Gauges! More Gauges!

This is a photo showing my effort to create a dashboard panel to install in the Allegro. After much searching and screwing up the dashboard thinking I could just use a hole saw to install the gauges (silly me!) it turns out that the dash has a metal plate in it that already has holes. Those holes just mess up your location on the drilling so much you ruin that part of the dash. Instead of trying to get the hole exact I figure it's easier to drill a patch panel and install that over a larger hole. So, what to use for a panel?? It has to be strong enough to take the drilling and be attached to the dash with gauges in it. Finally settled on these "lavatory" signs you stick onto doors! The plastic is clear with a painted back with the letters. Using the Rust-oleum Accents paint (dark walnut satin) it etches the smooth plastic to create just the right texture on the surface. 

It took about 4 coats but the chemicals in the spray paint softened up the clear plastic and created a very fine pitted finish that was PERFECT! Not shiny and looks intentional! Next I will drill small screw holes in the corners or use 3M tape to secure the panel to the dash. I'm leaning more towards using screws as the main dash panel is built that way.

The gauges are for monitoring as much of the RV engine/drivetrain as I can. After the fiasco with the LH1 as noted in the previous posting I am installing as many gauges as I can.

The one bummer is the Ritchie in-dash compass. The unit is TOO sensitive to any metal near it and I just cannot install this in the dashboard without it shifting 30 degrees off the true heading. It's stupid! The thin metal sheet in the dash does this and I cannot pull the entire dash panel out to install this compass. Total waste of money!

So the LH2 will have extra gauges for tachometer, transmission oil temp, oil temp, and a new fuel/vacuum gauge to monitor the fuel efficiency.

More later!!

UPDATE: Here are the gauges set in the dash. Not too happy about the back panel but it works. I have the tach, transmission temp, oil temp, and the vacuum (gas flow) meter in the upper right corner to replace the crap compass that didn't work at all. I'm looking to replace the green digital clock with a weather center or GPS/ map screen.