Another DIY gauge cluster
Hello hello. I just did my own DIY dash today on my 72 Dart Swinger. I used a Speedway motors A-body aluminum 6 gauge panel with Autometer Mopar gauges. It cost around 100 bucks for the panel if i remember correctly. The panel took some trimming to make it fit just right. Overall i was really happy with how the project went.
I have my entire dash out right now so it was easy removing the gauge cluster. I stripped it down, treated and painted the rust, and cut the gauge cluster. Once the gauges were separated from the plastic cover panel i mapped out the back of plastic cover with a sharpie and started cutting away material with a die grinder with like a 1.25” cutting wheel. It took about 2 hours to meticulously cut away material. Due to awkward angles of plastic molded bezels, the small cutting wheel i had played a factor with the time. If i had a slightly larger cutting wheel to switch back and forth with it would have made the process easier but i did what i could with what i had. Also heat was a factor, 50 year old plastic melts and smokes a lot easier than you would think. I definitely took my time making sure not to overheat the plastic. I left about 1/4” of material around the border of the original cluster cover to set the new aluminum panel against on the front side of the old cluster border. The aluminum panel did need to be trimmed to make it fit perfectly. I used a belt grinder to shave down the edges nice and evenly. I havent come up with a final solution as to securing the panel to the original cluster plastic but i think i will do a combination of Right Stuff RTV, and possibly some custom aluminum clamps bolted from 3 mounting holes in the panel to the cluster, i think they are like 10/32” holes. Will update once i cross that bridge but heres my progress so far.
Hello hello. I just did my own DIY dash today on my 72 Dart Swinger. I used a Speedway motors A-body aluminum 6 gauge panel with Autometer Mopar gauges. It cost around 100 bucks for the panel if i remember correctly. The panel took some trimming to make it fit just right. Overall i was really happy with how the project went.
I have my entire dash out right now so it was easy removing the gauge cluster. I stripped it down, treated and painted the rust, and cut the gauge cluster. Once the gauges were separated from the plastic cover panel i mapped out the back of plastic cover with a sharpie and started cutting away material with a die grinder with like a 1.25” cutting wheel. It took about 2 hours to meticulously cut away material. Due to awkward angles of plastic molded bezels, the small cutting wheel i had played a factor with the time. If i had a slightly larger cutting wheel to switch back and forth with it would have made the process easier but i did what i could with what i had. Also heat was a factor, 50 year old plastic melts and smokes a lot easier than you would think. I definitely took my time making sure not to overheat the plastic. I left about 1/4” of material around the border of the original cluster cover to set the new aluminum panel against on the front side of the old cluster border. The aluminum panel did need to be trimmed to make it fit perfectly. I used a belt grinder to shave down the edges nice and evenly. I havent come up with a final solution as to securing the panel to the original cluster plastic but i think i will do a combination of Right Stuff RTV, and possibly some custom aluminum clamps bolted from 3 mounting holes in the panel to the cluster, i think they are like 10/32” holes. Will update once i cross that bridge but heres my progress so far.
