R34 Custom Gauge Install

[OKBANANA]

Hi All,

Below are my results for a R34 Gauge Cluster install. It was all custom and took around 30 minutes to complete, but around 3 hours to work out how to mount them properly.

I used Apexi 60mm gauges, as I found 52mm too small.

The focus was on the driver, hence why they face the driver. I also painted all the plastic surfaces 'matte black' - the colour which my car is going to be.

Comments welcome.

[Hanaldo]

Looks the goods mate, how did you mount them like that?

[R-SPEC]

looks good bud

i used 52mm gauges in mine instead, they sit nicely behind the plastic screen for a more factory look unlike 60mm gauges which pop out. hah ive also painted mine matt black!

also, you will notice that even if you mount em flat they will still face the driver more as the cluster/holder itself is on an angle

Edited July 10, 2010 by R-SPEC

[Wacky Dee]

that looks shocking ..sorry.

52mm ones fit perfectly inside the factory holder ..after lots of tinkering and trying to come up with a way to hold them in place I finally figured out that blu tack was the easiest solution (no movememnt and they're held solidly in place without any brackets)

[Hanaldo]

Shocking is a bit harsh, I do prefer the way you have done it with the gauges sitting inside, but I think this way looks good as well. He did say he found 52mm too small, which is fair enough.

[GUN_METAL_GTR32]

that looks shocking ..sorry.

52mm ones fit perfectly inside the factory holder ..after lots of tinkering and trying to come up with a way to hold them in place I finally figured out that blu tack was the easiest solution (no movememnt and they're held solidly in place without any brackets)

at least he doesnt have a 2tone dash wtf is going on there bro

okbanana i have the exact same guages but the white face, very nice bro.

[Wacky Dee]

yeah ok shocking was a bit harsh .. just looks a bit out of place as it loses the stock look. I'd prefer those cup mounts on a flat dash or pillar mount pods rather than 3 big clock-like gauges sticking out like that, but that's me. Just being pedantic .. I'm sure functionality wise it's way better / easier to read those gauges.

As for the 2 tone .. yeah it's not everyones cup a tea Had to do it though because it was all scratched up after numerous audio installs etc. Here's a better shot though

[Charles89]

yeah ok shocking was a bit harsh .. just looks a bit out of place as it loses the stock look. I'd prefer those cup mounts on a flat dash or pillar mount pods rather than 3 big clock-like gauges sticking out like that, but that's me. Just being pedantic .. I'm sure functionality wise it's way better / easier to read those gauges.

As for the 2 tone .. yeah it's not everyones cup a tea Had to do it though because it was all scratched up after numerous audio installs etc. Here's a better shot though

When you see the 2 tone like that, it actually looks pretty good, but I reckon if your gear surround was black/dark grey instead of silver, it will look even better

I also like the way your gauges look.

[Wacky Dee]

I agree on the silver gear/audio surrround .. did those before the interior (and dash) just couldn't be farked doing it again (redid the colour about 5 times until I found one I liked)

[Hanaldo]

I actually love that interior look, I have a similar theme with white leather gearstick/handbrake boots, and the surround on my dash gauges is painted white. Did you retrim the door inserts yourself? How hard was it to do, where did you get the material from? Have wanted to do that ever since I got my car (previous owner was a smoker, interior is badly stained ) Will go for a slightly more custom approach, but much of a muchness with what you have done.

[Wacky Dee]

had it done by a trimmer (front seats and inserts front and back) Did the backseats myself to save a bit of dough.. It's those leatherette (read vinyl) covers they had group buys for on SAU and they're always on ebay as well.

[Hanaldo]

From Max? Proseat? That's where I was gonna get the material from. Looks the goods, will probs go for it

[Wacky Dee]

yeah proseat iirc ..there's another one as well, theyre just as good

[OKBANANA]

that looks shocking ..sorry.

Very constructive comments...I did the 52mm gauges, but finding decent gauges that come in 52mm for a good price...doubtful. I dont like cheap crappy gauges, each to their own, my car is all about function, and considering the setup I have in my R34, I think it's warranted.

[Wacky Dee]

sorry mate didn't mean to offend .. just judging it based on aestethic appeal. I used cheap gauges ($150 for the 3) and just wanted something that looked more modern that the crappy original ones. You have obviously gone in the other direction completely - ie. quality and usability over plain old 'looks'.

[jrm]

Whacky Dee - you should fix the bulb in your hazard switch too

[Hanaldo]

What? ^

Whacky Dee, just saw your dash, where did you get the silver facia? Sorry OKBANANA, don't mean to whore your thread lol.

[jrm]

What? ^

The hazard switch is supposed to light up - that one isn't - it's a 'grain of wheat' bulb or something. I know, cos I had to replace mine.

[Hanaldo]

Mine doesn't light up? There is nowhere for it to light up either, so definitely doesn't have a light.

Man this is going off topic fast lol

[jrm]

Mine doesn't light up? There is nowhere for it to light up either, so definitely doesn't have a light.

Man this is going off topic fast lol

You have to pull the whole switch apart to get at the bulb to replace it. Mine didn't work when I bought the car either. Trust me - it's supposed to light up. Here are some pictures of it that I've just taken: