'79 244 DL. I have included a picture of the dash area for reference. Hopefully image size is right...last time I added a photo things broke. I would love to add a temperature gauge with actual units. Oil and fuel pressure, voltage and other readings would be nice to haves, but not at all necessary. I'm curious how people have mounted gauges on early 240s like this one. I have seen A-pillar clusters, but those seem to only be for later years. I have also seen in-dash gauges but only on later 240s. I have seen people talk about an OEM 3-gauge cluster that mounts where the center speaker is on mine, but my impression is that those are not common and aftermarket ones are not particularly high quality.

Options I have considered:
- Getting a 3rd party gauge mount and putting it on dash between A pillar and steering wheel. Pros: simple mounting Cons: probably won't look as nice, limited space.

- Figuring out some way to mount gauge(s?) in the panel that has the seat belt warning light and switches. PO disconnected seat belt warning, so it just sits there anyway. Pros: Plenty of room horizontally, unobtrusive. Cons: Not sure best way to mount there, not sure what fitment would look like.

- Use an arduino and e-ink display. Possibly mount by the switches. Pros: good excuse to get better at programming arduinos, single display instead of multiple gauges (takes up less space), lots of flexibility. Cons: Probably more wiring, need to take the time to relearn programming shit.

Any thoughts or other ideas are much appreciated

A little involved, but got everything in!
My son said it looked like a Russian submarine.

https://imgur.com/r2R5Gv4

I put an oil pressure gauge in my 122 and put it just behind where my keys hang. I can move them aside to read it. why spoil the dash or the view?

my 740 has a steering wheel like that. I couldn't count the number of times I tried to honk the horn and found the wheel was turned which moves the relative position of the horn button. by the time I found the button it was too late for it to be useful.. I think that horn button location is quite dangerous. if it's in the middle of the wheel you dont need to think about which way the wheel is turned, because then the button is always in the centre.

the clock you might get by without , or there are a bunch of unused switch spaces, you could group them and use that space. there is a cubbyhole below the radio.. you can use that or move the radio there.

Interesting - hadn't considered lower mounting locations like below the keys. I don't hate that. I had thought about the clock, but I like having it there. Thanks for the suggestions.

The early 240s, like the 140s, came with the radio mounted low, which a few still prefer. The upper console slot was often used for extra gauges, nicely within peripheral eyesight. There were a number of small Volvo gauges available as optional accessories. A tach on top of the dash, such as a nice big Smith's tach used in some of the early GT and 120/540 sport models, was another popular option.
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

a lot of the earlier radios were very well designed ergonomically as to not distract the driver, many later radios got covered with tiny buttons with electronic "features". some have many buttons for programmable stations, etc.

finding one not all covered with buttons that distract the driver is a challenge. It's something to consider when placing or choosing the radio. Id hate to have a newer car with an integrated computer, I get enough screen time at work.

I 100% agree. I've been on the hunt for a stereo that has bluetooth, but doesn't look like the interior of a spaceship from early 2000s scifi. There are a few, but most are well above what I'm willing to pay.

You may want to check out this recent post of mine in the 900 forum. I spent considerable time on Crutchfield trying to find a suitable and reasonably priced bluetooth radio for our Volvos that didn't look like it was designed for a space ship, as you say. Most all modern radio consoles are designed to use a larger, push dial for volume and the many settings and functions that aren't on the small console buttons. It's now semi-standard and you'll get used to it. This radio would fit and in my opinion look just fine in a 240 console. The mentioned Metra DIN adapter kit includes a 240 adapter. The model(s) I recommend may not be perfect for your tastes, but make a good start for comparison purposes. When I talk about it sticking out, that's a 700/900 dash issue, not a 240 issue. All display, button and outline colours and brightness are separately customizable. The blue shown in the pic is just one example. I normally start out with subdued all white to match the Volvo dash instrument panel, but occasionally go wild and change the buttons or display to a pleasing pastel.
https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1687701/940/960/980/V90/S90/cr814_stereo_needs_repair_recommended_replacements.html
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

If you have half a notion to keep the car looking authentic for its period, you might benefit from a rally cluster, or R-sport cluster it might be called. Then, for custom calibration or custom features that look authentic, you might get some help from Dave Barton to supply some excellent graphics.

Here's how I had one in my 79 temporarily.



Some of the work leading up to it:









Can't imagine anything in the center working out well without destroying the looks and making it look like a track car.






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Art Benstein near Baltimore

That looks like a pretty involved project. Looks awesome though.