AMC Rambler Custom Dash and Gauge Cluster

Custom Dash Gauge Cluster Factory Gauges

Look closely; those are the stock instrument bezels with the Auto Meter gauges melded seamlessly into them. You can have this with some basic supplies and ingenuity (and some of Steve Strope's talent).

Look closely; those are the stock instrument bezels with the Auto Meter gauges melded seam

'The back of your head is someone else's problem. It's not like you have to stare at it for hours on end or use it for critical gear changes. So you can leave its destiny up to the femme with the buzzin' clippers and call it good. Not so with the dashboard on the street machine. You're gonna stare that thing down on long road trips and need to consult it during gear changes and illicit top-speed testing. It better be right. It better be good.

The dashboard rebuild has come a long way since the standard plastic-polish rubbing and orange-nail-polish-on-the-speed-needle treatment. Steve Strope from Pure Vision Design in Simi Valley, California, has been rethinking the standard, and more recently, Redline Gauge Works in Santa Clarita, California, has come up with a way to swap out analog and geardriven cable systems for sleek new VDO innards. Each has developed a way to completely change the look and feel of the gauge face to any vibe you want; all you have to do is envision it. To that end, we have assembled some cool ideas from these two luminaries and even had Strope work some mojo in the CC/Rambler project dash.

Custom Dash Gauge Cluster Factory Cluster

Behold the ugliness and the hacked-in test-fit gauges of the CC/Rambler. We wanted to keep the stock bezels and avoid the stripped look that comes from simply drilling the panel with a big hole saw or using sheetmetal.

Behold the ugliness and the hacked-in test-fit gauges of the CC/Rambler. We wanted to keep

Supplies
Devcon Plastic Welder
Dupli-Color Silver Metallic
Dupli-Color Instant Chrome
Dupli-Color High Performance Wheel Coating (clear)
Dupli-Color Adhesion Promoter
Krylon Semi-Flat Black
Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Cleaner
Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Polish
SEM Self Etching Primer
Auto Meter 2 1/16 fuel/water/oil/volt gauges
Auto Meter 3 3/8 in-dash speedometer

The instrument bezel was stripped bare using a media blaster. Since this part is nearly 40 years old, Strope hit it "half-throttle" in the media cabinet. Just get the paint off, don't melt it. The holes in the bezels that were created by the author were repaired with Devcon Plastic Welder. Squeeze it out of the tube, smear it over the damage, sand it, and prime it.
The instrument bezel was stripped bare using a media blaster. Since this part is nearly 40
To repair cracks, we used a Dremel to dig a trench for the plastic welder on the backside of the damage. On the front, we filled the crack with adhesion promoter; it's a light primer that helps paint stick to plastics. We dabbed it with a paintbrush to restore the texture.
To repair cracks, we used a Dremel to dig a trench for the plastic welder on the backside
Since the gauges were aftermarket, the back of the panel needed to be modified to fit. The Dremel with a small saw-toothed wheel works best because it doesn't melt the plastic and clog like, say, a head-porting bit.
Since the gauges were aftermarket, the back of the panel needed to be modified to fit. The

The stock circuit board was a fire hazard on the Rambler, so it was tossed. The factory mounting holes were then repaired, if needed, tapped with a 3/16 bit, and fitted with studs to mount the bracket we were about to build.
The stock circuit board was a fire hazard on the Rambler, so it was tossed. The factory mo
Using skills he picked up in third grade, Strope used construction paper to build a template before transferring it over to sheetmetal.
Using skills he picked up in third grade, Strope used construction paper to build a templa
We created the pattern for the gauges by rubbing a pencil over a sheet of paper that was cut to fit the gauge studs.
We created the pattern for the gauges by rubbing a pencil over a sheet of paper that was c

With the paper transferred to the back of the sheetmetal, the approximate location of the socket was revealed so we could cut an access hole.
With the paper transferred to the back of the sheetmetal, the approximate location of the
This is the finished gauge bracket with the access holes, studs, and gauges installed. This is the time to test-fit the bracket in the car. Dash braces, wiring, and ducting are going to get in the way. Make additional cuts before you finish the details.
This is the finished gauge bracket with the access holes, studs, and gauges installed. Thi
The front side of the gauge cluster was painted with Krylon Semi-Flat black and reassembled to check for fitment. This is actually a cool look, but we wanted to match the accents inside the car with a two-tone silver.
The front side of the gauge cluster was painted with Krylon Semi-Flat black and reassemble

The blue tape represents the parts of the dash that are to remain black. The entire panel was then painted with Dupli-Color Instant Chrome, dried, and the blue tape was removed. Use clearcoat after the paint dries or it will rub off on your fingers.
The blue tape represents the parts of the dash that are to remain black. The entire panel
Other than some small touch-ups, this is the way the dash was reassembled and put in the car. It probably has $20 worth of art supplies tied up in it.
Other than some small touch-ups, this is the way the dash was reassembled and put in the c
We found a photo of an AMC American hood ornament and used the color scheme to develop a plan for the glovebox logo.
We found a photo of an AMC American hood ornament and used the color scheme to develop a p

The glovebox paint job was accomplished using the same reverse masking technique as the main gauge panel. The only difference is that Steve hand-lettered the American insignia with brushes from a hobby shop.
The glovebox paint job was accomplished using the same reverse masking technique as the ma
The radio was cleaned up with Meguiar's clear plastic polish and cleaner, and the bezel was painted to match the glovebox and dashpanel. Knobs and fobs were touched up with a small detail paintbrush.
The radio was cleaned up with Meguiar's clear plastic polish and cleaner, and the bezel wa
The final touch was to weld a small bracket to the gauge frame to feed an MSD shift light through what was formerly the cigarette-lighter hole. From the front, it looks inconspicuous.
The final touch was to weld a small bracket to the gauge frame to feed an MSD shift light

It almost looks stock until you light it up.
To complete the look, we are going to need to repair the steering column. For a more '60s feel, the shift knob should be switched for one that is all white, and the TCI shifter housing needs to be painted either silver or blue.
To complete the look, we are going to need to repair the steering column. For a more '60s
If you have a stock and/or rare dash, the Redline Gauge Works guys can get it working without resorting to the use of aftermarket gauges like we did. This is a gauge cluster from a '54 truck. The original 6-volt gas gauge was converted to 12 volts, the temp gauge was converted from a capillary tube to electronic, and the ammeter was converted to volts.
If you have a stock and/or rare dash, the Redline Gauge Works guys can get it working with

This '55 Nomad dash uses the stock faces, but the gauges have been converted to VDO movement.
This '55 Nomad dash uses the stock faces, but the gauges have been converted to VDO moveme
This panel from a '69 Dodge Charger demonstrates the use of color and font changes to completely change the feel of a dash. The gauge faces were changed from black to white with a custom royal blue font, and the pointers were painted glowing red orange to make them easier to see. Companies like Redline use laser printers to design any style font in any color you want.
This panel from a '69 Dodge Charger demonstrates the use of color and font changes to comp
On the left are the original tachometer innards from a late '60s Mustang. On the right is the new VDO movement. You can also get a clock changed to a tach or a speedometer with any rpm or mph with any font and even get a built-in shift light installed.
On the left are the original tachometer innards from a late '60s Mustang. On the right is

SOURCES
Auto Meter 667 West 100 North Box 717 Ephraim UT 84627 435-283-4142	Redline Gauge Works Santa Clarita CA redlinegaugeworks.com
Pure Vision Design Simi Valley CA purevisiondesign.com