Triumph Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" V8s (Stag and TR8)

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alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

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Gauge quandary
Posted by: alana
Date: November 20, 2010 01:19PM

So I'm looking at changing the (still in the box) gauges and dash for the 6 project.
I have Autometer ES gauges and a custom dash (with a larger cutout for the steering column).

Anyone have a feel for the easiest sell here? Dash and gauges? Or dash, gauges and a custom metal back for a 6/250?

Dash looks like this:

http://tr250v8.com/images/dash/dash640.jpg

Backing looks like this:
http://tr250v8.com/images/nov2.jpg

If anyone's got an opinion, I'll be happy to hear it.
If anyone's looking for something just like this, I'll be even happier to hear from them...


motek
George Smathers
Spokane, WA
(118 posts)

Registered:
09/12/2009 02:45PM

Main British Car:
1967 Morris Minor (48 hp @ crank!), 1971 TR6 302

Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: motek
Date: November 20, 2010 07:36PM

Alan,

It's too late for me but I would have wanted the whole package. Your metal back is the best part of all.


George


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: alana
Date: November 24, 2010 04:11PM

Well it's now for sale. I'm going off in a totally different direction.
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74ls1tr6
Calvin Grannis
Elk Grove,CA
(1151 posts)

Registered:
11/10/2007 10:05AM

Main British Car:
74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1

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Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: 74ls1tr6
Date: November 24, 2010 04:53PM

What idea or direction are you going with Alan? Very curious!


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: alana
Date: November 24, 2010 07:14PM

A somewhat radical departure. Purists need not look any further.
Thinking is along these lines.

Moal bomber gauges:
[www.moal.com]

Crinkle dash with body colored aluminium panels inset therein.
Color is Wedgewood, remember.
Gauges in the inset panels.

This should give you sort of an idea:
[image.streetrodderweb.com]

Double DIN nav where the single DIN radio was.
Custom bezels to match gauges for nav and a/c vents for an integrated look.

It'll either look very very cool or be a total visual disaster. No halfway house here.
Worse case I get another dash made...

Builder's going to map it out so we'll have some idea before committing.
If it IS a mess, it'll be my fault for picking this - you've seen the quality of work he's producing.


Bill Young
Bill Young
Kansas City, MO
(1337 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 09:23AM

Main British Car:
'73 MG Midget V6 , '59 MGA I6 2.8 GM, 4.0 Jeep

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Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: Bill Young
Date: November 24, 2010 10:13PM

Alan, I think it will be a nice combination. A friend is just finishing up his BGT and he did his dash in bed liner. Really looks neat and is indestructable. Looks sort of like the crinkle finish but won't capture the dust like a real fine crinkle seems to. I took this photo after I'd finished wiring his gauges.
dash.jpg


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: alana
Date: November 24, 2010 10:42PM

B's came with crinkle originally though, no?

TRs traditionally came with wood.
That's the big departure here.



74ls1tr6
Calvin Grannis
Elk Grove,CA
(1151 posts)

Registered:
11/10/2007 10:05AM

Main British Car:
74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1

authors avatar
Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: 74ls1tr6
Date: November 25, 2010 10:57AM

Alan,

I really like the bomber gauge look! Kind of like the look being an Air Force brat growing up.

The gauge company is not to far from me here in CA.

I think you should go for it and don't look back if you like it. Wood can fade or lighten, and finish can crack. A metal dash won't with your idea.

As far as departure goes, ls2, vette suspension, air, need I say more :-) tells all! I say continue your quest.

Also, I like how your builder moved your stick shift forward on your T56. Very cool how he did that.


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

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Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: rficalora
Date: November 25, 2010 07:48PM

Classic Instruments sells the same bezels.


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: alana
Date: November 25, 2010 08:21PM

I know.
They make the instruments for Moal that go with the bezels.
The picture on the Moal site is better though.
Also eGauges sells them at a discount.


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: rficalora
Date: November 25, 2010 08:52PM

Re: 'Also eGauges sells them at a discount.'

Didn't realize that. I considered them when I was picking my gauges but couldn't justify the price. Just as well though - I like what I ended up with but still really like these. Can't wait to see your dash!
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alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: alana
Date: November 29, 2010 09:30PM

Well just to give you something to look at, here's the thinking for the dash replacement.

dash1.jpg


DiDueColpi
Fred Key
West coast - Canada
(1365 posts)

Registered:
05/14/2010 03:06AM

Main British Car:
I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now!

authors avatar
Re: Gauge quandary
Posted by: DiDueColpi
Date: November 30, 2010 01:58PM

Hey Alan,
Just some thoughts.
Have you put a steering wheel in front of your dash layout? Looks like some of your guages will be hidden. I know this because.......
Angle your nav system towards you as much as possible. I have a pioneer AVICz3 that is hard to read unless you view it straight on.
Maybe make your glovebox door from a darker material to balance out the dash colour. And be careful about your colours. Maximum of three is the rule of thumb ( this was from the Lovely Lynne )
Cheers
Fred


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