C3 Corvette Gauge Cluster - Flying On Instruments

We used the same polycarbonate sheet to fabricate our center instrument panel, measuring to space each gauge equidistantly from the others and the edges. Since our instruments are larger than the ones in the factory panel, we had to sacrifice our upper air-conditioning vents for proper spacing.

A jigsaw with a metal blade works best to cut the polycarbonate sheet. A compass, a metal ruler, and a Sharpie will be needed as well. Remember the adage, "Measure twice, cut once." After making the panels, pull off the paper and paint them; this creates a shiny black surface that can't be scratched from the front side.

We fabricated our panel to use the factory attaching points, making installation a breeze. The wiring and associated sending units for the new gauges can now be fed through the new panel and secured in their new positions.

The Auto Meter fuel-pressure gauge is electric (you never want pressurized fuel in the cockpit), so a separate sending unit is placed in the fuel line. All of the wiring, sending units, lights, and hardware are included with these high-quality gauges.

Since we opted for oil-pressure and -temperature gauges, we had to utilize a brass T-fitting to split the line to the individual instruments. A sudden drop in oil pressure and/or a rapid increase in oil temperature can indicate an engine problem far quicker than rising coolant temps.

The bright faces of the Ultra-Lite gauges are a nice contrast to the mostly black interior of our Stingray; they also offer useful functions such as a trip odometer and a maximum-rpm recall.

The instruments are also nicely illuminated for nighttime driving.

The center instruments are placed to provide a clear view from the driver's position. We opted to make the two most often looked-at parameters-oil pressure and water temperature-our top two gauges.

The Pro Comp Ultra-Lite is just one of the instrument styles offered by Auto Meter. Check out Summit Racing Equipment's website or catalog to see which style best fits your car.

Side-by-side, the difference is quite apparent.

We're happy to know that our Stingray now has proper instrumentation-and is one step closer to being ready for an awesome powerplant.