Rallye dash autometer gauge swap

[Dustert73]

I want to kick this thread off by saying this is for entertainment purposes only. What you use this information for is completely your responsibility. I take no responsibility for your actions.

With that taken care of, this is how I swapped Autometer gauges into the 1969 Plymouth Barracuda rallye dash that’s installed in my 1973 Plymouth Duster. But I believe this will apply to all years of A body rallye dashes. I utilized the factory speedometer, but there was room for an Autometer gps speedometer. The Quad gauge does not use the factory fuel sending unit ohm range. This is a non issue for me because I plan on swapping to an aftermarket in tank pump fuel tank with the matching ohm range sending unit.

The Autometer gauges in question are as follows:
P/N 1410
P/N 2892

The posts will be separated to organize the info and pictures together. There will most likely be edits to help keep things concise, so posts might change over time.

 

[MAPS]

That's real nice...

 

[Dustert73]

First step after removing the cluster assembly from the vehicle is to remove the clusters faceplate. Which was held in by numerous little 1/4 inch self tapping screws.

Once that was taken apart, I used a 3/16 inch drill bit to remove the 8 heads off of the melted plastic holds that secure the clear gauge covers and black metal gauge spacers for the tach block off plate and 4 gauge cluster from the cluster faceplate.

From there I used the same drill bit to remove the 6 plastic holds securing the clear gauge covers from the black metal gauge spacers

 

[Dustert73]

Next step was to cut/grind the center cross from the black metal 4 gauge cluster spacer. Once the center was cut out I also had to grind an 1/8 inch off the back of the spacer lip, so there wasn’t such a concentrated pressure point on the gauges glass face. This cut piece will be used to space the autometer quad gauge back to more of a factory appearing location. The factory black metal spacer used for the tach block off plate will be reused as is and doesn’t require any modifications.

From there I went ahead and pulled the factory four gauge cluster from the cluster frame, along with the printed circuit boards. Once everything was removed and I had the cluster frame set on the operating table, I started hacking away at it. I followed the orange line (marked in one of my photos) around the cluster frame with a hacksaw and a carbide burr. I ended up having to grind into a small section of the RH turn signal light pocket. Which I used some super glue and NCF spray to pretty much instantly build the ground off section back up at an angle. Then I used a black sharpie to color the epoxy so light wouldn’t bleed over from the turn signal bulb into the quad gauge space.

I had to remove a lot of the cluster frame to make the quad gauge fit. But it did not affect the structural integrity of the cluster frame very much. Very stout piece. Overbuilt even. Gotta love old Mopar quality!

 

[Dustert73]

This next step entails using epoxy to glue the tach and 4 gauge black metal spacers back into the cluster face using the leftover plastic hold pins to locate them. I ended up using JB weld plasticweld.

Moving forward from there I coated the quad gauges chrome bezel with matte black plastidip. In the hopes of easy reversal just in case I ever needed to warranty the gauge. This was due to some of the chrome bezel being visible behind the black metal gauge spacer. With it painted black everything blends in nicely.

I have attached pictures of what the gauge would look like if I didn’t space it back and with it spaced back for representation. No spacer could also could be done. The mounting bracket would just be modified slightly.

 

[Dustert73]

After that it was time to tackle the mounting brackets for both the quad gauge and tachometer. There were many ways to skin the cat here, I could have gotten away with less or even done more if wanted. But these brackets are what I ended up making.

The quad gauge bracket requires two holes drilled with the upper hole being tapped into the cluster frame to accommodate a short pan head screw. I ended up using 10-32 screws. On the bottom mounting point I used a backing nut on the screw because there wasn’t a lot of aluminum to cut threads into.

While the tachometers mounting brackets utilize four of the printed circuit boards fasteners and two gauge face mounting studs one being it’s ground stud (you have to disassemble and remove the tachs rear mounting cup).

Once the brackets were completed I painted them with some leftover semi gloss black engine enamel that I had laying around and installed the gauges into the cluster frame.

Bracket measurements will be below this post. Add an 1/8 inch per side of the quad gauge mounting bracket if you want to add the reinforcement edges.

 

[Dustert73]

Bracket measurements

 

[67Dart273]

Nice project!. Why did you do this, change of style, or old gauges bad, or ??

 

[Dustert73]

That's real nice...

Nice project!. Why did you do this, change of style, or old gauges bad, or ??

Thanks guys! Means a lot

For the reasoning, a little of all honestly. But the straw that broke the camels back was trying to install a Chrysler Corp knee knocker A/C unit. Couldn’t have gauges mounted under the dash anymore. Not that I particularly cared for them anyway. Gauges hanging everywhere inside the car looks messy to me, and you really have to take your eye way off the road to read them.

I’m still not done sharing this swaps info yet, getting very close though. Works been busy thankfully so my time to sift through the info I have saved has been cut down.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Very nice! Just a question....do you plan on adding the matching Auto Meter speedometer? I ask because I think it would look absolutely killer. Looks nice as is, but man, with the matching speedometer, you'd have a real winner. Had someone just said they did it without pictures, I never wouldda thought it wouldda come out that good.

 

[Dustert73]

Moving forward from there the next step was to figure out the backlighting and switch indicator light situation. Which much like the mounting brackets, there were many different (maybe even better ways) to finish this step. What I ended up doing is drilling and carbide burring out reliefs into a flat sheet metal plate that I cut into the shape of the old PCB. I ended up just cutting and hogging out the pcb (orange line in the picture) for the RH turn signal indicator socket to live in.

This was so I could mount side marker light sockets that had harnesses attached. P/N in question is Dorman 85814. I decided on this route because they were in stock and ready for pickup at my local auto parts stores. After that was made up it got the same semi gloss rattle can paint treatment as the gauge mounting brackets. I also epoxied the sockets onto the plates so they would never be pulled off on accident (plate will have to removed as an assembly to service the bulbs if needed).

For the last step of this swap I moved onto the wiring. I used an autometer 8 pin connector P/N 3299 for the quad gauge and spliced the tachs harness into my existing car side wiring connector.

This setup works very well, and it cleaned up the cars interior too. So win win in my book. Thanks for reading about this swap and thanks to FABO for a great forum!!

 

[Dustert73]

Very nice! Just a question....do you plan on adding the matching Auto Meter speedometer? I ask because I think it would look absolutely killer. Looks nice as is, but man, with the matching speedometer, you'd have a real winner. Had someone just said they did it without pictures, I never wouldda thought it wouldda come out that good.

Thanks! Maybe in the future I will swap to the autometer gps speedometer. Wanted to keep it simple this time around.

 

[Dustert73]

Uploaded new pictures in the first post better showing the final product

 

[CFD244]

Nice job.

 

[RedFish]

Awesome job. I would have to get rid of the Autometer logos. Now you need my custom bezel for a D.I.N. head unit. I don't have the pics on this new laptop. I need to buy a card reader or external HD box. It is shown in earlier threads.
Years ago I often exercised my shade tree engineering skills, (I said "shade tree" because of no formal engineering training), ability to foresee potential problems and rethink instead of wasting time. A few of my previous employers are surely still enjoying some of my innovations.
Today, my mind doesn't work as well, my hands shake so bad I can hardly write a check. So I wasn't bragging on myself as much as envying you (between the lines).
My 67 fish now belongs to my granddaughter. Until she owns a garage to park it in, it remains here. I'm going to show her this thread and offer to bank roll this mod if she or her hubby will help me.
If it happens, I'll have to have the matching speedometer. Cheers

 

[Dustert73]

Thanks everyone!