Instrument Cluster

[BellePlaine]

I want to clean up the instrument cluster from my 1975 riviera. But before i do i thought that I'd practice on the instrument cluster from my old 1976 parts bus.











Anything that I should know before I dig into this thing?

I'm thinking that I'd like to modify a nice (stock-looking) tach to put into the clock-blank and upgrade the lightning like Richard Atwell recommended.

[vistacruzer]

do not replace the ALT. light with an LED it will not exite your ALT. and you will be running on batteries

[DjEep]

The vanagons have LED alt lights, they excite just fine. I know they are resisted, as led's usually need to be, but it works somehow. I could ask my alternator guy what he thinks.

[Amskeptic]

The vanagons have LED alt lights, they excite just fine. I know they are resisted, as led's usually need to be, but it works somehow. I could ask my alternator guy what he thinks.

I'm with vistacruzer . . . everyone only *thinks* they want all this stupid brightness, the original lighting behind clean glass is pretty much perfect.
SAYS I, THAT'S WHO.

[BellePlaine]

Thanks re: LED lighting. LED wasn't on my radar. I was mainly thinking of a higher wattage incandescent bulb for the back light. Now, what about a decent looking tach?

Haven't yet taken the back cover off; I can't find a 6mm socket!

[SlowLane]

Now, what about a decent looking tach?

Back when I had a '69 I used a 3 1/8" aftermarket VDO Cockpit tach. I cut a retaining ring with tabs for the mounting screws out of sheet metal to hold it in the clock location.

If you desire a cleaner solution, German Supply has a custom mounting ring for the VDO tach here: http://www.germansupply.com/home/custom ... hp?cat=435. I'm sure other vendors must have the same item as well.

[aopisa]

Thanks re: LED lighting. LED wasn't on my radar. I was mainly thinking of a higher wattage incandescent bulb for the back light. Now, what about a decent looking tach?

Haven't yet taken the back cover off; I can't find a 6mm socket!

I put the higher watt bulbs (per Ratwell) in and I like them very much. I found the stock lights were too dim and these seem just right.

[jtauxe]

I put red LEDs in for back lighting, but discovered that they did not work correctly for the ALT light, and so went back to that as incandescent. In the end, I retained the incandescents for all the indicators lights (ALT, OIL, turn signals, etc.) but have the basic gauge lighting in red LED. I love it. There's reason that sailors use red lights in the wheelhouse at night.

[Amskeptic]

I put red LEDs in for the basic gauge lighting. I love it. There's reason that sailors use red lights in the wheelhouse at night.

As a lifelong BMW driver, I get it, I get it, BUT . . . you Volkswagen DNA destroyers, um, anyways.
Colin

[rallybug]

In a similar vein, I have a spare cluster and a spare glove box lid - my intention, when I pluck up the courage, is to replace the clock hole area with a new blank from the glove box lid, then fit four 52mm gauges in there (probably CHT, Oil temp, Oil pressure and a small rev counter)....

I have a radio blank from Werksberg that I may fit with a 52mm clock (or a digital one), along with a couple of gimbal mounted cup holders, if I can find somewhere else to put a stereo, either under the dash or in the glovebox (although, if in the glovebox, I don't want to lose half the space like a lot of people have done - maybe create something that will hold the stereo but still have storage space above it..)

[SlowLane]

my intention, when I pluck up the courage, is to replace the clock hole area with a new blank from the glove box lid, then fit four 52mm gauges in there (probably CHT, Oil temp, Oil pressure and a small rev counter)....

For only a little more than you would end up paying for those four gauges, you could have this: http://www.mglavionics.com/html/velocity_singles.html (scroll down to the E1), and it will give you more information with better accuracy (particularly the quad CHT portion). I bet it would look better, too.

[pb24ss]

www.bus-boys.com part # 220-09101 mounting ring mounts a tach in the clock hole.

[tristessa]

I can find somewhere else to put a stereo, either under the dash or in the glovebox

Maybe an overhead console on the ceiling, something like this:

or this:


Just a thought...

[Amskeptic]

Maybe an overhead console on the ceiling,
Just a thought...