My wonderful wife surprised me with a new dash cluster, the polished aluminum 6 gauge bezel, designed for round gauges. Now I get to post xmas shop for some gauges!!:)

I know where Auto meter stands in the biz, but has any one seen or used gauges from TPI Tech?

http://www.tpigauges.com/streamliner_series.htm

I would like to know what you guys think. Are these gauges too good to be true ( price is 250, for all six). I will be learning how to install the requisite sending units when I decide what guages to put in.

With reguards to AM gauges, Are they "the cats meow" worth every penny kinda gauges?

I am mostly concerned about the speedo install, like will I be using the existing cable and gear or is there a different way to install aftermarket gauges?

If anyone has ideas on what gauges have worked for them, based on look, install, functionality, I will be taking in all info from you guys here, I haven't been steered wrong yet!

The gauges will probably be black in order to offset the polished aluminum bezel. My steering wheel is a grant three spoke with cherry wood wheel, and the rest of the interior is black.

Merry christmas and TIA TC members

I've had a lot of auto meter guages, they work and look great.
My only suggestion (if they still make it) is their electric speedo. I used this on a 67 years ago, 5" round guage, with an adjustable "sending unit" that plugged into the trans and connected to the guage with1 or 2 wires, worked slick.

The electric speedo is very nice. It allows you to reprogram it after tire/gear change. If you've already got your "set up" and your current speedo is accurate. Then you could save some money and get the mechanical one. It's a pretty easy swap. If your speedo is off now then definitely get the electric one. (It's worth it!) As for cost there's several "series" of Autometer gauges, and the cost is just a matter of what you like. Personally I like the Sport Comp series, but there are several other high quality low cost ones as well. I mean you trust these gauges to tell you what's going on. Stick with a name you can trust.

Thanks guys, I am definately getting the electrical one. My speedo doesn't work, and I would think that the electrical swap would be the way to go. How does the electric speedo install, that is how does it work? Do I need the gears in the tranny to be working? The driven and drive gear, I think that is where my current speedo problem is.

YES, there's a sending unit that hooks to the trans where the speedo cable goes. That sends the signal to the speedo in the dash. The gears in the trans have to be in working order. They don't have to be the right ratio though. That's the beauty of the elec. speedo. You can calibrate it.

Thanks hd 67. I believe that I have a problem there in the tranny because I can make my speedo work with a drill hooked up to the end of the cable, but when I put it back into the housing I get nothing. Any ideas?

Also I can't seem to find a speedo in 3 3/8 that is electrical. I have to go with a black faced gauge cause my dash is now brushed aluminum

If your looking at Autometer Sport Comps, 3987 is their 3 3/8" 120 mph electronic speedo; 3988 is same in 160 mph flavor.

www.autometer.com

Regarding being able to turn the speedo cable and get a reading but not getting one with the unit in the trans, it sounds like you either have a mismatch between the gear on the cable and the gear on the output shaft, or one or the other is broken. Have to pull the speedo housing (aka the bullet) out of the trans and inspect both. Have a rag handy, and/or lift the car on the side the speedo is on to minimize fluid running out of the speedo hole.

...Also I can't seem to find a speedo in 3 3/8 that is electrical. I have to go with a black faced gauge cause my dash is now brushed aluminum
Try this. http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=/egnsearch.asp&N=400442
As for the speedo not working in the car. Is the a small plastic nipple the cable end slides into? If not the driven gear is either broken or missing.
Eric Kammerer- Is right about having to pull the cover off. Follow his tips on not taking an oil bath.

thanks guys I did find a couple of options on the autometer gauges. I was hoping I wouldn't have to take the tranny bullet off, but I guess getting my hands dirty won't so bad!!

Definately use the electric speedo if it is available. The Dakota Digital in the wifes 69 works slick as a ribbon. It is easy to calbrate and is very accurate.

Can anyone post a link of the cluster itself? I've always wondered what was available for full cluster replacement...

Can anyone post a link of the cluster itself? I've always wondered what was available for full cluster replacement...
Are you looking for Covan's or the stock set up we've been talking about.
Here's the Covan for '67-68. http://www.covansclassic.com/parts/description.php?II=5&UID=2005123022470466.191.123.87
Here's the '69. http://covansclassic.com/parts/description.php?II=103&UID=2005123022503666.191.123.87

that is the one I have only in brushed aluminum. Went with black sport comp gauges, they will be here on thurs:D I think thru ricks first gen they are a little cheaper.

I would like to take my heater controls out. I do not need or use my heater and the controls are @#$%. I have to find something to block the opening in the new dash I got.

I will gladly take any and all suggestions. I would like it to be black, my new cluster is polished aluminum and I have put the black faced sport comp gauges in.

Any cool inexpesive ideas for this hole. Led lit behind something. Please all chime in I am very indecisive on this so I need some fresh ideas.

I don't know for sure about 69's, but I know there's a factory heater block off plate for 67-68. I was going to do that before I decided to make my own center section. All it really is a piece of black plastic that bolts in place of the controls.