Rectangular Gauges???

[rockable]

This is also posted on the HAMB but I thought I'd try to get suggestions from both boards.

Does anyone make rectangular automotive gauges? I'm trying to figure out how I can mount some good gauges in my 41 Plymouth and keep the stock dash cutout.

Unfortunately, it's only 3 1/8" X 11 1/4", so I can't fit a standard 3 1/8" tack or speedometer into it. I looked at putting a 2 1/8" tach in along with the other 4 gauges but can't get 5 of them to fit. If that would have worked, I would have put the speedo in a can on the column.

I can get 4 - 2 1/8" gauges in the stock cutout but then I'd have to use a 3 1/8" speedo/tach combination mounted on the column. I'm not wild about that because the tach is so small.

The OEM gauges are small rectangular gauges, two on each side surrounding the speedo.

Suggestions? I really like the look of the Autometer Street Rod Antique Beige with my planned interior.

[Young Ed]

I cant really be of help but I'd like to hear/see more of the speedo/tach combo. I'd like to find something like that for my truck project.

[Andydodge]

Rock, I went for the race car look, mounted the tach on the top of the dash at an angle towards me so that I just have to glance at it to check shift points(did I just say all that??, talk about a wanker!) .........lol.......not that it makes much difference at this stage with the stock 95 needies throbbing underfoot........lol........andyd

[rockable]

I cant really be of help but I'd like to hear/see more of the speedo/tach combo. I'd like to find something like that for my truck project.

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugedetail.aspx?ref=search&gid=3704

Here you go.

[windsor8]

I had to use round gauges in my 48 Dodge and change the faces with the original gauges.

[builtfercomfort]

What does the back of your instrument panel look like - and why do the gauges have to be rectangular? What do the instrument faces look like - are the faces good or will they need replacement too? How close to stock are you trying to get?

Options:

1. Find some "mini" gauges and take the guts out of them and put them behind your existing gauges. They would come with sending units. The problem is that most modern "mini" gauges are of poor quality - the good ones are usually the standard (2 1/8 ? I forget what the standard gauge size is). Sometimes the standard size gauges have guts that are a good bit smaller than the casing.

2. Find a newer car and get the gauges out of it - I seem to remember an 80s Chevy had rectangular gauges. You would probably need to change the sending units too.

3. Send the old gauges out for rebuild to modern specs ($500 or so last I checked).

4. Look for more popular aftermarket gauges - Ford F1 perhaps?

5. Look at a Dolphin 3 3/8 cluster gauge / speedo, and see if it would work if you removed the surrounding can at top and bottom - just grind it off to fit your opening - would it look 'custom' or 'hideous' ? You might need to cut some custom glass in an hourglass or figure 8 shape to fit across the two gauges?

Edited July 21, 2010 by builtfercomfort
added info