There's something inherently cool about dashboards in '50s cars, particularly those from the latter part of the decade. They assault your senses with a kaleidoscope of funky shapes, oodles of chrome, and Buck Rogers-inspired switches and gauges that make you want to strap on your spacesuit and blast off to the moon (or, at the very least, plunk in a couple dimes and cue up your favorite tunes).
The point is, few dashes in '50s cars need to be radically customized to be cool. Most of them, however, could stand to improve their communication skills. After all, idiot lights just won't cut it if you've got a hot V-8 under the hood, and it's nice to be able to keep tabs on trivial little matters like engine rpm and oil pressure. Screwing a row of accessory gauges to the bottom of the dash is always an option, but there are other avenues for those who prefer a cleaner look.
This is especially true if you've got a popular ride like a '57 Chevy. Classic Instruments (CI) has one of the latest offerings for this venerable classic Chevy. The company's system utilizes the stock '57 gauge housing but replaces the speedometer with a four-in-one unit that not only includes a programmable speedo, but also a tach, oil pressure gauge, and voltmeter. The stock fuel and temp gauges are also replaced with updated CI units that fit in the original locations. Best of all, it's a simple bolt-in affair that looks like it belongs, rather than appearing like an afterthought. The gauges are available with white, black, gray, or tan faces, or for an extra fee you can get custom fonts and just about any background color imaginable.
Classic Instruments should have a similar setup for '55-56 Chevys available by the time you read this. There's good news for non-Tri-Five owners as well. CI's Tetra street rod system uses the same trio of gauges in an oval-shaped aluminum insert. Furthermore, the company offers a custom gauge service in which it can retrofit updated movements into almost any vintage gauge and restore or customize the faces to order. Give them a call to find out more about this service.
In the meantime, why not follow along as Michael Astamendi, of Protech Performance in Burbank, California, installs the kit in a customer's '57 Bel Air. Michael's shop specializes in Tri-Fives and other vintage Chevys, and he agreed that this gauge kit was as clean as any he'd seen. Take a look and see what you think.
Classic Instruments' new gauge...
Classic Instruments' new gauge package looks right at home in a '57 Chevy dash.
The same trio of gauges in...
The same trio of gauges in an aluminum insert can look just as sharp in an early rod.
The kit includes virtually...
The kit includes virtually everything you'll need for installation, from brackets and hardware, to a control unit, wiring, and necessary sending units for your application.
Here's a set of stock '57...
Here's a set of stock '57 gauges--not bad looking, but they lack some of the vital stats that hot rodders want. The new system will take care of that.
You'll want to save the three...
You'll want to save the three chrome trim rings from your stock '57 cluster. The new instruments are designed to fit inside them.
This aluminum adapter ring...
This aluminum adapter ring slips over the four-in-one gauge, allowing it to be screwed into the housing. It needs to be clocked so the wide tabs are at top and bottom.
With the chrome trim ring...
With the chrome trim ring already in place...
...the gauge can simply be...
...the gauge can simply be lowered into the housing and secured with the supplied screws.
The other gauges are installed...
The other gauges are installed using these aluminum brackets. You'll want to make sure that all the instrument faces are clocked properly before cinching everything down for the final time.
To simplify connections, the...
To simplify connections, the quad gauge is wired up using three cables with pre-wired plugs, which feed into this "black box" control unit. The unit can be mounted under the dash or behind a kick panel.
These buttons on the control...
These buttons on the control box will be used to calibrate the electronic speedometer, so you'll want to make sure they're accessible once the car is roadworthy.
Wiring for the high-beam indicator,...
Wiring for the high-beam indicator, dash lights, and fuel and temp gauges will need to be handled individually. Astamendi is using an American Autowire system, which has detachable plugs for the dash harness. He simply spliced the remaining gauge and lighting wiring into the American Autowire harness, which makes for a clean system that's easy to detach should the instrument cluster ever need to come out.
As you'd expect, the system...
As you'd expect, the system comes with all the necessary sending units for the gauges, including (as shown) those for temp, speedo, and oil pressure. The fuel gauge will work with a stock sending unit, or CI can supply a new one if needed.
With that, you're pretty much...
With that, you're pretty much finished.
The installed gauges almost...
The installed gauges almost look like original items, allowing you to keep that classic look while getting modern technology. Pretty slick, huh?
In addition to off-the-shelf...
In addition to off-the-shelf gauge kits, Classic Instruments has a custom shop that specializes in made-to-order face designs and retrofitting new workings into old instruments. This '30s-era Buick setup is just one example of what can be done. Call or check the Web site for more samples.