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anyone replaced autometer gauges

Started by _dickiep_ , Apr 13 2009 10:13 PM

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28 replies to this topic

#1 _dickiep_

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Posted 13 April 2009 - 10:13 PM

looking at putting autometer gauges into the torrie to replace the standard gauges.

do i need to get electrical or mechanical? anyone recommend good series to use not looking for bling or carbon fibre

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#2 _LJ355_

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Posted 13 April 2009 - 10:27 PM

Mate i did mine with sport comp series they did fit nice although im having trouble with my speedo cable not fitting hitting the firewall

Mine are electric to execpt for oil pressure

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#3 _Torana308_

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Posted 14 April 2009 - 12:24 AM

I did the same as LJ355 and fitted the black sports comp gauges to my LJ. They are fitted into the factory XU1 facia. Mine are all electric including speedo.
Posted Image

Thats how mine looks in the car. Hopefully that helps you a bit. I am happy with how it turned out. I have a better pic here but its on the other computer. I will post it tomorrow night.

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#4 _dickiep_

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Posted 14 April 2009 - 01:46 PM

thanks guys that exactly what im after. im looking to do something similar to yours torana308. what size gauges did you use?

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#5 orangeLJ

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Posted 14 April 2009 - 02:29 PM

I found the fit in the bezels a bit off, toranajudd had his in there pretty well perfect though (he used a different autometer series of gauges)

I think you need to relieve a bit of space behind for the speedo cable too, a few people end up snapping them from too greater angle/pressure

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#6 _Torana308_

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Posted 14 April 2009 - 02:48 PM

My smaller gauges are 2 1/16th, The larger ones are 3 3/8th. I don't have any problem with my speedo as I used an electric speedo. There is only a 15pin connector to the back of my cluster.

I realise my gauges don't fit 100% perfect, I wasn't going to cut the facia or grind into it and risk stuffing it up. I will get a better photo of them up tonight as the above photo doesn't show it that well. I just get tired of it being pointed out every time I try to show what I did with mine.

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#7 orangeLJ

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Posted 14 April 2009 - 04:28 PM

I didnt say anything about yours this time, just mentioning that in general they dont fit 100% (believe me I tried) I wasnt singling you out mate

I still have both my attempts at making a dash in the cupboard, Im going to finish the second one eventually, just needs some extra grinding work on the large bezels to sit the gauges further back.

The first one will be used in the racecar eventually.

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#8 _Torana308_

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Posted 14 April 2009 - 05:27 PM

This is the dash before it went into the car after i had it painted then finished reassembling it.

With regards to the cable problem, I wonder if a good gauge place could make up a cable with a right angle drive or something on the end of it. Something like this
Posted Image

The place that did mine built up a really good electrical sender with just enough length in the cable that the electrical sender is secured to the gearbox crossmember and the wires come up through the floor near the shifter.

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#9 Heath

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Posted 14 April 2009 - 06:21 PM

How much does it cost to set something like ^ up? Doesn't strike me as something that would be very simple...

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#10 _Torana308_

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Posted 14 April 2009 - 07:25 PM

Which bit Heath? The whole dash or just the speedo side of things. It was fairly simple but I had it well planned out.

The whole dash including facia, Gauges, Speed sender, LEDs for indicator and warning lights( High beam, Charge and Alternator), Having the facia resprayed and the wiring cost me under $1000 all up. Thats how it sits in the second photo.
(Plus the speed sender)

The whole car was rewired by myself at the same time using a completely new loom and fusebox. Including the rewire and gauge replacement I would guess at around $1500 ( Brand new harness was $300 plus about $200 in terminals, split tubing, a few extra rolls of wire, a few relays + some odds and ends.

The speed sender assy cost me around $150 to have a small cable made and the sender unit itself.

The only part that anyone else did for me was the painting of the facia and making up the cable/sender.

If anyone wants any info on how I did it, I am happy to anwser questions. :spoton:

Edited by Torana308, 14 April 2009 - 07:29 PM.

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#11 _dickiep_

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Posted 15 April 2009 - 02:20 PM

awesome, just getting a few quotes for autometer gauges. also need to get a gaugeless gtr dash. been looking on ebay but havent seen one, can anyone help?

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#12 orangeLJ

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Posted 15 April 2009 - 02:22 PM

I think I have a spare facia at home somewhere, will have a look and find a price.

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#13 Heath

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Posted 15 April 2009 - 02:52 PM

Which bit Heath? The whole dash or just the speedo side of things.

The whole dash really. I just can't imagine mounting all those guages (even if they aren't completely spot on, just getting them to sit close to perfect I behind there would be a nightmare, wouldn't it?) I don't know how they are attached to the rest of the loom, I assume there is some kind of connector so you don't have to join 20 different wires seperately before screwing it into place.

I don't really know; I'm intimidated by electronics and instrumentation generally, those custom guage setups just look difficult to me, but god they are cool when complete.

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#14 _dickiep_

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Posted 15 April 2009 - 02:57 PM

I think I have a spare facia at home somewhere, will have a look and find a price.

yeah let us know mate

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#15 _LJ355_

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Posted 15 April 2009 - 05:57 PM

The whole dash really. I just can't imagine mounting all those guages (even if they aren't completely spot on, just getting them to sit close to perfect I behind there would be a nightmare, wouldn't it?) I don't know how they are attached to the rest of the loom, I assume there is some kind of connector so you don't have to join 20 different wires seperately before screwing it into place.

I don't really know; I'm intimidated by electronics and instrumentation generally, those custom guage setups just look difficult to me, but god they are cool when complete.

I have had my dash wired in to one plug so removal and installation is quite easy

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#16 _Squarepants_

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Posted 15 April 2009 - 06:12 PM

I have had my dash wired in to one plug so removal and installation is quite easy

Good idea mate! :clap:

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#17 _Torana308_

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Posted 15 April 2009 - 07:52 PM

To remove mine you take out two screws unplug one connector and remove the dash.

Electronics aren't that scary Heath, Get yourself a good colour wiring diagram and it makes it alot easier. The gauges aren't hard to wire really, theres an illumination wire, two earths, a 12v power that is ignition switched and the signal wire. Most of the gauges have it clearly in the instructions which wire goes where.

Getting the gauges to sit in there caused a bit of a headache at first, but I just attacked the two main gauges, then the smaller gauges, then the LEDs, then the wiring for them. I already knew what gauge sizes worked and had seen other cars with them fitted up, so I kept trying things till I got it to sit the best I could.

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#18 _Squarepants_

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Posted 15 April 2009 - 08:22 PM

You deserve some clapping smilies too, Torana308!
:clap:

That's a good looking dash!
I want to do something similar with my LH. worked out which gauges I'll be using, just have to finish my front end then work out the fundage!
Gonna sell my SL/R cluster to help the money situation, but that's a few weeks/months away yet.
Nice work anyway, mate!

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#19 _dickiep_

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Posted 20 April 2009 - 03:43 PM

any luck orangeLJ? ( i know your going through a bit at the moment)

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#20 _dickiep_

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Posted 20 April 2009 - 04:08 PM

also anyone know where is best to get autometer gauges?

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#21 _Torana308_

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Posted 20 April 2009 - 11:56 PM

I imported mine from the USA myself after some good advice from fellow forum members. I was lucky and got all mine when the dollar was alot stronger(87c or 88c from memory)

Providing the total value doesn't exceed $1000aud then you don't pay import duties on them.

I bought mine from Egauges.com. I have bought off them twice and their service was great. Make sure you check your order throughly a few times before you send it, Long way to return them for the right ones.
DO NOT USE USPS TO SHIP THEM HERE, The Torana gauges took a month to get here. Bought some for my ute the other day and I ordered them at 10pm on the Thursday night and they turned up on the Monday about lunch time. They were shipped by UPS this time.

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#22 Hybrid

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Name:Brett
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Posted 08 October 2011 - 06:05 AM

I have just bought 6 autometer gauges and am about to try to fit them to my GTR dash. Does anyone have a photo from the rear of the dash showing how you attached your autometer gauges to the fascia? Even a description how how it is done would be helpful.

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#23 _Torana308_

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Posted 08 October 2011 - 11:31 PM

My Smaller gauges just sit in the factory XU1 metal brackets, The Bigger gauges sit in, of all things, PVC pipe joiners, that were then ground to the shape of the front dash facia and glued into positon. If I have the dash out again any time soon I can grab a pic, The Bigger gauges were the ones I found the hardest to do.