Problem with thunder road dash??? Or is this normal??

[redmist]

I purchased one of the kick butt thunder road (Classic Dash) drilled gauge hole dash overlays.

I test fit the dash tonight and dropped a couple gauges on place to check out the fit form function... Fit great! Looks decent! Functions not so good.

The dash is already angled back by the stock dash location, but the classic dash then further angles the gauge buckets back even more?!?!?! It's Opposite of what I would have expected. The gauges are pointing up towards the dash pad. When looking at the gauges in a seated location, they are an oval. In fact it's angled enough that it cuts the text off as to what gauge you are looking at from the bezel obscuring the view.


Is this normal for this product?? If so, I will live with it, or cut the buckets, rotate them, and epoxy in the correct location.

Any input from other users??

[b5blue]

Wow, I don't like that at all. Could clearance be the reason? It looks real nice but why the angle. Possibly you can make shims. Man I always wished for a product like this but not that way. 

[Kern Dog]

That does look strange. It seems that while it looks off angle, it might even induce more glare-exactly opposite of what anyone would want.
The plastic looks high quality though. I'd surely call the company and email them these pictures.

[Mike DC]

 
Hmm . . . looks like somebody designed the product without ever actually trying it out in a car.

The designed angle would have made perfect sense if the factory bezel was sitting vertically in the dash.   

   

[Ghoste]

Or several inches lower. 

[moparnation74]

It looks like the gauge openings need to be turned a 180 degrees.  What did the company say?

[Cncguy]

I went to the website. It says product no longer available. That's probably why

[redmist]

I have yet to contact the company, as I don't know who to contact... Classic Dash? Thunder Road??  I ordered it through Summit, and it was dropped shipped from some other company besides the two listed, LOL.

Here is the listing:  http://www.classicdash.com/shopping/Mopar/B-Body/1968-70/B-Body/Drilled-Panels/


I also notice on the website, that the red indicator is shown as part of the product for the "Check Brakes" However mine does not have that. I wonder of I got sold a knockoff through summit or something.

[redmist]

Called them, they said that's how it's designed.

I will get it all together and see how it looks, perhaps do a review!

It looks awesome thats for sure!

[Indygenerallee]

That would annoy me, gauges staring at the upper dash pad.

[Brock Lee]

Great. We are about to install the dash tonight. Now I am sweating this.

There were a few things I wasn't thrilled about. We had to add standoffs in a few areas just to get it to seat appropriately. Two or three holes were off too.

PS- This set we have came with the red lense.

[Brock Lee]

Did you use their gauges? Not sure if that will make any difference. Here is how this one is coming along.

[redmist]

I just threw some Autometer gauges I had on the bench in it....

But yes... It looks just like that. Notice how you can't see what gauge you are looking at in your picture???

I think cutting the bucket, epoxying some flat stock in, and re-drilling the holes might be the solution, if I end up not liking the angle.


This product would be a home run if it didn't have the angled buckets! the stock angle of the dash is perfect, no need to add more angle.

[rt green]

maybe the guy who designed it was real tall.

[Brock Lee]

I am wondering if they designed it around the 69/70 dash pad. It doesn't stick out as far. I will know better later (and I am rather tall).

I am still not sold on it being a homerun. The complete dash kit came in at about $1K and it took a ton of modification of the cluster housing and tweaking holes, using standoffs, etc to fully complete. For that kind of cash it should have been ready to go.

[Kern Dog]

WHAT ?

[Mike DC]

I am wondering if they designed it around the 69/70 dash pad. It doesn't stick out as far. I will know better later (and I am rather tall).

I don't see the year being the issue.  The frame shape stayed basically the same from 68-70.  

Their design makes perfect sense if they were assuming the bezel mounts more or less vertically.  It doesn't appear to make any sense in the actual car.

 

[Brock Lee]

I was thinking the 68 pad extending out may be obscuring the view looking down. The pad extends out much farther than the 69/70.

I don't know what to say. I see the gauges just fine. And yes, I am tall. My head hits the headliner.

[Brock Lee]

And here is what had to be removed from the cluster housing. I doubt we will ever do another one.

[Brock Lee]

And an overview. Still putting things back together.

[myk]

Wow, what a major disappointment.  Those pieces looked real good and I was probably going to buy one.  But at 5'4" tall, I wouldn't be able to see my gauges-there'd be no point in even having them!  Guess I'm back to the ultra-expensive $1K Dakota Digital dash, or my roach-coach approach of just shoe-horning aftermarket gauges into my stock bezel/cluster...

[Mytur Binsdirti]

But at 5'4" tall, I wouldn't be able to see my gauges-there'd be no point in even having them!  

Being vertically challenged, you're going to have a bigger (no pun intended) problem that the gauges; how are you going to reach the pedals?

[b5blue]

No high beam or blinkers? 

[Daytona R/T SE]

But at 5'4" tall, I wouldn't be able to see my gauges-there'd be no point in even having them!  

Being vertically challenged, you're going to have a bigger (no pun intended) problem that the gauges; how are you going to reach the pedals?

Platform shoes.  

[Brock Lee]

No high beam or blinkers?  

They provide LED's. You drill and install them yourself. The high beam indicator will be placed in the middle, but we are thinking about not even using the turn signals as the car has functioning hood mounted indicators already.

Edit- I should say they provide LED's when you buy the whole kit, not just the bezels. They are super tiny. I would have chosen something slightly larger.

[b5blue]

 

[redmist]

I purchased the Speedhut Gauges with the turn indicators, and high beam light built into the speedometer.   

[b5blue]

Picture? 

[charger Downunder]

maybe the guy who designed it was real tall.

Or he had no clue that the factory dash had an angle to it. Looks like the designer thought the original dash was mounted straight up and down.

[myk]

But at 5'4" tall, I wouldn't be able to see my gauges-there'd be no point in even having them!  

Being vertically challenged, you're going to have a bigger (no pun intended) problem that the gauges; how are you going to reach the pedals?

There are pedals?

[redmist]

Picture? 

Here ya go!!!!

I custom configured my gauges to have an old school vibe, but with modern stuff built in. I got a whole set of the revolution gauges and they should be here in a couple weeks.  If you have not been to Speedhuts site, and played with the gauge maker, you are missing out on hours of fun!!! These gauges hare programable for fuel level, Speedo is GPS, they all have a peak settable warn LED, as well as a minimum warn LED.  Speedo does 1/4 mile time and MPH based off GPS, and 0-60.   Should make for getting into a lot of trouble!! haha

Made right here in the United States.  Utah I believe.   

http://www.speedhut.com/

Daytime




Night time

[b5blue]

It's gonna look nice!!  The angle thing has me mystified....what were they thinking? Have you ever heard of Sugru? I've used it quite a bit and it really works, it could be an easier way to adjust the angle. (It's a shape-able rubber that starts off like "Play Dough" but cures hard.) 
http://sugru.com/buy/?gclid=CJeT2Kyvz8ACFQto7AodgXgAcA

[redmist]

Ahhh!!! That would work perfect to "Re-Angle" the gauges.

I might look into that.  I am going to set them up as is, and sit in the seat...  If they are to "Angley"  I will de-angle them.

[wraithghost]

I'm going to put new gauges in my dash, can you get after market speedometers for a 1973 Charger (the flat long speedo don't know the correct term for it) or will I have to change the whole dash?

[familymopar]

Picture? 

Here ya go!!!!

I custom configured my gauges to have an old school vibe, but with modern stuff built in. I got a whole set of the revolution gauges and they should be here in a couple weeks.  If you have not been to Speedhuts site, and played with the gauge maker, you are missing out on hours of fun!!! These gauges hare programable for fuel level, Speedo is GPS, they all have a peak settable warn LED, as well as a minimum warn LED.  Speedo does 1/4 mile time and MPH based off GPS, and 0-60.   Should make for getting into a lot of trouble!! haha

Made right here in the United States.  Utah I believe.   

http://www.speedhut.com/

Daytime




Night time

Those Speedhut gauges are awesome!

[familymopar]

Ok so I have been enthralled with this thread for a bit.  I have been convinced for a while that I was going to fashion a gauge plate and other plastic trim pieces out of stainless or billet or something.  Mainly because I can't work with plastic.  Mine are all fine, they are just not one of my favorite parts of the car.  So I figure I will remove them, carefully store them, and do something else while the car is in my hands.  I would really like more modern well lit gauges and now that I have seen the speedhut site (thanks b5blue!) it is a must.  A gps speedo with all those digital features?  I love it.  I also got all excited when I saw the thunder road pieces at the beginning of this thread.  But that angle does not sit well with me (I think that's a pun?).

Anyway, I looked at some of them and on this link and it surely does not look like the gauges have any angle...

http://blogs.moparmusclemagazine.com/6789545/miscellaneous/classic-thunder-road-repro-68-70-b-body-rallye-dash/

(photo below)

That is from the mopar muscle magazine and the mag directs you to both thunder road and to classic dash.  The pic is clearly a 3 piece.

But at classic dash they show the dash trim pieces as a 2 piece

http://www.classicdash.com/shopping/1968-70-Mopar-B-Body-Black-Dash-Panel.html

(photo also below)

Being as how the thunder road/mag pic looks as if the gauges are flat, might they have corrected the problem?  How long have you had the pieces?  If you just got them I would say their having fixed them is unlikely, but if you're anything like me they could have been sitting in your living room for a year.  Second, has anyone tried the 2 piece?  If I knew either one of these would not have the angle problem I would be ordering them now.  Maybe the 2 piece is the "fix" of the 3 piece?  But the earlier photo sure makes them look flat...

I actually kind of like the idea of a 2 piece too.

[Brock Lee]

The one installed in the car I showed is the current production 2 piece with their gauge and wiring kit.

[myk]

Ok so I have been enthralled with this thread for a bit.  I have been convinced for a while that I was going to fashion a gauge plate and other plastic trim pieces out of stainless or billet or something.  Mainly because I can't work with plastic.  Mine are all fine, they are just not one of my favorite parts of the car.  So I figure I will remove them, carefully store them, and do something else while the car is in my hands.  I would really like more modern well lit gauges and now that I have seen the speedhut site (thanks b5blue!) it is a must. 

I feel the exact same ways you do about the stock dash and instruments. Have you looked at Dakota digital dash's complete assembly?  It's expensive but thoroughly modern with a classic appearance...

[familymopar]

The one installed in the car I showed is the current production 2 piece with their gauge and wiring kit.

Ahh, I couldn't tell before.  I was hoping that the 2 piece one was the "new and improved" as it seems to be the one available now.  Maybe the 3 piece one was an early prototype one for the mag.  Too bad.  It looks so good in the car but I just think the angle would bother me. Hard to really tell though without sitting in the car.

I feel the exact same ways you do about the stock dash and instruments. Have you looked at Dakota digital dash's complete assembly?  It's expensive but thoroughly modern with a classic appearance...

I have not looked at Dakota Digital but I will. 

[Brock Lee]

I am not sure the 3 piece they show is really loaded with gauges. It looks kind of Photoshopped to me. Anyway, the angle isn't a problem for me. I kind of squatted down in the seat to try and look at it from different perspectives and it seemed fine. But, I can't speak for everyone. Different height and posture can make them look different for sure.

[familymopar]

I am not sure the 3 piece they show is really loaded with gauges. It looks kind of Photoshopped to me. Anyway, the angle isn't a problem for me. I kind of squatted down in the seat to try and look at it from different perspectives and it seemed fine. But, I can't speak for everyone. Different height and posture can make them look different for sure.

You may be right, it's hard for me to tell if they are photoshopped or not.  Glad to hear your gauges are working out.

Have you looked at Dakota digital dash's complete assembly?  It's expensive but thoroughly modern with a classic appearance...

myk, I looked at these here:

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=939/prd939.htm

Not a bad option but not exactly what I was looking for.  I like the idea of getting a kit for the entire dash trim, not just the gauge cluster.  I also would prefer to choose my own gauges.

[familymopar]

Looking further at the Dakota Digital system, you don't get any of the plastic facia, only the gauge cluster and you use your existing housing / facia.

The classic dash / thunder road would be perfect if not for that angle....

[myk]

Looking further at the Dakota Digital system, you don't get any of the plastic facia, only the gauge cluster and you use your existing housing / facia.

The classic dash / thunder road would be perfect if not for that angle....

Blah.  Looks like I'm back to my original idea of just getting some sheet metal, cutting out holes and sticking some Autometers in there...

[familymopar]

Looking further at the Dakota Digital system, you don't get any of the plastic facia, only the gauge cluster and you use your existing housing / facia.

The classic dash / thunder road would be perfect if not for that angle....

Blah.  Looks like I'm back to my original idea of just getting some sheet metal, cutting out holes and sticking some Autometers in there...

Yea me too.  And it has moved back down to pretty low on my to do list.

[redmist]

I got my gauges....

I am happy, the SpeedHut gauges are amazing!!! I will never buy an autometer gauge again.

As to the classic dash insert, it's Meh, Ok for what I am doing. I still don't care for the angle of the gauges, but it's usable. The 3 3/8" Holes are way large for a standard 3 3/8" gauge, but to small for a 4"......

Sitting in place:




And in the kitchen lit up using only a 9V battery:

[redmist]

Couple more on the bench.

These gauges have a brightness dial. Programmable warn light for high and low on each gauge, GPS Speedo that does zero to 60 times, as well as 1/4 mile time.     Gunna get in trouble!

[JB400]

The gauges do look   I'll have to keep them in mind.

[familymopar]

They look great for sure

[myk]

I got my gauges....

I am happy, the SpeedHut gauges are amazing!!! I will never buy an autometer gauge again.

As to the classic dash insert, it's Meh, Ok for what I am doing. I still don't care for the angle of the gauges, but it's usable. The 3 3/8" Holes are way large for a standard 3 3/8" gauge, but to small for a 4"......

Sitting in place:




And in the kitchen lit up using only a 9V battery:

What specific gauge set did you buy from Speedhut?  Since the holes were too big for the gauges, what did you do to resolve solve the issue?

[Dino]

I'm sorry to see the dash being so bad, but the gauges are awesome!   

[redmist]

I guess what I meant, was the 3 3/8" Opening on the Classic dash has some room around the bezel, where as it does not on the 2" gauges... The hole itself was fine, I just have some area around the larger gauges that looks a little odd.

I ordered a custom set of gauges, they are the "Revolutions" series of gauges.

[oldcarnut]

Looking further at the Dakota Digital system, you don't get any of the plastic facia, only the gauge cluster and you use your existing housing / facia.

The classic dash / thunder road would be perfect if not for that angle....

Blah.  Looks like I'm back to my original idea of just getting some sheet metal, cutting out holes and sticking some Autometers in there...

Yea me too.  And it has moved back down to pretty low on my to do list.

I drew these up and had them cut on a water-jet.  He probably still has the program.  Wonder if it would be worth while to have him cut a handful out of something?   I used 11g stainless on these but either way it requires some fab work on the backside