Autometer guages

[70bird]

Here ya go,



Gauge Install: Autometer 5” & 2- 5/8 to 70-81 Firebird

This can be done using standard or rally gauge cluster. You will need T/A or Formula dash panel with bezels, 5” speedo, tach and 2- 5/8-fuel gauge and voltmeter. You also need to use the factory oil/temp gauge, as Autometer doesn’t have a “dual” gauge that will fit. I used black face gauges, and it matches pretty closely to stock.

Once you disassemble your cluster and remove gauges you will reuse 3 main parts: metal cluster housing, Inner plastic bezel and clear plastic lens, as well as t/sig. indicator lenses and cardboard tubes.

Ok, this was the “nervous” part for me, as I didn’t even know if this was going to work at this point, and these were new gauges.

When you get the new gauge in your hand you will see they are designed to be installed from the “front” of a panel. So, get a small implement of destruction to pry off new bezels and remove glass. You can just throw those away as you won’t be using them. You are now past the “point of no return”.

Next is to fit the gauges in metal gauge housing. You will see the housing mods needed at this point, but just drill holes for the studs on the back of new gauge, and cutouts for wiring and indicator light access. You will need to shim gauges from behind, as they will sit too deeply in housing. I used a combo of metal washers and rubber washers to help dampen vibes. Don’t know if that’s necessary, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Just trial & error here to get the depth right. Next you will need to mod the cardboard tubes (light tunnels?) to fit around lips on new gauges, just a slice in the tubes will do.

Next is the plastic inner bezel. Just open up to remove “bevel” and it will be about right, go slow and keep testing for fit, and paint it black again when you are done. You can now test fit lens, and drill hole for odo/trip button (carefully) if you are using one.

Repeat for fuel and volts pod.

That’s about it; you will need to hard wire gauges and lights, as printed circuit cannot be used. For indicator lamps you will need sockets (like the ones that come with the new gauges with power and ground wires) I found that 3rd gen. F bodies with auto trans console have a shifter lamp with the perfect socket for this, so just go to the bone yard and get at least four of them (rt. Turn, lft. Turn, hi beam. and brake press. lamp) you will need to find a place to mount the brake press. and hi beam lamps as these used to reside in the old gauges. I used the small rectangular panel at lower right of dash panel.

End result looks almost factory, but allows you to use electric speedo for late model trans swaps and is vibe and rattle free!

Here's some pics:Hope this helps, Mark