12:05 Garage- ’70 Duster build
This took a while to complete. I had previously removed all the stock instruments and installed the aftermarket gauges but I wanted to add the wideband in the cluster this time around. Anyone who has done this conversion knows it is a tight fit with the normal 6 gauges. I decided to "stretch" the cluster out to fit the wideband. This was accomplished by making a mold of the contours of the bezel and making a new section out of fiberglass. I then cut the bezel in half and molded in the new piece. I also never cared for the look of the bezel being offest to the left; Normally the "hump" for the steering column is offset to the right. Since I had it cut in pieces I decided to move the "hump" to center. This now allows the cluster to be centered over the column. Obviously this led to the dash needing modification. (more on that later). As homage to the original wood grain cluster design, I used real walnut for the backing. You will also notice the bezels of the gauges are not the standard silver. I painted them along with the very edges of the cluster bezel. This color is found on other details throughout the car. (more on that later also)
This took a while to complete. I had previously removed all the stock instruments and installed the aftermarket gauges but I wanted to add the wideband in the cluster this time around. Anyone who has done this conversion knows it is a tight fit with the normal 6 gauges. I decided to "stretch" the cluster out to fit the wideband. This was accomplished by making a mold of the contours of the bezel and making a new section out of fiberglass. I then cut the bezel in half and molded in the new piece. I also never cared for the look of the bezel being offest to the left; Normally the "hump" for the steering column is offset to the right. Since I had it cut in pieces I decided to move the "hump" to center. This now allows the cluster to be centered over the column. Obviously this led to the dash needing modification. (more on that later). As homage to the original wood grain cluster design, I used real walnut for the backing. You will also notice the bezels of the gauges are not the standard silver. I painted them along with the very edges of the cluster bezel. This color is found on other details throughout the car. (more on that later also)
