While we all love the look of our classic Chevys, many of us want to do something to improve the aesthetic of the aging instruments. Not only is upgrading the gauges a plus when it comes to looks, it is also an important safety and reliability enhancement.
Classic Dash is an industry leader in aftermarket, direct-fit dash panels and accessories. They use the highest quality ABS plastic to improve the look of your dash, while teaming up with Auto Meter and Thunder Road gauges to improve the accuracy of your instruments. We talked to Greg Wambold, president of Classic Dash, to get the insider scoop on why you should upgrade.
How Is An Electronic Speedometer Better Than Cable Driven?
“Versatility is the primary advantage,” Wambold told us. “A mechanical speedometer is cable driven by a gear inside the transmission. That means when you install a new speedometer, it will have the same output you had with the old one – whether it was correct or not.” An electronic speedometer reads electrical pulses from the transmission sending unit, as opposed to a cable to the transmission gearing. These pulses are converted into miles per hour for the readout, this type of communication between transmission and speedometer is important because it helps correct discrepancies that come out of different tire and wheel combinations, or an altered rearend gear ratio. “The electric speedometer has a calibration circuit built in that allows the user to calibrate the speedometer to show the correct speed.”
How Hard Is It To Calibrate An Electronic Speedometer?
“It’s really quite simple, and essentially requires only pushing a button,” says Wambold. To calibrate a new speedometer, you need to zero it by holding the calibration button, line up on a clearly marked two mile stretch of road, and start the calibration by pressing the button again. At the end of the two mile drive, pressing the button one final time will save the calibration. You are ready to go! More detailed calibration instructions can be found here.
What about Fuel Gauges, Are There Differences?
Fuel gauges vary by manufacturer. “The key is the Ohm value when the tank is empty,” Wambold explained. “Some of the more popular values are 0-30, 0-90, 73-10, 16-158 and 240-33 ohm. Classic Dash furnishes the correct unit for the application.” Since different auto manufacturers used different Ohm parameters, you need to know what you’re working with to get the correct gauge.
How About Sending Units?
Again, they differ by manufacturer. “The sending unit and gauge are designed to work as a team,” Wambold told us. “So, it’s important to use the sender that is supplied with the gauge.” There is no reason to try and repurpose an old sending unit, since Classic Dash supplies the correct part. You risk being stranded at empty with a half tank reading, or burning out your new gauges if the values don’t match up.
How Is A Classic Dash Better Than An Original?
“There are two considerations: style and functionality,” Wambold explained. “Quite often, cars came with huge linear speedometers, no tachometer, and ‘idiot lights’ to monitor key functions.” Not only do Classic Dash components improve the look of your dash, they help you keep tabs on some of the more important engine functions that most OE dashes lack, like a tachometer and voltage indicator.
Do New Panels Require Dash Frame Modifications?
“In most cases it’s a simple bolt-in situation,” Wambold detailed. “However, minor trimming may be required to achieve proper fitment.” Keep in mind that some older cars, such as the Camaro, were manufactured in two different factories, and are not 100-percent identical. Quality control and consistency was not perfect between the Ohio and California production plants.
With all the added benefits delivered by Classic Dash panels, it seems like a no brainer. Any time you can increase the look and functionality of your car at the same time is a rare win-win situation. If you want to see an actual install of a set of gauges in a Nova, check out this article to see how easy it really is.