Dodge73Dart submitted a new Article: Cluster. Make your own Custom Gauge cluster Read more about this article here...
I see where you cut out the old gauge face. How much of a lip did you leave for the new inlay to glue to? It sets in from the front, or the rear of the panel?
Sets in the front. I left about 1/4” Had to trim a little more in gauge areas but can do that later. I used epoxy. I also painted the old cluster frame before assembly.
It looks like you made one of these. Except by making your own, one can chose what gauges to install. PRODUCTS - GAUGES AND PACKAGES - DIRECT FIT PACKAGES - MOPAR - New Vintage USA INC Flat gauge panels work well for this. Cars with rounded or odd shaped panels present problems. Ask me how I know.
That is what we did. I have a original if needed. I am looking for a good 12 pin plug to use to make the harness connection. I may just fab something out of the old cluster plug b
Nice job yours looks a lot like mine. '71 Scamp - Road racer I made a pattern in AutoCAD and used it to lay the cluster out on 1/8" aluminum. I changed all the lamps out for LEDs and added LEDs for turn signals and bright indicator. I built it about 10 years ago, a few years before the stroke and before LEDs became so common. I cut up an old dash harness (from my 73/318, 4 dr. donor car, K-Frame, etc.) to get the connectors, so mine plugs in like the original. The map lights and fresh air vents are Aircraft equipment and the fuse box is Marine, the relays are automotive.
^^This is all really cool, but the earlier Darts are much more difficult the way the cluster is shaped.^^ One thing I've considered, (someone had a thread with one) is an import digi cluster inside the old Dart housing. See if I can find it............... Darn easier 'n I thought, "Intellitronix" Digital Electronics & Instrumentation| Universal Panels| Ignition
Hey is there any chance you have a link to those LEDs for your signal and Brights indicators? And how bright are they?
The LED market is a lot different than it was 10 years ago. Very few, if any, vehicles had LEDs. I actually purchased the LEDs, dropping resistors and chrome bezels separately. I'm an Electrical Engineer and former Navy Electronics Tech. so putting it all together wasn't an issue for me. I just did a quick search and found this site. Vehicle LED Lights | Super Bright LEDs. The site is different than I remember, but you should find something to work almost as "plug and play". I'm sorry that I can't be more help. Good luck.
Well, I have a spare bezel, so got everything on order do this hopefully this weekend. Considering vinyl wrapping the plexi before I epoxy it in- either black or red 4D carbon.
Post some pics when you have it done. Since matching up the speedo cable was going to be an issue and the fact that I wanted to keep the firewall clean as possible, I opted for a GPS speedo.
Same here. I have the dash out of the car, so I might make a recess so its sits flush between the defrost vents and try and hide it. I don't know the size of the GPS "Antenna" yet, so that is going to make a difference.
I have done about the same thing you did on the cluster but one question remains. How do I get my signal lights to work?
