Which gauge panels to go with.

steel1212

Active Member
Jun 24, 2004
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Frankfort, Ky
I'm a little undecided what I want to do. THere are about 3 choices I've come up with.

1st: JME gauge cluster, clean, has tach, not original looking though, and expensive
2nd: figure out how to put aftermarket gauges in a factory 66 gauge panel (would still have a tach on steering wheel, or possibly put one in a shelby tach pod)
3rd: this thing here on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80739&item=4555242393&rd=1 again, not original looking but it will have a tach out of the way and be cleaner than 2, unless I use the pod.

any other opinions or how to do the 2nd one?
 
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I bought the VDO gauge set and separate tach. I dremeled my old bezel and made an aluminum insert covered with black vinyl material.

http://home.earthlink.net/~tmbeaulieu/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/gages320.jpg

gagesmtd.jpg


Later replaced it with matching wood inserts for the gages and glove box.

dsc01266.jpg


I should have just bought a new repro bezel for around $30 to hack up.

If I had the $$$ I'd just get a JME or Haneline. I think they both sell just the bezel assembly w/o gages.
 
Ive got #3, havent installed it yet. Its a pretty simple piece but will look great with gauges.. Keep in mind a set of autometer gauges to fill that panel is going to be between $400 and $500. You can do it with cheap gauges, but IMO then it looks cheap too.
 
I saw #3 installed in a car that K.A.R. Auto Group had at All-Ford Nationals. It looked pretty good and is a much cheaper alternative to JME. I believe they sell it bare (like in the eBay listing you posted) or complete with Teleflex gauges and wiring harness for like $500. They had a brushed aluminum insert for it as well, and a matching glove box door insert.
 
I did number 2. I believe NPD sells the kit to do it, but i bought mine from some small place in cali. There is a plastic part that mounts to the back of any 65gt or 66 gauge panel that lets u use aftermarket gauges. Below is how my setup looks. that part is only like 30 dollars then u have the price of gauges and a new gauge panel if you need one.
 

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I am an absolute huge fan of the wooden inserts. However, i have recently decided to put brushed aluminum in my car. Believe it or not i am taking out the wood for the deluxe interior and putting metal in. I was looking around at some of the stuff they have available for classic mustangs and was very surprised to find that some companies are offering carbon fiber dash bezels and inserts! They are really ugly and i hope they dont become the next big thing in restomods.
 
How about updating the originals?

gauge1.jpg

gauge2.jpg

gauge3.jpg

Simple white vinyl overlays, painted inner guage support with chrome paint for added reflectiveness and viola'...
And yes, those are the original light bulbs, no changes at all. The inner support painted chrome (shiney silver) boosts light bounce back. Looks good to me!
THE RATTLER
 
fast64stang said:
I went with option 3 with a brushed aluminum panel on it and white faced gauges. I also got a dual a-pillar pod for my boost and FP gauges. it looks great


I also purchased #3 from Laurel Mountain Mustang, where did you guys pick up the aluminum panel for it ?


Thanks
 
I ended up with #2. I got the support, added some autometers and Man does it look good. I just have to finish wireing the sender from the tranny to the electric speedo and I'm good to go....man I'm going to have to wire a new fuse box when I get all this new wireing stuff done :nonono: