Instruments

Hi Folks,

I know its 20 questions from me at the moment....Please bear with me !

These are the gauges that came in a box with my kit....From searching around the forum it looks like they are the ones that probably came with the kit, (Vintage Reproductions). Are these guys still in business? Are they useable, (dash is already cut for them :( ) WHat about senders, speedo cables etc

It does not look like anyone else is using them on their cars.....'scuse my ignorance but what are the green faced ones that I see in a lot of cars, bug or expensive 356 repo.....?

Anyone suggest a set of suitable, (not necessarily the green ones), instruments for someone building on a budget, (hey, I'm from Scotland!)

Cheers
Gerry

Gerry,

I'm in no way an expert but Beck and Vintage Speedster offer the repro 356 speedo and tac (green faced) both companies are very helpful to builders and have helped out many members. Try searching speedometer or gauges and you will get lots of info on hole sizes etc. Remember to specify a specific forum to search.

My old IM has 914 gauges that are quite economical and very attractive also. Of course I had a 914 and my instruments bring back many fond memories. below is a pic of my dash.

keep up the questions I sure enjoy the answers.

Cheers
Dave

Gerry:

Those are one of the three sets offered by CMC/Fiberfab. Yours are white Vintage look (pretty classy, if you ask me!), Dave has the black contemporary look (same as what I have for my under construction kit), and the others were the 356 reproductions. Those repros are still offered by Special Edition (do a search on Carey Hines on here - he's the owner) or from Vintage Speedsters in California. Ususlly under $500 for the set, sometimes less on eBay. Beware that a lot of those offered today are from China and basically junk, but that's all we've got!! You could also price them from North Hollywood Speedometer or Palo Alto Speedo to see what they've got - either of those are rebuilt to VDO specs and very good (but pricey!)

What you have will work with VDO VW senders, OK (poke around in your stuff - you may have the senders, too).

The speedometer cable from a VW sedan or bus (slightly longer) will fit OK, depending on whether the Speedo is mounted on the left (short cable) or right (long cable). Most folks, at least with 356 repro gauges, mount the tach in the middle, then it's split on which side the speedo ends up (mine is on the right).

Bear in mind that if your dash is already cut for the gauges you have and the placement is OK, then it's a MAJOR PITA to re-glass the dash for new gauges. Seems like everybody uses different gauge can sizes so nothing is interchangeable - it sucks, but that's life.

gordon

What color is the car going to be? On a light solid or metallic silver/gray/blue car, those gauges are going to look VERY elegant. A full set like that ought to be REALLY nice in the dash along with the white/ivory knobs and dash script.

I would keep those for sure. VERY LUSH ! ! ! !

Luck,

TC

Yeah, I was almost thinking of making an offer to trade my black-face set for those, but he's looking for a set of Repros.

Still......Raul! Want to trade for a black face set similar to what you have????

Gordon

Well, since i Have 5 litres of red sitting on my shelf and a tan interior i'm thinking red would do just fine... :)

In THAT case, those gauges are gonna clash/vibrate big time. Too much contrast between the body color and chrome/white of the gauges. Why not take Gordon up on his trade. The black on the gauges will settle in just fine and look cool. There are enough black accents if only in the gaskets, pedals, rubber bits and pieces that the black on the gauges will be complimented by other small flashes of black elsewhere. If you have a black padded steering wheel and carpets, that you're golden, go for Gordon's trade offer for sure and it'll look sweet.

I'm just sayin'

Yelp! I think your gonna like those in a red dash. If you like um ,,Use um!!! But I would prefer Gordans also.. But Im a nostalga Nut anyway .So go figure...