In 2008, after 2 years of driving with no speedometer due to the modern transmission not having any way to run a mechanical cable, I decided to adapt an electronic speedo into the stock dash. I also wanted better seat bolsters to hold me in place while cornering, and to change the interior to "parchment" off-white from the original black.
Scat had just introduced their new "Procar Rally" seats, which had nice bolsters, but also styling and sized to look great in a musclecar without the high-backs that most other bolstered seats had. I decided to buy those seats, and have them custom upholstered with correct '69 style pattern inserts. It was kind of expensive, but worth every penny! I still love these seats.
For gauges, I wanted white faces to tie with the interior color and the stripes, so I cut and welded on the gauge panel to adapt 5" Autometer Phantom speedometer and tach into the stock cluster, and put a gas gauge in the clock location. One cool original feature on a 69 Chevelle dash that I knew I would miss was the little blue bowtie for the bright light indicator. I designed a small custom bracket and panel with a blue bowtie light to go in the PRNDL location. I also used the Corvette style font but read CHEVELLE instead to tie in with the Corvette brakes and fuel rail covers.
I finished the install just in time (bolted the front seats in while Jenna loaded the trunk) to drive the car to Nashville, TN for the Chevelle-abration show in June, and while the AC didn't work yet, the white interior proved to be a good choice in the 105° heat down there!
|