Author Topic: Make a ralley dash?  (Read 3795 times)

Offline 71chmark

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Make a ralley dash?
« on: February 23, 2006 - 04:54:54 PM »
Would it be difficult to make my dash look like a ralley dash?
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BH23cuda

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2006 - 06:01:29 PM »
Yup.

Offline 4Cruizn

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2006 - 09:18:06 PM »
I assume you have the standard dash??  I don't think it will be too difficult!    :cheers:

Offline highspeeddirt

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2006 - 09:28:35 PM »
Hardest part would probably parting with the mucho denero it would take just to get a ralley dash!  :faint:


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Offline MyMopar

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2006 - 09:23:03 AM »
From the research on this board, you don't convert your exsisting one but repalce it with an entirely different one. It seems many people have don eit and the only mods are adding clock leads, lengthing turn signal indicator wires and running a tach wire.  I think that is about all.
The main thing is finding both the dash AND the switch pod.  Unlike a Non-Rallye dash that has the switches included on the face plate, the Rallye dash is 2 piece, one for the gauges and the other piece for the switches.
I also hear that it can be tricky to install the dash with the dash pad on, it can be done but very carefully and the main recommendation seems to be to lower the steering column.
Good luck.  I was going ot go the rallye dash route, but finding a complete dash and switch pod is tough and big  :money: . Instead, I think I will try to do a really nice custom job using Autometer Phantom gauges (white gauge face to match my white interior) So I will have a speedo, oil, water, tach and volt.  The gauges should run me $300 and it will take a good week-end to do it properly and make it look semi-stock.
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Offline Green Drop Top

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2006 - 12:01:50 PM »
If you want to do a complete conversion from a standard dash to a Rallye dash using all correct factory parts and wire harnesses prepare to part with about $3,000.00 and that's after you hunt down good usable parts,  not a fun task in itself.

kudakidd

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2006 - 12:11:31 PM »
To be honest, I'm happy with my non-rally dash. It shows that the original owner wanted no frills, just basic raw horsepower

Offline MyMopar

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2006 - 12:22:58 PM »
If you want to do a complete conversion from a standard dash to a Rallye dash using all correct factory parts and wire harnesses prepare to part with about $3,000.00 and that's after you hunt down good usable parts,  not a fun task in itself.

I didn't think it would be that much.  I would say you can do it for less than 1 grand easy.  The dash frame itself doesn't need to be changed, just the instrumentation panel and switch pod.  Is there more to this than I know. I researched the swap from running searches on this site and like I said above, once you find the instrumentation dash ($3-600 on ebay) and switch pod ($30-$100 ebay) you should be able to pull your own gauge cluster out, add some wires, lengthen others, switch out sending units, (forgot to mention that) and reinstall new dash cluster.   
Now if there really is much more to it, please let me know as I don't want to think one thing when the truth is completely different.
There is one thing though that isn't clear in the posts I have read.  It has to do with the HVAC controls.  I am under the assumption that just the top portion of the dash area changes and the current bezels for the radio and HVAC controls stay put.  In one post I read, someone mentioned something about a rallye dash with A/C being harder to find. I'm not sure if they meant an ENTIRE dash or just the gauge portion of the dash.
In any case someone must have done this conversion and can speak up and clear any mysteries on the project.
1969 (OO===]|[===OO)
1973 (OO/=====\OO) <---SOLD
1997 (O|||||O) <---SOLD

Smoke tires, not drugs!

Offline Green Drop Top

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2006 - 01:09:59 PM »
Quote
I would say you can do it for less than 1 grand easy.
  Happy hunting is all i have to say to that one.  :roflsmiley:

keep in mind that there is an ENOURMOUS cost difference between the price of buying the used parts and then building them into what I would want in my car (something that was restored to "as new" condition). Good "core" parts might run you a grand (all things like a Rallye light bar, Rallye wire harness, Gauge cluster, side pod, heater controls, etc. will likely run you ALLOT more), but wait until you get the bill for restoring it all. You'll be surprised how fast it adds up.

I have reciepts for one I did 2 years ago, I had a nice complete assembly that was actually in pretty nice when shipped it out, I wanted perfection so I sent it off to a well known restorer, it came back with a $900.00 repair/restoration bill PLUS some of my gauge parts (which looked fine to me) were found to be no good, he provided replacements at added $350.00 cost.

Yes, you could do a budget swap for less, but you'd be using at least some old untested parts and personally I wouldn't want to be working on one of these after it's installed, talk about a PIA to get to!

Offline 4Cruizn

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2006 - 01:45:50 PM »
The bezel that holds the heater controls is also different from standard to rallye so that would need to be changed also!  I'm building a rallye dash soon and have been aquiring parts . . . still looking for a wiring harness??   :dunno: 

Offline 71fish

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2006 - 01:54:23 PM »
To be honest, I'm happy with my non-rally dash. It shows that the original owner wanted no frills, just basic raw horsepower

YEP - that's my line too.. and I'm sticking with it!  :)
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Offline Mopar73340

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2006 - 01:55:41 PM »
Someone on the board put autometer guages in a standard dash and had pics on here, I belive it's been about a year ago so the pics are gone. It looked nice and I think I would go that route if I didn't already have a rallye.
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Offline FY1 RT SE

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2006 - 05:32:59 PM »
On a NR harness the following wires need to be replaced/modified/added.

Turn signals
Fuel gauge
Oil Gauge
Clock
Tach

If you are going to spend money to make the dash change over a new harness should be installed, hate to see all that money go up in smoke.


Offline hemi71

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2006 - 07:06:22 PM »
If you want to do a complete conversion from a standard dash to a Rallye dash using all correct factory parts and wire harnesses prepare to part with about $3,000.00 and that's after you hunt down good usable parts,  not a fun task in itself.

I think thats high, even for restored pieces.  I paid $675 to have my 70-71 cluster completely restored by Auto Instruments (all gages calibrated, tach repaired and calibrated, quartz conversion clock, speedo calibrated and repaired, faces bead blasted and repainted), bought a rallye gage light bar on e-bay for $80, and a rallye heater control for $75 and restored them myself. The wiring is easy to modify, and lets face it, if you are adding the rallye cluster, what do you care if it's factory correct wiring or not? I bought the new bezel faces and applied them to some cores, they cost $170. So figuring core costs of around $350 for the gages, and $250 for the bezels, you are right at $1600. If you use a later style 72-4 cluster, the $$ is even less. (figure about 100-200 less)

As far as changing them out, not a big problem....just have to lower the column, and i place a towel on the column to protect the paint. use care getting the pieces in, take your time and it's not that bad. I like taking out the passenger seat to get more room to get under the dash. I've done quite a few this way. Put in all NEW lamps while you are at it, the left turn signal dash indicator is not easy to get at with the dash cluster in the car! Its a 4 hour job at most, but if you have not done it before, figure 8 hrs.

All that said, the non rallye pieces are nice too, they now make a tach that fits in the clock space of the non-rallye cluster if you want a tach without the street/drag car look. I like the white face gages on these too.

 :cheers:
« Last Edit: May 31, 2006 - 02:48:08 PM by Rev-It-Up »

Offline EVIL72

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Re: Make a ralley dash?
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2006 - 07:54:01 PM »
 Here's some pics of a few regular dashes with aftermarket gauges I saved for ideas. I'm thinking I might go this route. It looks pretty cool.
« Last Edit: May 31, 2006 - 02:48:59 PM by Rev-It-Up »
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