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New gauges for an 1800[ALL/1988] posted by Fred Farqwart on
Friday, 20 February 1998, at 9:22 p.m.
I've got a '66 1800, and the Smith's are dead. I'd like to go with an aftermarket replacement for the gauges, but volvo seems to have chosen a size that isn't considered stock. At something like 4.5 inches, its in between the 3 5/8 and 5 inch gauges offered by companies like autometer. Anyone have any suggestions? Is a custom dash the only option? thanks...
Re: New gauges for an 1800[ALL/1988] posted by Glenn Goodspeed on
Tuesday, 24 February 1998, at 10:07 p.m.
I'd probably try to fit the slightly larger gauges by cutting the holes a little bigger. How? Good question. Very difficult to get a cutting tool in that space. The most likely candidate would be a Stanley hacksaw blade holder, which holds the blade so that it protrudes from the handle like a knife.
By removing the dash, you might be able to use a pair of Wiss sheet metal snips on the backside of the dash. This would do a neater job, and would be much easier than using the hacksaw blade (if you don't count removing the dash). Use snips made for cutting curves.
If you'd rather go with the smaller gauges, you might be able to use snips to cut sheet metal rings to take up the extra space. I'd try steel first, available in flat sheets from J.C. Whitney & Co. If you can produce decent-looking rings, you could paint them or get them chrome-plated. Aluminum might work, too, but might be too flimsy, and could not be chromed. -Glenn.
Goodspeed's Volvo 1800 Newsletter