78-83 regal factory gauge set up ideas

[Blackknight]

Hi,

I am in the process of modifying my factory gauge set u in my 80 regal. I have bought a 78 sport coupe set up that has a turbo gauge and volt meter. I would like to swap the turbo out for a water temp. But I have found these hard to find. Another thing I am trying to find is someone that can convert my clock hole into a factory looking tach. I don't imagine it would be cheap but I want a factory appearance and not a hole cut to fit a sun tach behind the glass. If anybody has some insight it would be greatly appreciated. My only other option is to upgrade to a newer bezel and get a dakota digital analog set up to keep it looking factory.


Cody

 

[455'ed80Regal]

Hi there Cody. Us 78-83 regal guys don't have too many options when it comes to gauges. I have an '80 myself, but it has the gauge package in it-volt, temp,and clock. Clock doesn't work, so I was trying to figure out a way to make an oil pressure gauge to fit where the clock does with close to factory look as possible. I would even pay someone to make me an oil gauge that looks factory. Haven't looked into that yet tho. I think the regal is the only gbody that never came with an oil psi gauge as an option or a tach for that matter. I asked Dakota Digital if they had considered making a set of gauges for the 78-83 regals and they said no cos they didn't think the demand would be there. They suggested using their 84-87 gauges, but I didn't like that idea, so i'm keeping my factory gauges and save the money for something else for my car. If I end up figuring something out with a factory looking oil gauge I will post it on the forum. Good luck with your car.

 

[Blackknight]

I had some luck with new vintage USA. It's not cheap but the website looks like they know what they are doing. Mark was quick to respond(on a Sunday to boot). Once I get a little closer to completion I am definately going to be contacting to modify my cluster. They can do anything you want. I am thinking getting a double swing in one pocket to add a oil pressure gauge.

Cody

 

[455'ed80Regal]

Awesome!!! I just checked out their website. Looks like they can make anything a person would need. I was willing to pay a pretty penny to have someone make me a factory looking oil psi gauge. Looks like it will become reality when I get to that point.

 

[gearhedjon]

I custom built a "factory" Century using the sport coupe gauge cluster. The olds Cutlass rally cluster uses a tach that can be switched from the back of the gauge to use with either a v6 or v8. I used this tach behind the blank clock face and had the blank face made to look like a tach face. The needle came from the Olds tac. Looked pretty factory to me.