Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hello All,
Sorry for being M.I.A. I had to get my life back in order and all after the cancer. Now that I have weekends off, I'm determined to get the car done by Solvang. With that in mind, I have found a snag in my project.
I would like to use the Autometer gauges instead of stock but, am not finding the right size for speedo and tach. I measure the dash holes at 4 1/2" yet the aftermarkets are at 3 1/8" or 5". Does everyone have at it with a hole saw or what?

Thanks in advance!

A Dremel Tool works best to grind out the hole. What I did was tape a paper outline over the hole to determine how much material I needed to remove then used my Dremel and a grinding wheel to take it off!! I put in 5" gauges.

Lou smaldino
66-1600
67-2000

Hey Lance, welcome back and I hope all is well with you now. Lou's idea of using a dremel works best for making exsisting holes larger. When I used a new blank dash plate I used a hole saw but that does not work on something with a hole already there. What kind of Autometer gauges are you putting in?

Steve

Thanks Steve it's good to be back! I was thinking of the Phantom series. These gauges would go well with what I have planned. Without giving too much away, this thing will be a little more on the modern side by the time I'm done. I am worried about the time frame 'till Solvang. I did just find my car's sister and am thinking about purchasing it and taking it to Solvang instead.
We shall see!

Yeah, the Phantom series are pretty nice. So, you are looking at your second roadster eh! You are becoming just like the rest of us-it is really hard to stop at just one. Not impossible but hard. Well, I hope to see you at Solvang as I plan on making it this year. I will either be in my POS 65 yellow terd pre-sr20 or the 67.5 stroked purple ride. I think you will like Solvang if you have never been roadster or not.

Steve

Has anyone tried putting aftermarket gauges in a tall windshield car? I'd really like to, but I don't know if there are any that will fit.

Will

Will:

I recently saw a 69 Roadster with aftermarket VDO gauges in the same location as the originals it was hard to the that they were not the original gauges that fit in there. The guy who had them is a guy named Joe Freitas out of Gustine. Gerardo Magana can get you his phone number, we went and saw his KA24DE swap that is already about 10 years old, and it looked great.

Lou Smaldino

So, I looked at the write-up on "aftermarket gauges" again on this site. How did this person use a 3-3/4" speedo in a 4-1/2" stock hole? I figured maybe a backing plate of some kind? I also see he used all 2-5/8 gauges which must meen he did the dremal trick? I just want to make sure I order the right thing the first time. Does anyone know for sure which spec. fuel gauge to go with? Since my stock tank was rusted out, I figured maybe I should just go w/ an aftermarket tank with built in sending unit. Any additional input would be appreciated.

Hey Lance,

That was me and as I stated above I used a blank carbon fiber looking dash plate. I then drilled my own holes. I just recently found out that Autometer makes a universal fuel sending unit and I have done some trial fits on a spare gas tank I have lying around and it appears to be a direct bolt up. It is highly adjustable. You just need to get the fuel gauge they recommend to be used with the fuel sender and you should have an accurate reading fuel gauge. I have the part number at home but it should not be hard to find on Autometer's website.

Steve

Hey Lance:

This is what I am using in mine, I am using the Autometer Ultra Lite Comp Gauges All my gauges are 2 1/16th for the little holes, 5" for the big holes and then I used the 2 5/8" Clock in the same location as the stock clock, even though the smaller holes are 2 1/8" the bezel of the gauges is large enough to cover the holes.

I am also using the Autometer sending unit which is adjustible in length.

I am using all electrical gauges with my KA24DE Swap but here are the part #'s

ATM-3262 1 Universal Sending Unit
ATM-4316 1 Fuel Gauge
ATM-4327 1 Oil Pressure
ATM-4337 1 Water Temp
ATM-4375 1 Air Fuel Mixture
ATM-4485 1 Clock 2 5?8"
ATM-4489 1 Speedometer
ATM-4498 1 In Dash Tachometer

Hey you guys are great! I was wondering how to pull off using 2-1/16th gauges in a 2-1/8th hole. I just want to modify the dash now before I take it over to the powder coaters. Measure twice, cut once!

Just an FYI for all those considering the AutoMeter guages. The universal fuel sender is a direct bolt on for the pre-67 cars as that is the way the oringinal sender is held in place on the fuel tank. On 67.5 and above there is a locking ring that holds the fuel sender in place. I am sure an adapter could be made but it is not a direct bolt-on.

Steve

The 2 1/16th guages work fine in the 2 1/8 hole, the Auto-Meter gauges have a big enough ring that they fit in good.

Another option for enlarging the rings is to take the dash to a Machine shop and have them enlarge them for you, it would cost about 60-80 dollars but the holes would be perfect.

Lou Smaldino
66-1600
67-2000

I was referring to the fuel tanks and the way in which the sender mounts to it not the low windshield flat/dash itself. A dremel works fine for enlarging the existing holes in the flat dashes.

Steve

Do most keep with the mechanical gauges or do they swap over to the electrical? There are so many variances for this conversion!