My 68 mustang has a factory console so it pretty much eliminates using underdash gauges and there isn't really anywhere else to put them.I wanted a clean factory look but with the accuracy of aftermarket mechanical gauges so I decided to try to put them in the instrument panel myself..I bought a instrument cluster at a swap meet for $20 bucks and got busy...
First remove the instrument cluster from the dash and remove the plastic front bezels from the cluster.
Next I removed the plastic lenses from the bezels. I test fitted the 2 1/16 gauges in the bezel and they fit perfectly..When I tried to slip the metal retainer over the gauges from the back the opening was a little too small..I cut a small snip about every 1/2 inch along the opening of the retainer so I could bend the edge back enough to allow the gauge to slip through the retainer and screwed them down tight...
Do the same for all three.
Next, it became obvious the the two outside gauges were too deep to fit into the cluster without some modification..The center gauge where the optional clock was installed was empty on my car and had a large removable plastic piece that allowed the gauge to pass through perfectly.
The back part of the two outer gauges were cut out using a combination of a Dremel with a cut off wheel and some tin snips.It doesn't have to be pretty since it can't be seen from the front side anyway.Also don't worry about saving the factory light here since the guages have their own lights and are sealed up.
That is the toughest part of the swap and cannot be undone. Next I taped the factory wire connections up so they can't touch anything and kept them out of harms way..I used the factory instrument light wires at the ends of the cluster and wired them to the light bulbs in the guages.The autometer guages come with a little green cap you can put on the lightbulbs that match the factory bluish tint pretty well. Install it back in the dash and your done except for routing the lines to the engine compartment...You can buy the instrument cluster already done for you but they are very expensive.This way it will only cost you the price of the gauges themselves. Next on my list is doing the speedo and tach conversion or at least relocating my tach. The pictures don't do this swap justice as it looks very factory when done.
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1968 mustang..408 windsor.Vic jr heads and intake.Pro Systems 950HP holley, 1 3/4 hooker super comps,Custom CI solid roller camshaft,Probe shaft rockers, 4 speed with 4:11 detroit locker.
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