gauge location ides for 69 firebird? any aftermarket gauge pods out there?

[maroon88iroc]

hey everyone i have a 69 firebird and i have a couple questions about the gauges. the car is all original and it has the two gauges in the dash, one with fuel and the other a speedometer. they appear to be 3 3/8's. i want to replace these and put a speedometer in as well as a tachometer. i was wondering what others have done with this, if you need a new panel for the gauges or if they will bolt right in. i have a picture below of the way my dash right now, i want to know if the 3 3/8 gauges will fit in the stock gauge holes? if not what do i need to make them work. i know i can make them work i just figured id get some insight on this stuff before i start on it.

also i will be adding four more 2 1/8 gauges. fuel, volts, oil pressure, and water tempature. is there anything aftermarket that will work in my 69 firebird? (also a quick question on the fuel gauge, i can just splice into the wire going to the factory fuel gauge for this correct?

this isnt the greatest picture of the console but this is the console that i have.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

this is the pod that i would like to use i was wondering if it would work? i have only seen this gauge pod in the 69 camaros and i think that console is different.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=ATM%2D10002&N=700+115&autoview=sku

also i was wondering if there was anything i could do about a fuse box. i dont like the glass style fuses, i would like to update it to the blade fuses is there a simple way to do this?

[SamHatco]

Check these guys out. they have the best looking solution IMHO. http://gaugegear.com/

Sam

[maroon88iroc]

ya i like that but i want to use my own gauges and $93 is a little high for the pod only. i would have to come up with something for two more gauges with that also.

[steve g]

I was pondering the same thing for my 69 bird. I ended up buying a set of the rally gauges with the indash tach and stacked trio of gauges. I have two additional gauges (trans temp & volts) that are going in the glove box. I made a new box with a flat back to accept 2 1/16 gauges. Here's the photo of the new dash. The new gauge cluster is a bit pricey though.

[maroon88iroc]

I was pondering the same thing for my 69 bird. I ended up buying a set of the rally gauges with the indash tach and stacked trio of gauges. I have two additional gauges (trans temp & volts) that are going in the glove box. I made a new box with a flat back to accept 2 1/16 gauges. Here's the photo of the new dash. The new gauge cluster is a bit pricey though.

i mounted them to my center console. however my fuel gauge isnt working and i would like to get it working, where can i go to get just the replacement fuel gauge? i shouldnt have to buy the whole cluster right?

[SamHatco]

Just Dashes http://www.justdashes.com/ will take your dash pad and install gauges in them. It will put the gauges more at eye level. I think it would look good. Don't know the cost, but you could check them out. Here is a link to their anouncement http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.php/topic,415.msg1566.html#msg1566

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/JD0809T-1.jpg

Sam

[maroon88iroc]

Just Dashes http://www.justdashes.com/ will take your dash pad and install gauges in them. It will put the gauges more at eye level. I think it would look good. Don't know the cost, but you could check them out. Here is a link to their anouncement http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.php/topic,415.msg1566.html#msg1566

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/JD0809T-1.jpg

Sam

that is pretty nice, too bad i have already installed the gauges, i do need to get a dashpad where would you reccomend for an affordable one?

[1969CamaroRS]

Is the console in a bird similar to a Camaro? (sorry I know little of the cosmetic differences).

I wonder if you could adapt something like this ($40 from Summit minus gauges):
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=ATM-10002
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/AfterMarketGauges002-1.jpg

Does the console have a removable piece above the shifter?

[maroon88iroc]

Is the console in a bird similar to a Camaro? (sorry I know little of the cosmetic differences).

I wonder if you could adapt something like this ($40 from Summit minus gauges):
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=ATM-10002
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/AfterMarketGauges002-1.jpg

Does the console have a removable piece above the shifter?

that is what i was wanting to do but i could never get an answer on if it would work with my console. i believe my console is actually out of a camaro. it is identicle to my 67 rs console. but the firebird was originally a bench seat column shift car, now it has buckets and a console shift. it doesnt have a removable piece above the shifter.

[SamHatco]

This is what another guy did. http://www.1969fb.com/Firebird.asp?myPage=Restoration_Dash

Hope this helps.

Sam