replacement of 62 gauges

[mabeauchamp]

Here's one that may stir some controversy between the all original folks and customizers. I am thinking of pulling the stock 62 impala ss fuel, clock and temp gauges out and trying to replace them with an aftermarket set of similar size. I have a replacement dash to go back to if I ever get the urge. Before I go through the pain of pulling the dash console out, I was wondering if anyone's tried doing something similar? Also, just to really stir th pot what are your thoughts about cutting up the dash for an aftermarket radio?

[ROYALOAK62]

As for the radio if you are trying to look stock. Why not keep the stock radio in the dash and use one of those hidden audio units with remote. I've seen them up to 100 watts and you can control the tuner from 40 feet away, also has CD player included. Just an idea.

Dave

[bobs409]

Dave,

I'd be interested in something like that myself for my '66 Impala. Know of anyplace I can see one or get more info?


Bob

[ROYALOAK62]

In Detroit I've seen them in the good car radio replacement shops, also in the new Cars catalog they have one for $249.00. Here in Royal Oak Mi. area we have two places I can think of at the top of my head, Car Tunes Stereo center (248)547-4880 or Mickey Shorr Audio (248)398-7204. I'm sure one of them can streer you in the right direction in your location or the company name that makes this kind of product.

Dave

[jim_ss409]

I got a radio from Custom auto sound that fits in the stock hole in the 62's dash. The first one was defective and I haven't installed the replacement yet but I think it'll look okay. It's going to take up most of the glove box room though. :cry I had a radio with a remote contol mounted in the glove box but it didn't work out too good because I had to open the glove box to use it and the glove box came dangerously close to the shifter in first and third gear.
I also got a little tach-shift light that I'm going to install in the hole where the clock goes. I find the factory tach hard to read. I figure a bright light should get my attention. :D http://www.sw-performance.com/products/products.aspx?productcategoryid=Featured I'll let you know how it fits.

[ROYALOAK62]

In Detroit I've seen them in the good car radio replacement shops, also in the new Cars catalog they have one for $249.00. Here in Royal Oak Mi. area we have two places I can think of at the top of my head, Car Tunes Stereo center (248)547-4880 or Mickey Shorr Audio (248)398-7204. I'm sure one of them can streer you in the right direction in your location or the company name that makes this kind of product.

Dave

Disregard Car Tunes & Mickey Shorr they didn't have anything,

BUT another shop in the city showed me a completely new system from Custom Auto Sound this unit with 140 watt of power uses radio frequency not the old infrared light system flashed to it. Like your TV remorte I think that's the ststem jim ss409 is referring to. The shop said you can hide it anywhere you want in your car.
Now that I've looked I think I'll start suggesting this to my kids.

Dave

[RCE1962]

Years ago, I replaced the stock oil pressure gauge with an after market copper wire and needle guage that fit exactly into the dash and can easily be changed back. I did add an aftermarket, under the dash twin "needle" gauges for temperature and amperes. No drilling required. I think I watched those gauges just as much as I watched the road. My 327 was always running a temperature. I was told some time later that the two core rad couldn't handle a higher horsepower engine. I transplanted a 170hp 283 with a hi-performance 327.

I personally, wouldn't cut up the dash. The alterations I did, were minor and were reversable.

I'm "on side" with leaving the radio alone too and getting an aftermarket system that is hidden. When my son bought a used vehicle he was hopeing to get a CD player for it someday. He had the car for a few weeks and discovered a hidden working 5 disk CD changer under the passenger seat, which the dealership didn't know about either. You can have the best of both worlds here. You can also get state of the art speakers that replace the stock versions without modifications either. Various chevy car part web sites advertise these units. Check out "Impala Bob's".


RCE1962

[bobs409]

I found one in Classic industried catalog but WOW, expensive if you want the CD too! Too rich for my blood.

[droptop62]

He has a replacement dash so I say do what you want, it's your car.
But on another note, modified cars are harder to sell sometimes,
I usually am completely disgusted when I look at a used classic car for sale or even a car at a show and see a butchered dash board and bucket seats out of some newer car that do not belong in the old car. Give me a bench seat and stock AM radio and gauges any day, the other stuff just trashes up these classic cars.

[mabeauchamp]

i thought this one may stir up some dust. believe or not, i'm the same way when it comes to looking at anything customized. i normally can find something that doesn't agree with me. i think most are that way and the resale is hurt. beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

it's nice to know that someone else has done it with replacement gauges.

i'm in the process of doing a rolling restoration. i think when i paint the dash, i'll also paint the replacement. i can keep one stock and one original. the best of both worlds. has anybody pulled out the instrument cluster? is it a pain? it looks fairly straightforward.

i'll post pictures when and if i ever get it done. this is my first true resto. it is definitely a project that requires alot of patience.

[jim_ss409]

I got my tach-shift light installed. It would be an easy job if you had the dash out but it's pretty hard to do with the dash in place. It's too small for the hole so you need to come up with a spacer.

[fourspeed409]

Only one thing wrong Jim. Shift point should be 6800 instead of 5800. ;)
Shane

[mabeauchamp]

jim, i see what you mean with the spacer. i've got an extra dash. one to play with and one to keep stock. typical gauges run about 2 1/8" and the diameter of the holes measure out just over 2 1/4". a close fit but not close enough. like the look of yours. what did you use for a spacer?

[ROYALOAK62]

Mabeauchamp
Take a look see at DETROITSPEED.COM go to projects. Look at the 62 they did I think this is what your looking for. The second page shows them changing the dash gauge area.

Dave

[mabeauchamp]

dave, exactly what i had and mind. i was hoping to be the first. guess that's tough to do with a 62. thanks. mark

[jim_ss409]

That 62 on the Detroit Speed site is nice! Is the owner a member here? Here's the link... http://www.detroitspeed.com/LynchPage0110.html
mabeauchamp, I used part of an old guage as a spacer. It wasn't from a 62 but it was the same size.

[Huggies]

http://www.detroitspeed.com/Images/Lynch-0070.jpg

http://www.detroitspeed.com/Images/Lynch-0590.jpg


Another example... :D


http://www.chicayne.com/gallery/images/500/chi_07.jpg

http://www.baer.com/_Images/GetImage.aspx?ContentIndexID=1059


http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show_image.pl?fg=FFFFFF&bg=996600&migration=1&image=http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/312000-312999/312959_7_full.jpg


http://popularhotrodding.com/features/0301PHR_Impala05zoom.jpg

[mabeauchamp]

nice shots. thanks. i especially like the last one.

[Nuts]

Here is how I did my gauges.... I used the original gauge housing, bazel and lense. I put a VDO oil pressure and Temp gauge in the housing and put the bazel and lense back on. :clap :cool:

http://thumb8.webshots.com/s/thumb3/2/40/58/70124058LrGnbO_th.jpg http://thumb4.webshots.com/s/thumb3/2/42/14/70124214fFVSiT_th.jpg