Finally Home...
- Thread starter 71ChargerRT
- Start date
Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
That leaves you with the same number of gauges you've already got, though... just aftermarket.
71ChargerRT
Well-known member
True, but I'd have better quality aftermarket gauges. Its a $700 option at this point I think the factory replacement tach is close to $300, and a good bezel is about $100-$200. I can sell mine as is for $150 easily, I've seen them in similar condition for more than twice that amount.
I don't know what color dash I'd want, they have an aluminum one available 68, just no pics. I'd have to do the woodgrain on the other side of the dash to match. I'm still out on which direction I'm going, but this does solve my radio issue.
Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
Only if you don't plan to run one. 
The gauges I'd bought for my Imperial were AutoMeter's GS series. Sport-Comp styling, but with green through-the-dial lighting and a self-illuminating pointer, similar to what you'd find in '94-up Rams and just about every Dakota. They're a little "too" green as far as matching factory illumination on the older Mopars, but they sure are pretty. Downside? They're bloody expensive by the time you're done. I don't know if you plan to run electric or mechanical gauges as far as water temp and oil-pressure, but the 270°-sweep electrics are insanely pricey. I saved some money by going with the "Interact Pack" 3-gauge set, which (to me) has the downside of using mechanical oil pressure and water temp gauges. No biggie on the oil pressure, but I don't like mechanical water-temp gauges whatsoever.
One other thing you might look into are some of the specialty gauge manufacturers who make gauges for aircraft, etc. I had a customer a couple of years back who was looking for a certain brand of gauge. I had no source on it, but they made 2" gauges with dual readings, like oil pressure and water temp, in the same housing. They were actually quite legible, too, but again, not particularly cheap. Of course, you're getting two gauges in one, and if they're going in an airplane you know damned-well they have to be quite-literally deadly accurate. The problem there might be matching styles to work with an automotive speedometer or tach (there are not a lot of 8-cylinder airplane engines out there). The ones I did find online, though, had an amazing array of gauge combinations in one housing, based on your preferences. It might be worth checking out.
As far as finish on that bezel, I'd have someone airbrush woodgrain to match the trim panel, personally. I agree that carbon fiber looks gay (and has been done to death) in musclecars, and I had a black cluster bezel in the Black Bitch. It didn't look good. The only argent I'd consider would be dark, but in my mind's eye, I already don't like it.
The gauges I'd bought for my Imperial were AutoMeter's GS series. Sport-Comp styling, but with green through-the-dial lighting and a self-illuminating pointer, similar to what you'd find in '94-up Rams and just about every Dakota. They're a little "too" green as far as matching factory illumination on the older Mopars, but they sure are pretty. Downside? They're bloody expensive by the time you're done. I don't know if you plan to run electric or mechanical gauges as far as water temp and oil-pressure, but the 270°-sweep electrics are insanely pricey. I saved some money by going with the "Interact Pack" 3-gauge set, which (to me) has the downside of using mechanical oil pressure and water temp gauges. No biggie on the oil pressure, but I don't like mechanical water-temp gauges whatsoever.
One other thing you might look into are some of the specialty gauge manufacturers who make gauges for aircraft, etc. I had a customer a couple of years back who was looking for a certain brand of gauge. I had no source on it, but they made 2" gauges with dual readings, like oil pressure and water temp, in the same housing. They were actually quite legible, too, but again, not particularly cheap. Of course, you're getting two gauges in one, and if they're going in an airplane you know damned-well they have to be quite-literally deadly accurate. The problem there might be matching styles to work with an automotive speedometer or tach (there are not a lot of 8-cylinder airplane engines out there). The ones I did find online, though, had an amazing array of gauge combinations in one housing, based on your preferences. It might be worth checking out.
As far as finish on that bezel, I'd have someone airbrush woodgrain to match the trim panel, personally. I agree that carbon fiber looks gay (and has been done to death) in musclecars, and I had a black cluster bezel in the Black Bitch. It didn't look good. The only argent I'd consider would be dark, but in my mind's eye, I already don't like it.