Auto Detailing and Appearance Share tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.

Fitting new gauges to stock look?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-07-2012, 04:01 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
firechicken1992's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 92 Firebird--02 Grand Prix GTP 2Dr
Engine: Poncho 400--3.8 Supercharged
Transmission: T56 6 Speed--4T65EHD
Axle/Gears: Open 10 bolt 3.42--Internal 2.93
Fitting new gauges to stock look?

I'm doing an engine swap here with an old 69 Pontaic 400 motor. My main thing with this project is to make it look like it came from the factory like this....and I personally HATE the look of aftermarket gauges. I want to make all 6 gauges work like they should.....would it be possible to take the recieving part of the "new" gauges and swap the old needles and faceplate over them? Or atleast the needles, I could have a custom, original looking faceplate made up. Anyone do this before?
Old 08-07-2012, 05:19 AM
  #2  
Senior Member

 
IROCtheRoad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Hurlburt Field
Posts: 738
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 84 Z28, '15 Colorado
Engine: L69
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Fitting new gauges to stock look?

I know it's possible - I see it in magazines from time to time.

You can check out Speedhut.com All of their gauges can be 100% custom designed. They have an extensive custom process on their website but you can call them and get things changed even more so. There are at least 2 threads on TGO about them and all have had nothing but amazing things to say about them.

A new set of gauges are on the very top of my want-to-do list which includes a GPS speedo from them along with a Tach / Oil PSI custom gauge as well.

Edit: At one point I sent them an email and they said if I wanted to do exact look alikes all I had to do was send them a photo of the stock gauge that I was wanting to replace and they would make the new gauge to look EXACTLY stock for a messily $10 more.
Old 08-11-2012, 04:15 AM
  #3  
Member
Thread Starter
 
firechicken1992's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 92 Firebird--02 Grand Prix GTP 2Dr
Engine: Poncho 400--3.8 Supercharged
Transmission: T56 6 Speed--4T65EHD
Axle/Gears: Open 10 bolt 3.42--Internal 2.93
Re: Fitting new gauges to stock look?

Ok, well I bought and tore apart an Equus brand water temp gauge as an experiment, and they look SUPER similar. What are the chances of my original gauges using the same reference voltages as the after market ones?
Old 08-11-2012, 06:54 AM
  #4  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
White93z34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: LB9
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Fitting new gauges to stock look?

so you want aftermarket gauges that look and work like your stock gauges... why not just use the factory gauges?
Old 08-11-2012, 02:31 PM
  #5  
Member
Thread Starter
 
firechicken1992's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 92 Firebird--02 Grand Prix GTP 2Dr
Engine: Poncho 400--3.8 Supercharged
Transmission: T56 6 Speed--4T65EHD
Axle/Gears: Open 10 bolt 3.42--Internal 2.93
Re: Fitting new gauges to stock look?

The gauges are ECM controlled aren't they? Or can I just use the sensors that come in an aftermarket kit and wire them up accordingly, or are the voltage signals different between the stock gauges and aftermarket ones?

My question is, overall, do I need to replace the receiving end of the gauge to make them work with my old 60's engine?
Old 08-11-2012, 05:36 PM
  #6  
Senior Member

 
NowhereFast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: 87 Trans Am, 99 WS6, 16 Mustang GT
Engine: LB9, LS1
Transmission: 700R4, T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi, 4.10 Posi
Re: Fitting new gauges to stock look?

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/afte...order-led.html
Old 08-11-2012, 11:29 PM
  #7  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: Fitting new gauges to stock look?

Just put the stock senders on your engine.
Old 08-11-2012, 11:52 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Nunazet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: North central Alabama
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1985 Trans Am
Engine: Stock 305 converted to carb
Re: Fitting new gauges to stock look?

Originally Posted by firechicken1992
The gauges are ECM controlled aren't they?
No, not at all. I just finished pulling the last of the ECM wiring harness out of my carb converted 85 Bird. All the gauges still work. Use your stock gauges and as said above, just transplant your 1992 senders to the 1960's engine.

Last edited by Nunazet; 08-11-2012 at 11:56 PM.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Frozer!!!
Camaros for Sale
35
01-19-2024 04:55 PM
Ghettobird52
Tech / General Engine
15
12-29-2023 08:23 AM
Jeremys87
Electronics
16
07-14-2022 09:08 PM
R3500
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Wanted
1
08-17-2015 12:16 PM
Armored91Camaro
DIY PROM
3
08-12-2015 09:41 AM



Quick Reply: Fitting new gauges to stock look?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:18 AM.