1964 Caliente Gauge Upgrade Project

The Era of The Square Body Racing Comets
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Bigfoot
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:11 pm

1964 Caliente Gauge Upgrade Project

Post by Bigfoot »

Dash Gauge Upgrade
Replace the Fuel, water temp, Oil Pressure, and Amp gauges with Autometer 2 1/16 gauges.
Disassemble the instrument Cluster.
Stating with the Bezel create a template for plexiglass replacement for the original
Bezel
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Picture Bezel with paper template
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Picture of template only
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We worked with a local Plastic supplier to have the template cut out in 3/32 thick plexiglass. This was expensive to have the plastics supplier cut out the plexiglass, little more than $120 for one hour labor to complete the cutting. This produced a piece that was close, only needing some additional fine tuning to complete the fitment. (The plexiglass is under the original plastic to illustrate the area needed to be modified)
Picture of plexiglass behind the original plastic
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Gauge clamp modification is needed, we cut about 5/16ths off the plastic to account for the shallow mounting needed. (it helps if you have the plexiglass when modifying the gauge clamp for best results)
Note: went to ace hardware and purchased a PVC connector that was close to the ID of the gauge clamp and used tape to make a snug fit. (In the picture) Placed in a vise with soft jaws and used a hack saw with a fine blade, just take your time to ensure a good cut.
Picture of cut clamp piece.
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Next step was to remove the gauges and the speedometer from the metal case, then create four openings for the new gages to be installed. This can be done a couple of ways; we chose to do this alteration this way. We had access to a retired machinist that made these openings from a guestimate we provided.
Picture of Case with Holes
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Insert the gauges in the plastic bezel with the plexiglass and then the thin metal retainer that bolts the bezel to the metal case. (sorry do not have a full picture of that, partial below look just above the bezel for the metal plate)
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Here is a view of the bezel and the metal case together with the new auto meter gauges from the side.
Side view of bezel with Gauges
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Note we needed to add additional clearance to the openings to get the gauges to align so the bezel and the metal case aligned to be screwed together.
Insert picture of metal case back view with gauges
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This is the result
Picture finished cluster
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A/FX
Comet Central Member
Posts: 1094
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:07 pm
Location: S.E. Wisconsin

Re: 1964 Caliente Gauge Upgrade Project

Post by A/FX »

Looks great! Nice work.
Similar to how I did mine.
Jim
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‘64 Cyclone/ Boss 302,quads,4spd, Winters 9”

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poboyjo65
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Posts: 7037
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:40 pm
Location: Camden, Tenn.

Re: 1964 Caliente Gauge Upgrade Project

Post by poboyjo65 »

Very nice work!!! :D

Yours too Jim! :D
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Johno

comethead
Posts: 5692
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2003 7:44 pm
Location: Palmdale, CA

Re: 1964 Caliente Gauge Upgrade Project

Post by comethead »

Very nice!!
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
1964 Falcon HT- track car- 302/4 speed
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