have seen them from autometer, dolphin, and classic instruments. Then today I saw some made by a company called tpi-tech that look pretty good and have great features. Also they say they are made here in the U.S.A which makes me like them even more. Im just looking for some history on them would like to here if anyone out there has tried them or knew someone that has. Im pretty much sold on them so far.

I have looked at all of those, and have yet to buy any.
Finally decided on the new Stewart Warner 5" combo gauge and speedometer, with Autometer as a second choice.

Grigg

I have the Dolphin Quad 5" gauges. I like them. Since all of the ones I looked at were pretty close to the same price, I went with the ones that I thought looked the best. Installation is another matter. They don't just fit right in. You have to do a little modifying to get them to fit in right.

I bought the 3 3/8 quad with mechanical speedo along with the 3/3/8 tachometer for $293 direct from dolphin
Very happy except I couldn't mount the oil pressure sender where it was supposed to go. Couldn'tt get the brass plug behind the distributor out. Had to run the original tubing from there to the sender under the dash.

I used Classic Insturment gauges. I like them.
Here's how I did the install in my 50.

I first gutted the original gauges.(removed bezel and glass then gauges).
I then cut a hole big enough in the original housing to slide the new gauges thru. (5" circle).
I bought new bezels and reinstalled them on the original bucket (now with 5" hole in back) then slide in the new gauges (from the front) making sure they "new gauges" were indexed properly with the way the original aligned up with the dash in the back "studs"
I used the attachment hardware "u-brackets" that came with the new gauges to secure them "new gauges".
Then installed them from the back side using the original brackets on the original gauge onto the studs on the back of the dash.
I hope I didn't confuse you, It was really easy to do and looks almost factory.

Ive read a few times that the dolphins dont fit right due to they're mounting tabs. I have seen some bezels from boese engineering that are supposed to fit pretty well though using almost any brand of the 5" style guage.

wilbur, what is the price on the classic brand? I can never find one for those. It seems that autometers will run 450+ dolphins just a shade over 200 or tpi tech for 300. The tpi ad mentions they use glass lenses, and no dip switches to calibrate the speedo, just a single button that can be anywhere you want.also in the system is a oil change reminder and speed warning if you choose to use it. How does the classic system work?

I bought mine on ebay for 250.00.
The CI gauges are pretty basic and use dip switches that were easy to set. The only thing that bothers me is the oil pressure gauge is off by 10 lbs (low). They say to send it back to be recalibrated, haven't yet and probably won't.
I only have them cause they less expensive (on ebay) then others when I was looking for some. That was several years ago.
You can see pic of gauge here.
http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/...roject/?action=view&current=a4da.jpg

haneline carries BEEDE as well as 4 others.

I believe they make a '''''quint''''' gauge now
5 in one gauge for a 6'' gauge.
also
3 in one gauge so you could have 6 functions here..... in a 5'' gauge set.
http://www.haneline.com/

Hi Wilbur
What a great Idea! Using the original gauge bucket as a sort of bracket to hold the updated version. I had a look at the photo, nice touch and classic looking. No dash modifications. I have noticed from doing some research that the CI 5" gauge actually is 4 5/8" outside Diameter.
This seems to be the exact inside measure of the old original bezel.
If this research Classic Industries is right I would assume after I replace the bezel 4 5/8" outside measure CI stock 24-121 $11.95 page 21 and Speedo Gauge Kits 4 5/8" outside measure 24-704B (the style I like)$424.95. I should be able to use your method.
Also was wondering while looking at some of your pics the nice fitting gas tank setup. What kind of tank are you using?
Thanks for your time & consideration.

That is correct, the CI gauges will slide in prefect and the 2 bezels blend right into each other.

The tank is a 1970 mustang 16 gal unit, I had to modify it for EFI and also modified the inlet on top using part of the original filler neck and welding them together so it had a gas cap and moved it up to just under the bed.
Frame work also had to be made for the tank. Pretty easy.

I was going to use one of those 5" quad gauges too, but then my son gave me a VERY beautiful set of Antique Beige Autometer gauges. 3"-ish Speedo and four 2 1/2" gauges. I really want to use them, but will have to do some modifications. In case anyone else it interested, this is what I've decided to do:

1. Get the matching 3"-ish tach for the speedo and put them in the original 5" gauge holes in the dash. To do this, I'm going to use sheetmetal cut to fill the holes exactly. Because there will be about a 3/4" ring around the gauges that are left over inside the 5" hole, I was going to use either polished copper or polished brass to accent the brass rim of the Antique Beige gauges. You could paint it the same color as the dash I suppose, but the seam around the adapter plate might look a little conspicuous. That's why I was going to just add to the brightwork.

2. That leaves the 2 1/2" gauges. Best place I can think of to put those is to either adapt the stock grill that goes over the original speaker hole to hold the gauges, or else save the grill and use another metal, such as a sheet of 1/4" polished aluminum or something with the holes cut for all the gauges. Still deciding.

It's custom for sure, but nothing that can't be put back to original if I ever wanted to. If I didn't care about that, I would just weld in the adapters for the speedo and tach and blend it into the dash with body work. If that were the case, then painting it would be best.

How about put the extra gauges above the windshield?
That's my plan, all my extra gauges, switches, radio, all the stuff you need to get to, but won't fit any where else and look good.

Grigg

I talked to classis instruments and im very impressed with the service dept. I think thats the route im going to take now just based on that. also the warranty is 5 yrs as opposed to the standard 1 year. I also checked out haneline and they to me have the best looking guage. the 3 in 1 is awsome! tach oil and volts on 1 speedo fuel and temp on another. I cant get passed classics service though, those guys will hook you up with everything needed for your truck, not just a universal kit

Great idea Grigg! Take some pictures when you do. I have wanted other gauges that would not be in the original two gauges but didn't want the under the dash deal or hanging on the steering column.

We are in the same boat then..
I won't cut the dash up, or the speaker grill, and under the dash or on the column just look wrong, at least to me.

It will be a while before I get to gauges, but I have done some figuring and think it will work, although the sun visors will have to go. Should be able to make a sort of second dash that screws in place, and the headliner fits up to it.

i have tpi in mine because of the ease of calibrating the speedo. unfortunately i have not had the truck on the road yet. the first time it was started the oil gauge read low then quit i have yet to see if their tech dept.'s fix actually fix it. Ron

Great WE b OLD
Now we have one more vendor to avoid. We should have a area here just for vendor touting and bashing, then when we are ready to buy something we can just check in there and do a search for the best and the worst.

My speaker grill does not look real nice. It's old and needs to be rechromed. I think it even has a dent or two on it. If it were pristine, then I probably wouldn't want to cut it up either.

...I can't picture gauges in the ceiling above the windshield. I'm having trouble with that one. I'll have to sit in the cab and stare at the ceiling and see if that would seem like a viable alternative.

I envision the gauges above the windshield as gauges one does not need to monitor while driving e.g. a clock.

Well I ordered my gauges today, went with the classic instrument vintage series. The price hurt a bit but you get to talk to a guy that knows the product and there making them in house. Plus all senders and speedo pulse generator and what not are sent with the set you order. Ill let you guys know how they go when they get here.

I saw a nice set up in a classic truck builder magazine that showed someone who had built a small consel just in front of a lokar shifter and had upholstered it to match the interior. 6 gauge set up, clock included. The 2 larger gauges were in the stock holes of his 49 dash. He installed what looked like 3 3/8" 4 smaller gauges in the consel facing the shifter. Nice balanced factory look.

You know, I do have a modern CD player and my heater switch on a panel right below the dash below the radio delete plate and speaker grill.

I'll have to think about how to do it nicely, but I could avoid cutting up that speaker grill, which I really did not want to have to do, and just make a very nice, boxed in dash extension painted body color to mount my other 4 gauges as well as my stereo. Hmmm.

I have a set I took out of my 62. speedo, tach +4 if you are interested. I Put the dolphin in. 3 pieces all the same size 3 1/2, very satisfied.

Another place to put extra gauges is in the glove box. It works for gauges you don't have to look at all the time like vacuum. I mounted mine to the inside of the glove box door and angled it, so with the door down, I can see it easy from the drivers seat. And then with the door closed, the interior looks stock.

anyone have an extra set of gauge buckets for sale?

Sorry, But What is a gauge bucket?

the actuall ''cup'' that the stock gauges reside in. If youwere to take your gauge apart you would end up with an empty ''bucket'' with the mounting tabs

I'm never too old to learn Sarge.

I would check Summit Racing for the gauge buckets.

My stereo was in the glove box when I bought it. So I moved it. Problem is, if I put the gauges below the dash, there's no room for the stereo because the shifter would hit it. So once again, I'm looking at moving the stereo.

Now THAT I can picture mounted to the roof on a pod, kind of angled down. But to do that, I probably need to buy one of those fiberglass headliners. I'm pretty good at glassing, so I could probably build my own stereo pod and put it in the center for passenger or driver access. I'll have to think about that.
I don't know if that's a good idea or a stupid idea.

HRD> The radio on the headliner is a cool idea! I personally never thought of that. I drove big rigs for years and most of all them had the radio on the headliner. I don't know why I havent't thought of that. I've been trying to find a solution for mounting a 5" speedo along with a 5" tach and still having a place for the rest of the gauges. Putting the radio up high certainly opens up some possibilities.

gazim: I always called them "housings" but hey....head lights fit in a bucket so why not guages

One thing to be cautious of when buying gauges is the fuel sending unit requirement. Many of the gauges being mentioned here require a 240-30 ohm sender while the stock GM sender is 0-60 Ohm and the new style GM is 0-90 ohm. In my case I am using a 68 Camaro tank and sending unit so unless I want to put another hole in my tank I need to find a gauge that accomodates the sender I have now. Dolphin is the only supplier I have found that can supply a 0-90 ohm gauge. The others are not even interested. Dolphin does not have a wide color or style selection and is not my first choice for gauges but they will do. I wish they would improve their product line in this area.

As for mounting I have decided to strip out the old 54 gauge buckets and mount my new 5" quads in them. The measurements I have taken appear to confirm this can be done. It would make the dash installation much easier but the turn signal wiring will have to be worked separately. The billet adapters do not seem to fit well and is not the look I am wanting. My gauges are now on order so I will document how this works out and let you know.

As for the gauge buckets I do have an extra set but until I finish this installation I need to hold on to them. Sergent - Send me a PM and we may be able to get you covered if 54-55.1 buckets/housings are what you are looking for.

i mentioned this in another forum but my tpi gauges have another glitch the temp. gauge reads high 220 at 180 and the oil reads low. i called them about the oil and they say the diaphram may be block. i tried their remedy but have not been able to comfirm the solution. i needs to call them about the temp. ron

When I talked to classic they said they will make your fuel gauge use whatever ohm sender you want. There gauges come with one also unless you specify otherwise. I just got done installing mine, They look great!

So Sarge, where are the pictures???

Well, my wife hates the stereo in the headliner idea.
Back to the drawing board.

I've seen some people cut out the dash where the original stereo went, but I sure don't want to do that. I could see maybe installing it in the chrome grill that covers the original speaker hole. Like I said before, my chrome grill isn't very nice looking. I could try that, and if it doesn't look good, I could always buy a new grill piece.

I wonder if a search on the web might find a stereo system that would just fit the speaker grill.

there are stereos that use a smaller remote display, Often sold for marine applications. They are usually expensive.
I had one picked out but plans have changed in favor of a regular one above the windshield.

Grigg

Yeah those are called "Hidden Audio". You hide the stereo and have a remote and a smaller display. You can stick the smaller display somewhere that you don't need to look at it all the time, like in the back of a glove box. Then use your remote to change controls. The big unit goes wherever you hide it.

They are expensive. For a car that has the original working radio (like my '68 Corvette), it makes sense to have a second stereo and hidden speakers.

Also, the speaker hole in the dash is large enough to swallow a stereo. It would have to actually mount to the chrome grill piece, which is removable.

What would be cool would be to have the stereo behind the grill and pop open a trap door to access the controls. That's a lot more work though.