Instrument Panel

[Son of a sailor]

Does anyone know the original schematic for the Universal 5 gauge panel. Nothing on mine is hooked up and I only have an oil pressure gauge that was added later.

[ndutton]

Welcome Son,

Not sure which 5 gauges you have but here's a starting point:

[TomG]

Son,

Neil posted the Rosetta Stone of A-4 Gauge Wiring and I'm sure that the picture will answer a lot of questions. I would also toss out this idea: If you are going to re-wire or replace gauges, you might consider the Early Warning and Diagnostics System offered by Moyer. I'm getting one as soon as I've "eaten enough of the elephant" that is a major refit on my boat.

[Son of a sailor]

Instrument panel

Looks like a mechanical panel with oil and water tubes. Does the tach also have a mechanical hookup? Should I just replace with electrical panel? This is a 1967 panel.

[JOHN COOKSON]

Does anyone know the original schematic for the Universal 5 gauge panel. Nothing on mine is hooked up and I only have an oil pressure gauge that was added later.

Are we talking about a universal instrument panel as in widely accepted or an instrument panel made by Universal motors?
Can you post a picture? I sure would like to see it if it is the original stuff from 1967. <WOW & HOT DOG>

TRUE GRIT

[sastanley]

Oil & water tubes have worked fine for a long time, but they introduce another (several) leak points in the system.

If you want to eliminate them, you probably will need to invest in new gauges and senders too.

Depending on your fabrication and mechanical abilities, you could design your own panel, which several of us have done, and/or Moyer sells a cool panel thingie as well in their catalog.

You can get to the gauge page --> here.

[Son of a sailor]

Instrument Panel

Yeah, we are talking original. I'll see if I can post a pic.

[Son of a sailor]

Instrument Panel

Here's the pic. I think. Not sure if I did the attachment right.

[ndutton]

What are the outside dimensions of the panel?

[Son of a sailor]

Insttrument Panel

5"x 8". Would like to have a tach, water temp and ammeter in he same spot

[TomG]

Son,

That is a really cool-looking instrument cluster. Do any of the gauges still work and might they be replaced from the backside or is this panel one integrated piece? I would hate to lose that cluster and would try to repair it if feasible just based on aesthetics.

If the panel was shot, I would probably think about re-wiring the panel completely to go with newer gauges and I would change from an ammeter to a voltmeter.


Here is what my cluster looked liked when I got the boat:


Here is what I did two years ago (Tach with Hobbs meter, fuel, water temp, oil pressure, voltmeter):


I'm towards the end of major renovation, but once I get the boat back together and in the water, I will likely go with something like this:


I will use the the same Tach and this cluster and tie the whole she-bang together with the Early Warning and Diagnostics System that Neil and Don put together for sale here. In my occupation, I spend a lot of time monitoring systems and what I really care about is not that they are working properly, but when they are not. I think the EWDS is a wonderful product and certainly a superb value. There are lots of options and if you have basic tools and skills, replacing the instruments is fairly straightforward. If you choose to go from mechanical oil pressure to electrical, you'd need to replace the sending unit on the engine obviously and run wiring. If you remove the existing panel, you could put a panel blank like this one offered here:



And go crazy with whatever your heart desired!

[ndutton]

I was thinking the same as Tom. If you're committed to the vintage panel then by all means do whatever it takes. If not, you have all the elements available here to make your own and it can be anything you want.

The reason I asked about existing dimensions was to determine if there would be any fiberglass repair necessary if going with a new Moyer recessed panel enclosure. There isn't.

[TomG]

I was thinking the same as Tom. If you're committed to the vintage panel then by all means do whatever it takes. If not, you have all the elements available here to make your own and it can me anything you want.

The reason I asked about existing dimensions was to determine if there would be any fiberglass repair necessary if going with a new Moyer recessed panel enclosure. There isn't.

Neil, It's hard to tell from the picture that Son posted, but it looks like the instrument panel recesses into a lazarette so I'm thinking he's not too limited in depth. Without knowing what's behind it, it's hard to recommend anything other than general ideas. It looks like the 8x8 Panel Enclosure would work, but it might just a little shy to cover the area where the ignition switch and choke lever, blower, whatever else those knobs are. I would guess that the 8x8 would work nicely and a little cutting with a jig saw is all that would be needed to get it fit. Like you, I was thinking of ways to solve the problem without laying up or glassing the hole, although that is an option as well.

[Son of a sailor]

Instrument Panel

Thanks guys,
This gives me some options and will probably try to find a blank to fill the hole then add instruments.

Son