64-66 Chevy Stock Gauges - Voltmeter vs Ammeter (Batt)?

[RoyL]

Anybody put a voltmeter in the stock guage cluster? Maybe in the big hole on the left side (where I'm told the "air' guage was for some bigger trucks)?

[protrash64]

I have not, first of all......but, I think it would be possible if you find one with a roughly 90* sweep. Most gauges have wider sweeps; I was considering a tach in dash and this is what I ran into. The re-pop vintage tachs have the short sweep but are too expensive for me to hack up to fit in a dash.

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by protrash64

I have not, first of all......but, I think it would be possible if you find one with a roughly 90* sweep. Most gauges have wider sweeps; I was considering a tach in dash and this is what I ran into. The re-pop vintage tachs have the short sweep but are too expensive for me to hack up to fit in a dash.

Good point on the small 90 sweep. I was thinking if I could find one really small, it might fit where the ammeter is . . . 2 in is the smallest I've seen. Don't want to cut on the original dash, but looks like the tach install required some cutting. I haven't taken one apart before, so not sure what's there.

Or leave it alone and put a voltmeter under the dash?

Roy

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by RoyL

Good point on the small 90 sweep. I was thinking if I could find one really small, it might fit where the ammeter is . . . 2 in is the smallest I've seen. Don't want to cut on the original dash, but looks like the tach install required some cutting. I haven't taken one apart before, so not sure what's there.

Or leave it alone and put a voltmeter under the dash?

Roy

I ended up making a two gauge pod for 2 5/8'' gauges and ran an old volt I had laying around and added a 2 5/8'' tach I found at the parts store. I need to fix my speedo so I will be tearing apart my cluster at some point.

[DPowers]

Might try these:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/chrome-2-ra...wx?filterid=j1

http://www.jcwhitney.com/illuminated...wx?filterid=j1

I played around some with the tach-

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...95#post4305395

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by DPowers

Might try these:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/chrome-2-ra...wx?filterid=j1

http://www.jcwhitney.com/illuminated...wx?filterid=j1

I played around some with the tach-

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...95#post4305395

That tach looks good DPowers.....I have an old NAPA tach with 6K that would be perfect but it doesn't work Didn't feel like trying to get it fixed.

[DPowers]

Originally Posted by protrash64

That tach looks good DPowers.....I have an old NAPA tach with 6K that would be perfect but it doesn't work Didn't feel like trying to get it fixed.

Welll- you could send it to me then....

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by DPowers

Welll- you could send it to me then....

Why's that?? You know how to fix it??

[DPowers]

Originally Posted by protrash64

Why's that?? You know how to fix it??

Have no idea- but willing to take alook at it and try.

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by DPowers

Might try these:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/chrome-2-ra...wx?filterid=j1

http://www.jcwhitney.com/illuminated...wx?filterid=j1

I played around some with the tach-

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...95#post4305395

PO had put in the same tach as you . . . It looks like one from Making Waves brand in JC Whitney . . . where'd you get yours? It fits good in there.
Roy

[DPowers]

PO had put in the same tach as you . . . It looks like one from Making Waves brand in JC Whitney . . . where'd you get yours? It fits good in there.
Roy

JC Whitney as well- around $40.00. And you dont' have to cut up the dash itself. Just the one backing plate.

http://www.persh.org/pickup/TachDash.htm

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by DPowers

PO had put in the same tach as you . . . It looks like one from Making Waves brand in JC Whitney . . . where'd you get yours? It fits good in there.
Roy

JC Whitney as well- around $40.00. And you dont' have to cut up the dash itself. Just the one backing plate.

http://www.persh.org/pickup/TachDash.htm

nice write-up,thx. Now I know what's behind there now.
Think I'm gonna mount a small volt meter under the dash somewhere.
Roy

[Rich 5150 69]

Find yourself a mid eighties GM car with the voltmeter, remove it, take it home and dismantle it by separating the movement from the face, doing the same to your original, install the eighties onto your original face, install into dash pod, thats how they are doing this on the chevelles, I have`nt done it yet but am looking into it.

[aerotruk63]

From the 1963 GMC Accessories Book. Chevrolet Accessories book had it listed as well.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

From the 1963 GMC Accessories Book. Chevrolet Accessories book had it listed as well.

I just bought a NOS Bat-O-Meter and a sun tach (less sender) I am in the middle of refurbing a 66 gmc dash and I think this will make it look a lot better.

I am trying to use chrome paint to finish it off will advise how it works and looks after everything is finished. Company wanted $200.00 to vacuum chrome it but I think I can do is by soda blasting the plastic, primering it, painting with chrome paint and then clearing it. Worst case I have to send it to them to redo it. Kieth

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by kieth

I just bought a NOS Bat-O-Meter and a sun tach (less sender) I am in the middle of refurbing a 66 gmc dash and I think this will make it look a lot better.

I am trying to use chrome paint to finish it off will advise how it works and looks after everything is finished. Company wanted $200.00 to vacuum chrome it but I think I can do is by soda blasting the plastic, primering it, painting with chrome paint and then clearing it. Worst case I have to send it to them to redo it. Kieth

Kieth,
Cool, where you gonna mount the Bat-o-meter?
Roy

[kieth]

Originally Posted by RoyL

Kieth,
Cool, where you gonna mount the Bat-o-meter?
Roy

I have a gmc as shown in the literature posted above. I will install the bat-o-meter in the LH opening and the tach in the RH opening. Or vis versa depending on which looks better. Kieth

[kieth]

Originally Posted by RoyL

Kieth,
Cool, where you gonna mount the Bat-o-meter?
Roy

JUST A LITTLE UPDATE:

FINAL RENDITION INSTALLED BATOMETER AND SUN TACH 66 GMC....



http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...WmmMg&lb=1&s=A

IN THE TRUCK:

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...PBQ7f&lb=1&s=A

[earl84]

I went to a junk yard and got the volt meter, have it installed in the cluster cutout thing and ready to install, but how do you hook up the wiring harness to the voltmeter? Did you cut the factory plug and install ring terminals? Any pictures? This is a great writeup, and I tested my gauge before installing. Just hope it all works when I get it back together, haha.

[RoyL]

Yeah, sometimes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, works just fine . . .

[Rich 5150 69]

Well there is some thruth to that, but if you`ve ever had a harness fire due to a amp gauge/voltage regulator you`ll never have another one. I lossed a harness in a `62 409 back in `69......man what a mess....

[RoyL]

be sure to read this as well, shows a better way to retain the meter with tabs and clamp. Should be enough room for a hose clamp . . .

http://www.persh.org/pickup/TachDash.htm

[SFTorange]

Hey Roy,

Could you post how you wired up the gauge? It's obviously pretty simple, but there were three studs on the back of the gauge and I wasn't sure exactly how to hook it up.

[LostMy65]

I found this thread by searching the forums for using the original ammeter space and replacing with a Voltmeter.

Good job on this.

I had a bad dash fire back in 84/85 when I had my old 65 before.
I'm going through the wiring now, and all evidence points to the ammeter.

[61K10]

i did it kinda the same in my 60-63 gauge panel. wanted a vac gauge for the left side (my K10 has the vac brakes) but haven't found one yet that i liked. so i put a $9 volt gauge there temp. tack is an old dixo--didn't want a 8k but the price was right.