Who's using an aftermarket gauge cluster?

[Grantshire]

Okay, I'm tired of swapping out guage clusters and am ready for some decent guages, and not something stuck in the glove compartment, mounted to the steering column, or attached under the dash. The only thing bouncing more than my speedo and oil pressure guage can be found in a XXX movie. I have seen a couple of aluminum "blanks" that use after market guages (I think Z & M sells one). Who is using one of these and with what guages? I want a speedo (120 mph - the 160's are a joke in a FSJ), tach, gas guage, oil pressure, water temp, amps, ??? I also don't want something that looks like it belongs in a Stuts Bearcat. Pictures would be nice, too!

[ March 10, 2004, 04:21 PM: Message edited by: Grantshire ]

[joe]

Have a look at RamJet FSJ's (http://www.promogiant.com/wag/home.shtml) web site he's using one of Zacks(Z&M) panels.

[j10jim]

These are from my J10. The main gauges are really easy especially since you dont have a cage running thru the dash. Keep the plastic housing and get rid of the gauges. Any questions email me direct.

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Misc-Pictures/Dash_2small.jpg

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Misc-Pictures/Dash_3small.jpg

Jim
jsterling@businessbasic.com

[JeepBountyHunter]

Here's mine with lights and guages from Summit Racing...It's not finished, but used the Z&M Cluster cutout...

:D

http://www.pixhost.com/pixj/jeep71/dashpic.jpg

[Crazy_Jeepman]

What I went with smile.gif
http://www.crazy-jeepman.com/images/gauges.JPG

Website for Daytona Instuments (http://www.daytonainstruments.com/prod05.htm)

[David Allen Racing]

http://www.davidallenracing.com/dash2.jpg
http://www.davidallenracing.com/dash1.jpg

Made my own and used all Auto-meter Ultra-Lite aluminum gauges. It was easy to make. Just made a template from poster board and transfered it to a sheet of aluminum.

[Gawdzilla.]

our gauges are the 3 3/8" right? (yes I'm too lazy to go measure)

[Al Johnson]

Gawd, those custom gage clusters look good! Thanks for the pics, you guys have inspired me!

:D

Al

[Grantshire]

Thanks everybody! I really like the balance of the David Allen Racing set up. Z & M's is nice but I prefer the symetry of the two center guages with the smaller guages on each side. I also like the dark face guages Jeepbountyhunter used, might enven go with the carbon fiber faced guages. Now to just find someone who will copy the David Allen Racing insert so I can ditch this factory crap!

[skid2964]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
What I went with smile.gif
http://www.crazy-jeepman.com/images/gauges.JPG

For 3 3/8" gauges, do the original holes in the gauge panel have to be made larger? or will the gauges slip right in?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

The holes need to be made larger as well as offset. The Pic shows the gauges to be touching each other. The second one I fitted the gauges into they fit nice. Though I am thinking of moving the heater controls to a different location and spread the gauges out even more, using an insert.

[skid2964]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
The holes need to be made larger as well as offset. The Pic shows the gauges to be touching each other. The second one I fitted the gauges into they fit nice. Though I am thinking of moving the heater controls to a different location and spread the gauges out even more, using an insert.I was thinking of going that route also, move the heater controls and have more gauges ... especially if the panel has to be modified anyway.

[Simple Kind of Man]

Any ideas on where you would move the heater controls to?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by MUDDER-TRUCKER #1:
Any ideas on where you would move the heater controls to?For me it will be easy, I have an OEM Jeep Wagoneer center console, I will put it in one of the blank panel sections in that. I also considered in the ashtray area as well, since I do not smoke and no one will ever smoke in my rigs.

[David Allen Racing]

Originally posted by Grantshire:
Thanks everybody! I really like the balance of the David Allen Racing set up. Z & M's is nice but I prefer the symetry of the two center guages with the smaller guages on each side. I also like the dark face guages Jeepbountyhunter used, might enven go with the carbon fiber faced guages. Now to just find someone who will copy the David Allen Racing insert so I can ditch this factory crap!I didn't like Z&M's balance on guage placement so that's why I did my own. I felt that the two smaller ones on each side just looked better and was easier to look at through the stearing wheel. It was easy to make my own with metal nippers and a few sizes of hole saws and some files and a belt sander. Just made a template from poster board and cut it out then used a belt sander for final finishing of the edges and final fit. I then made templates of the guages that I was using and placed on the poster board and then set it in the jeep to see if I like thier placement. Once I had everthing where I wanted it, I transfered it to my dash panel and cut the holes with sized hole saws. Filed for final fitment and then used a rotary tool to cut the slots for the heater controls. Check this post from last week for questions. http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=021106

Dave

[JeepBountyHunter]

I only liked Z&M's face panel because, the dash pod is not directly in front of you and the is not aligned to the steering column...when you are sitting in front of it..also they gave me a choice of which side to put the larger holes on..