Covans Nova Dash w 5" & 2 1/16"

[73novaguy]

Hey everyone just thought I throw down a picture of my dash panel I got fom Covans. They say that you cannpt get 5" gauges in, but if you drop down to a 2 1/16th moniter gauges (oil, water, volts, etc.) then you can fit the 5" tach and speedo. Just buy the plain no hole panel. Just know that you will have to cut out the holes for CD player, heater controls, vents, wiper and headlight switch. I think it turned out good, my other gauges will be here today or tomorow. I just laid down 2" masking tape over the whole thing and drew out my hole sizes to be cut and went to town with the dremel.

Here is the link to the pic http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=smgk9i or http://i2.tinypic.com/smgk9i.jpg

[Damn True]

Is that for your Nova?

[69Nova]

That looks nice :twothumbs

[73novaguy]

Yes it is for my Nova! I just recently went out and bought a complete Ron Francis Express kit with optional relays and wiring for gauges, fuel pump, courtesy lighting, and thermostatically controlled fan. So I have to go through and rewire the car headlight to talight, also comes with a mini blade fuse panel with extra circuits built in for later add ons. Also got Flaming River tilt column, Grant steering wheel, steering box out of a 3rd Gen Camaro, new u-joint to replace rag joint, Bilstein shocks, all new gauges and senders, electronic speedo, and a host of misc parts incorporated with that stuff! So I am gonna have a busy couple of weeks ahead of me!

I contacted Covans and they assured me I could not fit 5" gauges in the panel. I think they just wanted to sell me on the other pre cut peice! So I thought what the hey, why not try to mock it up, worst comes to worst, I have to run 3 3/8 gauges! But it appears I am going to have plenty of room for all gauges, plus adding LED for the turn signals, high beam, and NOS activation light.

[Damn True]

Hmm, they told me the same thing about the '67-'68 Camaro dash.

[dhardison]

Nice work Justin! Can't wait to see it installed.

[69bigblock]

Did you test fit it at all? When I installed mine I had to trim alot around the column and the dash pad.. It fit perfectly with the oringnal dash pad but not so much with the aftermarket.. I also did the same size gauges as you, they look so much better than the ones they offer.....

[barno68]

I had the same problem with mine, it did not want to fit into the aftermarket dash. A little trimming and a lot of pushing later... it fits find now and looks great. 5" speedo and tack would be nice... I am getting older and those tiny numbers are getting hard to see :squint:

[130fe]

Does the 69 nova panel fit into a 69 camaro dash?

[DRJDVM's '69]

Yes the Nova dash fits the '69 Camaro with some trimming and mounting fabrication... nothing big. Its basically the poor mans version of the DSE panel. Not nearly as nice as the DSE piece but it works.

I did this about 1 1/2 years ago.... look on my Yahoo page....

I used the big speedo and tach and smaller accessory guages and they fit fine.