If you want to upgrade your 64-66 to some accurate aftermarket
gauges, there is now a reasonably easy and cost-effective way to do
it. Total time involved was around 6 hours, most of which was spent
making up the wiring harness on the gauge set.
The key to the whole thing is the aftermarket gauge support
(Part
# GS - $39.95). It's the black vacuum-formed plastic piece that
holds the aftermarket gauges in place.
You need a 1965 GT or 1966 instrument bezel - available
in either black or woodgrain. Gauges are up to your personal preference.
There are plenty of choices in various colors and styles (white, carbon,
cobalt, etc.). You could even go black and look close to original with
MUCH better accuracy. I went with white-face Autometer Phantoms - fuel
level, oil pressure, 160 speedo, water temp, and voltmeter. The other
two gauges, tachometer and vacuum, are mounted in a re-pop Shelby dash
pod ($5 swap meet bargain).
The wiring harness is tidbits from Radio Shack. Two sets
of 9-pin male-female harnesses. I can unplug the entire harness with
two plugs, unscrew the speedo, then pull the the bulbs for hi-beam (left
side) and turn signal (right side) and it's all out. I did a mix/match
with the male and female plugs. One is male and the other side is female,
so you can't plug it in wrong or backwards.
The dash metal did NOT have to be cut. I simply trimmed
one little piece from the bottom of the plastic bezel, and it all clears
fine. I did bend the metal tabs 90 degrees so the bottom screws go right
in.
Good swap all-in-all. Difficulty factor is around a 4
on a 1-10 scale. Improvemnt factor is a 10. |
