C3: Air/Fuel gauge - CLock dimensions

[LEEJANDZ]

;help ;help ;help

I want to pull the broken clock out of my 79 and replace it with an air/fuel gauge.

Anyone done this, is it possible?

;help ;help ;help

 

[69MyWay]

I have not done it on a 79,---- but I can tell you it is not a difficult job.

I think the size is 2 1/8" and with a little dremel/custom hand work on the back of the panel you are in business.

You will like the look of the a/f gauge so much, you will end up replacing all of the center ones with new aftermarket units. I think Autometer has some of the best looking units on the market, and a wide range of styles to choose from.

 

[LEEJANDZ]

69MyWay -- I have not done it on a 79

Have you done it on any C3?
Or seen it?

JASON *** BRAND NEW MAGNECOR WIRES FOR SALE!!! *** 1979 L-82

 

[69MyWay]

redmist here on the site did it to his 78. He is the one that tipped me off that it could be done. He has not been here in a while, but do a search on his threads and you may find a picture.

 

[wichitacorvette]

I know this isnt quite what youre probobly wanting but if you wanna have some fun, bondo and some paint and time can end up in some fun. up top is an oil pressure and water temp, below is a voltmeter and fuel level..... trans temp, fuel pressure, and air fuel go under the cowl of the hood...... but im very pleased with it and its not even in the car yet!
my dash out of the car

 

[LEEJANDZ]

Not too bad.

But I have a B&M shifter, which required the "modification" of the center console.
So I cant use that setup...

What is that big plate to the right of your water & oil gauges for?

 

[wichitacorvette]

its a monitor for ps2/dvd/rear view camera/front night vision =) the one thing that that pic doesnt show(ive modded since) is a new switch that switched between them. i gotta have those gadgets.....

 

[LEEJANDZ]

wichitacorvette -- its a monitor for ps2/dvd/rear view camera/front night vision

OOOH... how fun
Where do you mount all of your accs???

 

[wichitacorvette]

I'll post pics when the interior is all done, but there is a single JL W3 Sub, the PS2, and my switching controls in the rear compartment. my amps and crossovers are in the jack storage. the night vision camera is mounted in the front license plate area with the IR illuminators on either side of them, and the rear camera will be inside the rear window on the ledge..... waiting for it to get here........

 

[LEEJANDZ]

How fun.
I hope you arent playing GTA while driving.

 

[BeaterShark]

I already had a Summit A/F gauge when I decided to replace my center console gauges (except for the fuel gauge). I went with inexpensive (cheap?) Sunpro gauges which I bought for $30 which included the voltmeter, oil pres, and water temp.


Here is a pic

The install was real easy and the only tool I used was a dremel. The console is basically 4 pieces:
Metal Outer Bezel
Lens
Metal gauge rim - This is what you see just surrounding the gauges
Metal backing plate - This is what the gauges bolt to.

First, I cut up the metal backing plate so that the new gauges would be able to "stick out" from behind them. If your just using the clock mount, this is not necessary as it is already open for that location.

The 2 1/16" gagues were just too big to fit in the metal gauge rim, so I took a dremel to it and ground just enough for the gauges to slip in with a little bit of encouragement. The gauges fit snug enough to not need any other type of mounting. At this point, the gauges (except for fuel) are all in the metal rim.

Because I wanted to keep my fuel gauge, I had to cut up the lens to fit such that it was only in front of the fuel gauge.

Then, I put all of the bezel pieces together just as they were before.

 

[LEEJANDZ]

I already had a Summit A/F gauge when I decided to replace my center console gauges (except for the fuel gauge).

Where is your air/fuel gauge?

That doesnt look too bad... maybe Ill just have to switch out all of the gauges.
I need a new printed circuit for my gauges anyways.

Do you need that printed circuit if you replaced all the gauges?

 

[wichitacorvette]

either go on ebay and grab a shop manual for your year.... or find somone who knows whiuch color whire are what on your gauge console...... then you can just use wire taps to "tap" into the existing wires.... id say get a used dash plate off ebay or junk yard as well and make youre gauge panel.... then go get some autometer, vdo, etc..... and make the new panel....... then wire it to match those colors.... i know it sounds tough but its just color matching...... theres alot of ppl on here that have done a few gauge conversions where they replaced every gauge w/autometers.... im one.....

 

[LEEJANDZ]

either go on ebay and grab a shop manual for your year.... or find somone who knows whiuch color whire are what on your gauge console...... then you can just use wire taps to "tap" into the existing wires.... id say get a used dash plate off ebay or junk yard as well and make youre gauge panel.... then go get some autometer, vdo, etc..... and make the new panel....... then wire it to match those colors.... i know it sounds tough but its just color matching...... theres alot of ppl on here that have done a few gauge conversions where they replaced every gauge w/autometers.... im one.....

That sounds like something I should do.
My dash is already out and I am trying to clean up (strip) the car of unnecessary items.

Do you have a picture of your gauge cluster?
What type of gauges do you have? (ie temp, a/f, oil, etc)

 

[wichitacorvette]

well i did a full out custom....... not like what youre trying and just replacing gauges....... theres a link to the pic of it near the top of this post...... id suggest nothing but autometer gauges.... they xan get pricey but well wortht it, they look awesome and are acurate..... goto www.jegs.com or www.summitracing.com and look @ thier gauges...... autometer is all over it........ the ones i used were the "sport-comp" model....... ill look for more pics of others.....

 

[LEEJANDZ]

well i did a full out custom....... not like what youre trying and just replacing gauges.......

I would still be interested.

I am in the middle of removing all "unnecessary" components from my car.
The A/C & heater all gone.
Ill finish with the windshield wiper assembly later today.

I dont care about keeping the car original looking.
If I like your setup maybe it will give me ideas on what I can do.

 

[wichitacorvette]

http://www.localloan.com/vette/dsc00017.jpg

a pic out of the car....... relocated the cigg lighter to under the dash so its mostly hidden....... also removed the glove box door and made some gauges there...... so far my list is.....

2 1/16 water temp
2 1/16 oil pressure
2 1/16 volt meter
2 1/16 fuel level
2 1/16 air/fuel ratio
2 5/8 transmission temp
2 5/8 fuel pressure

as well has having the lcd screen for the ps2/night vision/tv

i also chhanged the lower panel since that pic, now there are 2 "aircraft style" swithes with covers to turn the the car on along with the starter button...... soon the keyt will be gone and it will be fully run by those switches.......

so where those "check lights" (one for the check engine light, other for low fuel) are relocated to the panel on the glove box.......

ill have more pics soon...... we have a storm passing thooguh so im waiting for it to pass......

and if youre not worried about keeping her original, id run some new wire for the water temp and a new oil pressure sender(its included with the gauge)

 

[BeaterShark]

In mine, the A/F gauge is in the upper right location. It's a 10 bar led graph and when off is just black.

I have a '69 so I don't have the printed circiut board.

I was trying to stay cheap for now. My oil pressure gauge did not work and I had changed to aftermarket heads and I could not get an accurate water temp reading. The original sender is 1/2" NPT and the new heads need a 3/8" NPT. The $30 set of gauges was the best I could come up with for now.

Once I get the interior and paint done, I'll revisit the gauges and probably go with VDO Vison electric gauges.