Robert Sweeney
1966 Plymouth Barracuda
Good morning,
I similarly copied SSVDP’s DIY dash bezel forum and wanted to give the proper recognition as it’s well deserved.
I took a slightly different route, but overall followed his thread. I pulled the bezel originally to perform the MAD Bypass but later found out many of the wires and or circuit boards weren’t working as they should. I am building this car ultimately for my four year old daughter to one day have and overall I’m making it my own so that she has a unique ‘66 barracuda. That being said here’s what I did:
I decided I wanted the stock bezel as I love trying to keep the car as original as possible but also customized and more modern. I know; it’s a very hard balance to master and I’m no master at all. Using the stock bezel I dismantled the stock gauges as most either didn’t work or the the wires were cut or the circuit board portion was bad, and I sanded it down. Similar to SSVDP I painted mine: silver center (that was a pain, as the paint did not want to stick) black interlaced line, with a candy red board ( the exterior of the car is going to be painted Black Cherry Pearl). I followed up the paint with a clear coat. I then ordered Autometer American Muscle Series gauges to replicate the exact gauges that are stock: water temp, fuel, speedometer, tach (non-vaccum), oil press, and volt.
I did have to Dremel out the stock gauge holes to fit the new gauges since the speedometer and tach have slanted inserts and the other four smaller gauges were ever so slightly bigger than the original holes. But after Dremeling and sanding the gauges slide in easily. I used Autometer’s wiring harness to wrap up the job since it’s prelabeled and extremely easy to install. Additionally, I added two leds to the bezel and spliced in turn signals since the ‘66 didn’t have them. It’s not perfect, probably should have made a few measurements and saved myself the noticeable offset on those turn signal bulbs, but I can live with it. The harness kit came with everything I needed although I did opt to use heat shrink butt splices and spade connectors to make and future job a bit easier and the overall product a little more “professional”.
At the end of the day, I love the work I did, I know it’s not for everyone. When the car gets out of the paint booth with the black cherry paint, I feel that this dash will pull the outside of that car into the inside. Especially if I end up swapping out the citron interior for black interior as I want to do.
either way, please let me know what you think of the work!
I similarly copied SSVDP’s DIY dash bezel forum and wanted to give the proper recognition as it’s well deserved.
I took a slightly different route, but overall followed his thread. I pulled the bezel originally to perform the MAD Bypass but later found out many of the wires and or circuit boards weren’t working as they should. I am building this car ultimately for my four year old daughter to one day have and overall I’m making it my own so that she has a unique ‘66 barracuda. That being said here’s what I did:
I decided I wanted the stock bezel as I love trying to keep the car as original as possible but also customized and more modern. I know; it’s a very hard balance to master and I’m no master at all. Using the stock bezel I dismantled the stock gauges as most either didn’t work or the the wires were cut or the circuit board portion was bad, and I sanded it down. Similar to SSVDP I painted mine: silver center (that was a pain, as the paint did not want to stick) black interlaced line, with a candy red board ( the exterior of the car is going to be painted Black Cherry Pearl). I followed up the paint with a clear coat. I then ordered Autometer American Muscle Series gauges to replicate the exact gauges that are stock: water temp, fuel, speedometer, tach (non-vaccum), oil press, and volt.
I did have to Dremel out the stock gauge holes to fit the new gauges since the speedometer and tach have slanted inserts and the other four smaller gauges were ever so slightly bigger than the original holes. But after Dremeling and sanding the gauges slide in easily. I used Autometer’s wiring harness to wrap up the job since it’s prelabeled and extremely easy to install. Additionally, I added two leds to the bezel and spliced in turn signals since the ‘66 didn’t have them. It’s not perfect, probably should have made a few measurements and saved myself the noticeable offset on those turn signal bulbs, but I can live with it. The harness kit came with everything I needed although I did opt to use heat shrink butt splices and spade connectors to make and future job a bit easier and the overall product a little more “professional”.
At the end of the day, I love the work I did, I know it’s not for everyone. When the car gets out of the paint booth with the black cherry paint, I feel that this dash will pull the outside of that car into the inside. Especially if I end up swapping out the citron interior for black interior as I want to do.
either way, please let me know what you think of the work!
