Gauges!

Topic: Gauges! (Read 4953 times) previous topic - next topic

Gauges!

January 26, 2006, 11:32:40 AM

So I've decided to trash my stock cluster (digital speedo w/buttstuffog gauges) and go with Lunar series gauges from Autometer. I've already have a piece of aluminum trimed up to fit on a stock Turbo Coupe cluster. As far as that goes I'm feeling pretty confident. What really scares me is getting everything wired up correctly. I've never really done much automotive wiring so I don't want to screw this up. I know some of you guys have some pretty sweet setups so let me have it...what am I getting into here? I know that the new gauges will have their own sending units, etc. but what parts of my stock wiring can I reuse if any? I am going to put in Speedo, Tach, oil press., amps, and water temp. along with a fuel gauge. These suckers are expensive so I'm gonna take my time a try to do it right but I figured getting a little advice wouldn't hurt either. Thanks ahead of time.

Gauges!

Reply #1 – January 26, 2006, 02:26:14 PM

i know their are at least 4 people hear with a coustom gauge cluster setup. hopefully one of them will chime in. all i can say is your probley going to need an EVTM.

Gauges!

Reply #2 – January 26, 2006, 02:45:52 PM

Here, this will scare the outta you...

Gauges!

Reply #3 – January 26, 2006, 02:48:33 PM

Dang Eric! Is that something you just did to your car??

Gauges!

Reply #4 – January 26, 2006, 02:51:24 PM

LOL Yes Derik, last spring. It was, um, how do you say, loads of fun.

Gauges!

Reply #5 – January 26, 2006, 02:54:25 PM

gulp...well the end result sure is spectacular. Its that first pic that I don't like the looks of. Geez maybe I should just keep my stock cluster and put in some gauges were my equilizer is and never hook them up. Oh they'll look cool when the cars not running

. So Eric, how many hours do you have in just wiring. I still want to do this but I need more info before I get started.

Gauges!

Reply #6 – January 26, 2006, 03:11:12 PM

It's not that bad really. I took the most logical approach I could think of and went with that. Time-wise, I had maybe 3-4 hours into the whole thing, over a few nights.

What you need for all the new gauges: ground, 12v+ power (ignition switched), and 12v+ for the lighting.

Each gauge also has its own unique sending unit wire (except the voltmeter).

What I did was make one main junction block for the wiring common to all gauges. That's what's in the first picture above, over on the right side of the column there. I have two ground wires (black in color--more on that later), one ignition switched 12v+ wire (yellow), and one lights 12v+ wire (blue) in that block, on the bottom part of it. Those are the factory wires from the cluster.

There are two ground circuits because I separated the gauge grounds from the light grounds. I probably didn't need to, but it didn't require much extra work, and it freed up the junction block from having a thick bundle of black wires in one spot.

OK, now out of the top of the junction block I fashioned up some pigtails with bullet-type quick disconnects. This is so I can remove the cluster easier.

In the bottom (6th) photo you can see the wiring very clearly. Don't let that intimidate you...it's very simple. The main power wires (yellow) on the left side are chained together. The right side ones are also chained together. Then both of those are joined in the bullet connector, which goes to the junction block. That's just one circuit, but you get the idea. All the gauge grounds are chained like that; all the lights 12v+ are chained (white wires); and all the lights 12v- are chained. I just made everything all neat so that the wiring didn't get caught on anything, that's all.

I used the factory wiring for the sending units, in some cases lengthening them, and marked them off with the green tape.

The factory turn signal/high beam/brake light/seat belt light wiring was forced into a bulb holder by me. It was not easy but I got them to work...dammit. They untwist just like the factory cluster.

So...in a nutshell...to remove or install the cluster now, it's almost like factory, except there are a bunch of small harnesses, not one or two big ones. But everything is on a quick-disconnect system and everything is labeled clearly. It works for me. I simply couldn't find an easier way to wire in the gauges together like that.

For a different way of doing it, see here: http://jr.rustecat.com/articles/cluster/
Click on the Installation section to see the wiring setup.

Gauges!

Reply #7 – January 26, 2006, 04:39:45 PM

All I can say is, "wow!" It turned out great! I'm wanting to upgrade my gauges while I have my interior apart, but I don't think my wallet is going to let me do anything like that! lol

... again, very nice!

Gauges!

Reply #8 – January 26, 2006, 04:42:06 PM

Eric, your gauges set the standard as far as i'm concerned. incredible

Gauges!

Reply #9 – January 26, 2006, 05:23:11 PM

Not to sound like a dick or anything, but howcome you guys didn't buy those premade aluminum or stainless Turbo Coupe bezels on ebay and go from there? Or are the holes the wrong sizes?

Anyway, I know from experience how much wiring is involved in gauges. When I put in my 3-gauge panel I couldn't believe the number of wires I had running off that thing. Doesn't help that each gauge has 4-5 wires going to it.

Gauges!

Reply #10 – January 26, 2006, 11:09:56 PM

Those pre-made bezels are just for the factory gauges. The aftermarket ones have a different size. The two larger ones are 3-3/8", which is actually a bit smaller than the factory gauges. And the small aftermarket ones are 2-1/16", larger than the factory ones. Any way you slice it...something has to get modified somewhere.

Now what I did was keep the stock configuration, with the smaller gauges pretty much straight up and down like the factory cluster. That required cutting the bottom part of the black bezel to countersink the bottom two gauges. So far I'm the only one that did it this way. For Will's (weasle) and some other people's clusters, they stagger the smaller gauges to go with the curve of the steering wheel, and also to keep them completely contained underneath the cluster panel trim. That requires the smaller gauges to touch each other. It's a very, very tight fit but they will work.

I made a cluster pattern in a PDF file here:
http://www.coolcats.net/media/cluster.pdf

Feel free to use it as you wish. Again, it's based on 3-3/8" larger and 2-1/16" smaller aftermarket gauges.

Oh, and in case you're wondering about the file...when you do the aftermarket gauge thing as I did, you start with a Turbo Coupe cluster, but you have to make a new mounting panel to go over top of the TC cluster's black outer bezel. That's what this file is for. It's just a template for whatever material you're going to use (aluminum, plastic, carbon fiber, etc.). I used Auto Meter gauges but this also works for Cyberdyne/Nordskog gauges, and probably any other aftermarket gauge. And in case you're wondering, no, you cannot reuse the clear acrylic lense cover with aftermarket gauges...it simply won't fit anymore.

Gauges!

Reply #11 – January 27, 2006, 11:35:44 AM

That's a really cool pattern! I might use that for an idea that came to me last night... it'll be similar to your's, but different!

Gauges!

Reply #12 – January 27, 2006, 12:49:48 PM

I really think I'm gonna wuss out and just do the 3-gauge console over my radio instead. Kinda sucks I already have a TC cluster butchered up and a piece of aluminum cut but I plan to just do this later on. I've decided to save the money from buying the speedo (expensiiiive!), tach, and fuel gauge and devote that to other projects on the car. Go ahead and let me have it for wussing out! Thanks for the info Eric

it will be used later on. Last night I cut up a piece of aluminum and made it to fit where my equilizer was. I'm trying to save cash and get everything together for a big project

on the car so every penny counts right now.

Gauges!

Reply #13 – January 27, 2006, 11:47:19 PM

nice thread reguardless.....

Gauges!

Reply #14 – January 28, 2006, 12:10:14 AM

The only thing that I'm concerned about with doing something like that is the fuel gauge. Do you need to swap the sender as well?