IM Speedster: change 914 gauges for stock 356a gauges for

Small size differences can be handled with rubber gasket sleave.  Wound work for the huge 914 tach though.  I used Gorilla hair fiberglass resin and spot filler when dumping the CMC Vintage gauges.  Was a pain for little over 1/8" decrease in size.

If you're repainting the dash then just fiberglass the whole area and drill for the new gauges.

Yup.   ^^That's the best (and actually the easiest) way to do it.

Filling in is an fairly easy process but when done and tightening the gauge brackets just snug them as if you over tighten the repaired area will show up in the paint from the gauge bracket tension. On the side of caution not to over tighten, add few dabs of caulk with a Q tip on the gauge bracket threads and where the gauge meets the back side of the fiberglass.

Hi , the car is over in storage so I  cannot measure what the 914 gauges are  compared to the stock 356 VDO  ,

I also do not know if the dash is flat ,

My first thought was to get a hole saw and cut a piece of fiberglass the 914 hole size  to use as a patch , one for each gauge.

I can go over to my friends shop and measure a real Speedster since I am not sure if the spacing from a real Speedster and the IM Speedster is the same.

Thanks again for your thoughts

I drew up and have a file for fillers that will reduce the openings. The files can be given to anyone who does 3D printing. They get expoxied to the rear of the dash. Print or paint them in black and they look like rubber trim from the front. Very clean and simple. If you'd like, I'll send you the file

So if you have 914 gauges and you want regular 356 gauges, an adapter ring won't help for the tach.

Most Speedster gauges are 100 or 105mm, and the 914 speedo and 914 combi gauge will fit just fine either with or without a rubber gasket, as needed. I think the NEW Beck gauges are slightly smaller than the old Brazilian VDO that used to be available and Beck will include a rubber gasket to take up the space.

But the big problem with the 914 gauges is the tachometer, which is about 120mm or so. This is the same as on a Spyder, where the tach is larger than the other two gauges.

If you want to go the the 356 style gauges, that's a big hole to fill in the center of the dash.

@wombat posted:

I drew up and have a file for fillers that will reduce the openings. The files can be given to anyone who does 3D printing. They get expoxied to the rear of the dash. Print or paint them in black and they look like rubber trim from the front. Very clean and simple. If you'd like, I'll send you the file

@imperial Here's an offer you may want to explore.

914 gauges were "OEM" for early IMs.  They are very dependable and accurate.  You can buy inexpensive stick on gauge faces (even with the green 356 lettering) and not so inexpensive chrome bezels.

Thanks Wolfgang , I did not know they made green letter sticker faces.

Do you have a photo of them on a IM ?

Are the stock 914 gauge rings  steel or alloy to make then shiny !

Thanks again Chris

Hi Wombat ,

Thanks for your offer ,

What is the best material to 3d print the adapters rings ?

Both these ideas , the adapter rings or the 914 gauge faces will save a lot of work ,

Thanks Guys

As I mentioned in another thread, I had my 914 gauges refaced by Palo Alto Speedometer.

And they look wicked awesome, too!

FYI, If you saw Tab Tanners guage set he has a 911 tach which is really much bigger on his dash and I am not sure what are the guages on the sides but the large tach is awesome looking IMO. @Tab Tanner

I can post pictures on Monday   It was a bit of fitting but I liked how it came out. The tach was from a 912.  Thanks Iam-Ray for the compliment