Aftermarket Volt gauge in stock cluster

[camp9k]

So I am off work for a bit after a lower back fusion and cant do any heavy wrenching for a couple months and totally bored. I really like the look of the stock speedos but hate the amp gauge and the idea of looping that old thick wire through the firewall behind the amp gauge.
I know they sell volt gauges that fit the stock clusters but like I said, I bored. I read a few articles on using other gauges and retrofitting them to work. After looking at a bunch of gauges, IMO thought the two below looked the best in the bronco. The VDO ended at 16v and the sun pro 18v. The VDO showed up first so it was my first test.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/vdo-332103

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sun-cp8215

I have a few old clusters around so I picked my worst one and this is my fist attempt of an install.

 

[camp9k]

I first disassembled the cluster.

 

[camp9k]

I decided I wanted to install the VDO gauge whole and adjust the bronco housing. I marked out the housing to get the gauge to fit.

 

[camp9k]

Since in a little lazy I used a plasma cutter to trim a bit and finished it off with a half round file.

 

[camp9k]

My challenge was finding a spacer between the housing and the speedo head that matched the distance of the rest of the stock gauges. After looking around the garaged I found that a Teflon tape cover with a little trimming of the inside lip on one side worked perfect.

 

[camp9k]

Installed it through the housing and reversed the white mounting ring and tightened up.

 

[pcf_mark]

Keep it going this looks like fun! I hate my volt meter sticking under the dash like a high school kid.

 

[camp9k]

All the gauges now matched distance and I was ready to installed the speedo head.

 

[camp9k]

I quickly re-assembled the speedo and pretty happy with the position…I may grind the opening more on the outside of the housing next time to see the Volt wording better? I will be completely be restoring a whole unit for my 73 with this volt gauge and will post a pic when done. Any ideas, comments or suggestions are appreciated…

Thanks
John

 

[DirtDonk]

...Any ideas, comments or suggestions are appreciated…

Sure. Keep the theme going by adding temp, fuel and pressure gauges from the same manufacturer, so the lettering/shape match on all four.
Assuming that is that they have matching gauges.

Always liked VDO stuff. The fact that it fits the housing is cool. Bit of work obviously, but high on the cool list.

Paul

 

[spap]

Camp my gauge cluster is in the mail to you, looks great
I pulled a volt meter out of a late model ford truck and will be trying to fit that in the housing. But yours looks a little easier

 

[Steve83]

This & the NEXT several show the MarsChariot process:



The captions contain a link back to some of his posts here.

 

[Brewbro21]

Camp you worried me there for a min. But it came out looking real good. Nice job

 

[camp9k]

Sure. Keep the theme going by adding temp, fuel and pressure gauges from the same manufacturer, so the lettering/shape match on all four.
Assuming that is that they have matching gauges.

Always liked VDO stuff. The fact that it fits the housing is cool. Bit of work obviously, but high on the cool list.

Paul

I like that idea! This is probably when a simple idea goes bad, but I'll bite!

Thanks
John

 

[camp9k]

k...so I put together a better looking gauge with other parts and moved the volt gauge out a bit more...IMO looks better. I added some led lights and the first pic is bronco gauge lights only and the next pic is adding the vdo light.

Thanks
John

 

[clarrance]

I quickly re-assembled the speedo and pretty happy with the position…I may grind the opening more on the outside of the housing next time to see the Volt wording better? I will be completely be restoring a whole unit for my 73 with this volt gauge and will post a pic when done. Any ideas, comments or suggestions are appreciated…

Thanks
John

You might want to remove this picture, before someone goes on a shopping spree.

 

[camp9k]

You might want to remove this picture, before someone goes on a shopping spree.

No worries...I have three broncos, all my cards are maxed out!!!

Thanks
John

 

[clarrance]

No worries...I have three broncos, all my cards are maxed out!!!

Thanks
John

Lol, me too

 

[Mtgrizzlymn]

Very cool.

 

[sykanr0ng]

Reading at this thread and then this one

Oil Pressure Sending Unit

Has me wondering what other gauges could be replaced with better ones in a Bronco cluster.