Racecar Gauge Installs

[fp280z]

I'm finally getting a "real" motor for the FP car so the stock Datsun oil/temp gauge is going to have to go. It has served me well for 7 years now, it's about time for some accuracy.

So, I've got an Autometer mechanical gauge panel to install and I'm looking for pics and or recommendations from your installations to give me some ideas. My current setup is about as basic as can be so I'll have to build something to mount them on. No dash bar on the rollcage but I can probably add one if that's the easiest way. I do like to keep things simple as you can tell from the pics.

Wiring and plumbing I understand, only thing left is the mounting. I've got passable fabrication skills and tools (check my fuel cell install) and can probably get (bribe?) my old buddy tholt to help out if it's something I can't handle. :-)

Car here:

http://www.typeischeap.com/

Current interior shots here:

http://www.typeischeap.com/pics/DASH1.JPG

http://www.typeischeap.com/pics/DASH2.JPG

If you had a clean slate, what would you do?

-Rick

[mark belrose]

Attached shows my dash setup integrated with the cage. Makes it pretty simply to modify as needed. Looks like you would have no problems fabricating a similar setup based on the good quality of work on your fuel cell. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Mark Belrose

'70 restored vintage C Production 240Z

[Ron Carter]

PDK fabrication makes a fiberglass OEM looking dash and it is what I run in my 204Z race car. Aftermarket gauges are no problem and you will maintain the oem look. www.pdkfabrication.com

[rxsleeper]

Its not much, but here is how my Z looks. Autometer gauges in the OEM slots, Tach in the same place as OEM speedo and lap timer in the old Tach location. Not the best picture in the world but the only already on the cpu

[fp280z]

I ended up making a simple frame out of 1/2" square tube. Not the prettiest thing in the world but it should do the job!

More pics here:

http://www.typeischeap.com/new.html

-Rick

[ggarrard]

Here is the setup a friend is using for his track car...scroll half-way down the page...

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/563982/2

Pretty basic but effective.

GWGarrard

[gnosez]

Mark - maybe we could start a thread with pictures of dashes Bob has signed.

He drove our "club" 240 race car at the ZCCA convention in NY. The track day was held at The Glen and after taking about 10 laps he came in and said we needed more horsepower.

Prior to going out I was talking to him about coming into the "boot" and hitting the brakes to settle the car before the rather abrupt turn-in. He responded by asking "you hit the brakes??", "why we use to go through there doing more than 90mph and drift through and then power out of the turn".

So after the statement about needing more HP, he looks at me and says that he went in doing just over 80mph and was about 2-inches from the blue painted metal wall as he attempted to power out of the turn in a car with about a 1/4 of the HP that he was used to driving in. He thought maybe a little brake might make for a better (and safer) outcome.

When I asked him how he liked the "bus stop" (neither of us had been back to The Glen in over 20 years and it's new, make them go slower add-on, he said, "what bus stop?" The corner workers confirmed he went right through it.

[jmortensen]

I ended up making a simple frame out of 1/2" square tube. Not the prettiest thing in the world but it should do the job!

Looks good to me! I'm sure you shed quite a bit of weight there too vs the stock dash.