amp gauge replacement?

[Kurt Combs]

Anyone come up with a nice looking way to replace the amp gauge on a 72 bump? Maybe an after market that will fit in the slot, or another Ford gauge that really works that will replace the original? Don't want the expense of a F600 panel. I could put a gauge under the dash, but I hate to have the old gauge just dead in the dash. I suppose I could cover them with black tape.....

[forrestbump]

Kurt, I know you've got a lot on your plate with your up coming front suspension rebuild, but if you're attempting to tackle this project at the same time, here goes my opinion: Find out the reason your gauge is not working first before you do anything else like replacing it only to find out that the replacement doesn't work either. More often than not, it's just loose connections, faulty ground connections or it could even be a "stuck" gauge or broken wires inside the gauge.

Yes you could just add an under dash panel with a new gauge in it, but (my opinion again) they just never look as clean as the in-dash factory gauges, even though the factory gauges are about as accurate as a two dollar watch...oh well...

My favorite repair of all time has to be...

I suppose I could cover them with black tape.....

had me rolling in the aisle...

as always, my

[Kurt Combs]

Forrestbump, I definitely have plenty to do, but the front end work should only take one day and I have the next three weeks off. My real project during that time is to completely redo the upholstery in a 65 El Camino so I can use it as a driver in the summer. The truck is for the winter and of course when I need to haul something. The El Camino has a nice paint job and a completely rebuilt front end that I did last year. When I did the front end I converted it to quick ratio power steering and power disk brakes. It is actually what would be called a Bucamino as it has a 401 nailhead engine with a four speed. The whole drive train is 65 Skylark GS with a 65 El Camino body sitting on it. So what really has me worried is installing a headliner, which I have never done before and then adding electric door locks as the PO shaved the door handles. Oh yea, I have to modify the brakes lines and change a couple of door hinges, but that should be a big deal if the screws come loose easily.

So an amp meter shouldn't be a big thing, or should it? Mine amp meter just doesn't do much unless I kill the battery and then it shows a charge, so it works as well as when it left the factory.....

Oh, and I have to spray round-up on about an acre of weeds and weed-eat another acre......

[fordman]

it works then. these gaues werent made to show much of a charge when they are working properly. unless like you said the battery is run down. then it wil show it is charging like crazy.

[Kurt Combs]

Fordman, wouldn't it be nice see some positive movement in the gauge that is reporting the status of the alternator? I have to look at that thing and try to decide if some really slight movement really means anything. Oh well, I have lived with it for five years, I suppose I wait a few more before I get around to installing some real gauges. The problem is a I am a purist when I work on something and I want it to look correct. So if I decide to buy a set of gauges while I am at a swap meet or at Napa Parts I want to have a plan on how I am going to deal with a "dead" gauge in the stock panel. I think I could change my panel for an idiot light panel and then just put the after market gauges under the dash........