mmadden55

I am putting Autometer guages in the 86 Firebird. I need to cut an instrument panel however I nee a template. Does anyone have one or know where I can get one?

firechicken_3

iTrader: (4)

dont have a template

but i do have an aluminum panel

its drilled for 3 3/8s speedo and tach and 2 1/16th volt fuel oil water gauges.... it was cut for the 85 up firebird dash, and wont fit correctly on my 84, got it on ebay for like $50 make me an offer it will probably be yours

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

whenever I get the plate back from my buddy who is milling another one, i have this one to mount the gauges right in the factory pod with no cutting of the dash involved. Its a really tight fit, but it works.





you need to pack the speedo and tach up about 1/2", they are a little off cented in the pic but they straighten out.

when i get time im going ot make a revised one to eliminate the spacers, probably ditch the smaller ones and just blank them off, then mold a pod intot he dashpad to hold the smaller guages.

wretched737

Me and my buddy were planning on doing something similar but i was just gonna make a whole new cluster, little easier on a camaro i think

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

you can actually buy a aftermarket gauge bezel for a camaro, nothing available for the birds

mmadden55

Both those layouts are similar to what I want to do. However I want it to look as Factory as possible. I have seen the Camaro set ups on Hawks. What I have currently is the Big twin hole set up with a bunch of idiot lights to the right. I really want a whole uncut dash. (I was just going to make one out of Fiberglass) or possibly clear cast. I also am looking at a 2 and 4 set 3 3/8s tach and speedo, 4 2 1/16 guages. I am going to try Classic Dash. They have first and second gen but no third, prices are rediculous too.

calebzman

iTrader: (3)

Depends on what you want to do. I liked the look of the larger 5" gauges, so I modified the factory panel to fit them. My writeup is here. This was the final result:



This is the template I used for the (5) 2-1/16" gauges:



If anyone wants to do the same, I can email the .pdf of the template so that it is 1:1. Then I just printed it out, taped it to a piece of abs, and cut it out.

mmadden55

Your Panel resembles mine, you just cemented the ABS behind the oval you cut out where the idiot light holes were? Interesting. You didn't use any of the factory senders other than the fuel gauge I take it.

calebzman

iTrader: (3)

Actually, I mounted the oval flush with the panel and epoxied it in place. It took some more time to get it to fit perfect, but I think it has a cleaner look.

The fuel level, tach, and power wires were the only factory wires that I reused.

mmadden55

Did you remove the panel behind the front panel entirely?

calebzman

iTrader: (3)

Yes.

mmadden55

Looks like the way for me to go. I would like to start with a pristine piece though. Mayble I can make one from clear cast or fiberglass.

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

If you still have the template pdf please email to stangty@ae.ca

Thank you kindly

calebzman

iTrader: (3)

Email sent.