Speedo / Tach / Gauges: Fix or replace gauges???? 62 GT

[Russk]

I have a 1962 GT with tach and a clock, but I would like a complete set of gauges that work.
Which is more economical, fixing the gauges, or replacing the whole set? I do like the look of the OE gauges, but don't want to break the bank.
I have found some gauge sets that have what looks to be the appropriate sizes (excluding the clock) which is slightly smaller than the tach and speedo. Has anyone installed a aftermarket set and if so what kind? The only gauges that do work are the speedo and amperage gauge, but nothing lights up. I'm not worried about the not lighting up part because that should be a relatively easy fix.
I need to make a direction on which way to go.

[JoeHall]

I have two GTs, and over the decades tolerated their inaccurate, finicky speedos and tachs. But when I installed EFI in both of them, in 2012 and 2013, I could never get the tachs to work right, so replaced them with modern tachs (Speed Hut) that are close enough in appearance to suit me. I also replaced the speedo in one of the GTs with a GPS operated version (Speed Hut) about 10,000 miles ago, and only regret waiting so long, and now feel overdue in replacing the speedo in the second GT.

As for the other gauges, I have not had problems with accuracy of any of them; though the gas and temp gauges operate slowly, they are amazingly accurate, and the oil pressure and amp gauges have always worked as they should, including with aftermarket 1-wire alternators on both cars. With the 56J, all gauges are accurate, including speedo and tach, and I would never replace any of them with aftermarket even if they were not accurate. The reason, well it's a 56J....

[Russk]

I have two GTs, and over the decades tolerated their inaccurate, finicky speedos and tachs. But when I installed EFI in both of them, in 2012 and 2013, I could never get the tachs to work right, so replaced them with modern tachs (Speed Hut) that are close enough in appearance to suit me. I also replaced the speedo in one of the GTs with a GPS operated version (Speed Hut) about 10,000 miles ago, and only regret waiting so long, and now feel overdue in replacing the speedo in the second GT.

As for the other gauges, I have not had problems with accuracy of any of them; though the gas and temp gauges operate slowly, they are amazingly accurate, and the oil pressure and amp gauges have always worked as they should, including with aftermarket 1-wire alternators on both cars. With the 56J, all gauges are accurate, including speedo and tach, and I would never replace any of them with aftermarket even if they were not accurate. The reason, well it's a 56J....

I looked on the speed hut website, they actually have some nice looking engages with a lot of options. I’m gonna look into replacing all of them if I can make it look very close to original in the dash.

[jg61hawk]

Check with Stephen Allen and Myers. I had a bad oil pressure gauge Myers was able to take as a core and sent me perfect one for little money. Stephen Allen is reproducing gauges... see what the Studebaker vendors can do....just my thought.

[StudeRich]

I looked on the speed hut website, they actually have some nice looking engages with a lot of options. I’m gonna look into replacing all of them if I can make it look very close to original in the dash.

Sorry but if THIS is the closest they can come, NO that would not work for most of us, Myself and probably Joe, but it IS your Hawk.

Stewart Warner would be a very close match, and you will probably only actually need Fuel and Temp. as you can fix whatever is wrong with the other 2 that mostly never fail. The Oil Gauge probably has the Copper Line and or Flex Hose disconnected.

[1953champcoupe]

I used Williamsons to repair my fuel gauge. https://williamsons.com/ I will use them again if need be.

I am not a purist. I used a Hawk dash in my 53 and the fuel gauge was inoperable. I disassembled it Little bitty wire coils inside..yep that was beyond my skill set. You might have a sender issue with the temperature and fuel gauge (under the dial I have been told they are the same).

Regarding the oil gauge, they are mechanical and neither of the gauges in my stash worked. I squirted carb cleaner in and applied air pressure and finally got one to function, it reads 40 when it should read 55-60, but I can tolerate that.

I'd strongly urge you to keep it stock just because the original SW gauges just look the best (to me I assume the gauges used in 62 are like the earlier versions and late model (new SW gauges ) mount the lighting differently .

[bensherb]

I replaced all the gauges in my '62 GT. When I looked for gauges I found Stewart Warner "classic series" gauges to be closest in appearance to the stock gauges. I didn't go that route though; I had installed a cheap digital trans temp gauge because it was required for the warranty on the trans. Turned out I REALLY liked the digital gauge because it's SUPER easy to read and get positive info at the very slightest glance. I then replaced all the small gauges with cheap digital ones to see if I'd like them all to be digital; I did, and eventually replaced all those cheap gauges and the large ones with digital gauges from Intellitronix (they're in Ohio).

Like Joe, I too have a GPS speedo , and I added a few more gauges that aren't stock; I think I have 15 now but they only take up 10 spaces (three are pods on top of the dash), a couple gauges are multi function.

BTW, all the stock gauges in the GT are standard sizes 3 - 3/8" and 2 -1/16", so they're easy to get from major makers.

Other than the tach and clock my original gauges all worked. I passed them along to local Stude GT guys who had non functional gauges.

[Topper2011]

I replaced my bad temperature gauge with a Neihoff one and installed a Stewart Warner Tach in the "clock" opening. It just seemed more important to me than a clock. they both look like the original gauges with the exception of the chrome bezels. Maybe someday I will throw some black paint on them.