Speaker grill to clock/gage procedures..(cuts?)...

[RandyV]

So just to make sure there's no way around it....*IF* one wants to put anything other than the OG speaker in the grill area, (like those clocks/tachs/etc) then that vertical bar must be cut, correct? (Pic from previous pics as I searched but never found a thread solidifying "the deed". It pains me to cut ANYWHERE on my oval but clock/tach may be worth it as I ain't never putting a speaker there again) (My assuption is that the little rust spots at 12 & 6 oclock suggest this one was cut at some point)

TIA

[Dave]

yes, that one has been cut
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2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story

"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter"

[Dave]

yes, that one has been cut
_________________
2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story

"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter"

[BulliBill]

I'm guessing that no one has documented with a write-up and photos of how to do it. I will probably be doing this in the future when I will probably be installing an original VDO tachometer in the speaker grill (this old tach has a small signal generator that runs off a flex cable attached to the a crankshaft pulley nut with a center drilled hole for the cable.

If/when I do this, I'll try to remember to write it up and take photos of the install process.

Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[RandyV]

[Matts Bug Parts]

Just cut it. Clocks, tachs and gauge clusters are such beautiful accessories!

[olo]

Personally I wouldn’t t cut it too quickly 😁 research other options, do you really need this accessory?

[lardawge]

This was installed at the dealer on my 55. It will continue to live with the car. I would not assume that all these cars you are seeing with cutout dashes were done later in life. Some for sure, but not all.

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11/2/54 L227 Strato Silver Ragtop - Soon to be L41 Black - Build Thread
1/7/55 L275 Light Beige

[Dan22]

Hi lardawge,
Would you be able to post a picture of the trunk side of that gauge setup? It would be nice to see how much was cut and how the wiring was laid out.

Cool original look BTW!

For those that do cut the dash, I suppose you could do it carefully and save the metal for some later reweld back in.
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1-0900722 die langsame grüne Schildkröte
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765074

[lardawge]

[RandyV]

[VW_Jimbo]

Back in 1988 I installed a oil temp, oil pressure and volt gauges in my Bug, under the dash. I copied this in my current 1970 Bug. Like this. Fabricated the faceplate from a “No Smoking” sign, left over from a job that I completed.

Like this....

Super easy. Maybe 3 hours total to fabricate, and paint it.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[RandyV]

[splitjunkie]

You don't have to cut so much out for the three gauge panel. Temporarily mount the panel without the gauges, mark the openings with a sharpie. Find the center of each gauge, drill a small pilot hole and use a hole saw just slightly bigger than the gauge housing for the two side gauges. For the center, just cut the bare minimum of what you need to remove of the center bar and leave the rest.

I'm of the mindset that if you are going to cut, at least do a neat and tidy job of it.
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Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[Bub]

I *personally* hate the thought of cutting holes in nice original panels. But mostly because historically it was done very savagely with little regard as to alternatives or whether it was really necessary.
But, as far as proper original accessories go, nothing is really sacred.
Consider the Zwitter starter button? That's the best placement they could come up with?
...or generally almost any VW endorsed non-factory gauges. They didn't hesitate to give you instructions on how to punch a new hole anywhere.
So, IMHO if it's something that would have been period installed I'd put it where they would have put it 50 years ago to make it right. But also...think LONG AND HARD before cutting original metal.

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[tisius]

[RandyV]

Bub & Tisius,

Ya, starter button.....Odd placing by VW but hey.....it was what it was I guess.

And wow......Tisius....Definitely some gages to be had on that dash.

Post-oval dash models can just swap those left/right speaker grills with plenty of holes for gages (not to mention less rare dash so probably not even as much concern)

Anyway....I'll probably still do it as it's prime real estate for gaging of some sort and just an empty solid grill is authentic, sure, but kind of a waste, imho so why not. (shrug)

I'll definitely cut-short of total needed & file down to get what I really need (especially the upper where seated eyes could see if you went too far)