Resolved 1G Gauge Cluster Modification.

[InfiniteGSX]

I'm Moding my 1g stock gauge cluster to hold aftermarket gauges. Since I'm working on a budget project, I can't just go out and buy all the gauges, so I'm doing one at a time. Starting with the boost gauge. Regular sized (56mm or what?) Gauges fit in the three center holes flawless with minor mods. All I had to do was take out the gauge from the cluster, take a knife and easily go around it in a circle a few times, taking a clean shaven layer off. Eventually the Auto Meter UltraLite fit great! What my plans are, is to replace the Water Temp, Fuel Level and Oil Pressure gauge with Boost Pressure, Fuel Pressure and oil Pressure. I was thinking of using black AutoMeter gauges for all of them, except the boost gauge, so it will stand out. Plus since I have a digital FP Gauge in black and an Ultra Lite Boost. I decided to have the boost gauge which is silver in the center. It looks great:

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Eventually I'll put the Digital FP gauge inside the Fuel Level area, and the oil Pressure gauge in the water temp area. And a Auto Meter in dash tach and speedo will move in as well. I want this to look as "Modified/Stock" as possible. So Stock placement, same size speedo and tach. I'll also put up different color LED's for certain things that "NEED" to be monitored, I'll even include a very bright orange LED to shine directly at me, in the center of the 3 center gauges, for a shift light.

However like I said, this is a budget project so I can't do it all at once, gotta do it over time. So I put the boost gauge in, it fit flawless. But to install the boost source, I had to cut some of the trace/plastic off of the back. I was going to sand down the traces I cut, and replace them with soft wires with solder, including re solder some of those ?Resistors?... Which is where my question comes in, In that square area, I cut all of that. So what did I severe exactly? Does anyone know? Right now I have my dash torn apart to do some clean up on the wire harness, so I can't find out whats not working.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[cturok7]

Dude, this is exactly what I was thinking today. Just got my Talon in the garage and was thinking "hmm...maybe I should put the aftermarket gauges in the dash."

I was thinking about putting a chrome finished lip around the speedo gauge and Tach.

 

[1990AWD]

So what are you going to do for the fuel level and oil pressure??

 

[InfiniteGSX]

Fuel Level and Water Temp will go in the Dual Gauge Pod I have on the side. Fuel Pressure will replace the stock Fuel Level Gauge, and Oil Pressure will replace the stock Water Temp Gauge. Boost Gauge obviously replaced the stock oil pressure gauge. I think that I will use black face/silver ring AutoMeter gauges for the rest of them and leave the boost gauge Silver face with Silver ring. Just to draw more attention to the boost gauge.

I figured out what the lights that were cut off were. They aren't too important. But I would like to get them hooked back up soon.

 

[da1sexmonk83]

I am working on a similar project with my 2g. None of my factory gauges work right since my motor swap. My check engine light is always off, my boost and oil pressure gauges were disconnected, my RPM is off by 750rpm, my speedo is off by 10mph and so on. So I am planning to do a full replacement either using an ABS plastic backing, or aluminum (because they are easy to work with).

I am thinking I will be able to fit in around 6 gauges in factory area. Here is my plan:

I have the surround bezel that mounts 2 after market gauges

My speedo will be replaced by my HKS turbo timer which displays vehicle speed digitally.
RPM will be covered by either an Autometer Giant Mounted on the top of the dash, or a smaller factory sized one mounted in factory gauge area (depending on how crappy the big one looks uptop

Fuel level and water temp will be mounted on the after market gauge surround Probably going Autozone Brand for those.

Autometer Boost, oil pressure, HKS speedo, and MAYBE Tach - Innovate digital AF, micro voltmeter, digital EGT. I won't have any warning lights (as most of the are already useless), my turn signals will be identified by small LEDs on the right and left of the gauge panel, I also have a wideband test light that will be wired to the dash cluster so I can see if it is operating correctly. And a small LED that indicates the brights are on.

How does this sound to everyone? Any suggestions or concerns?