VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Accessory '36 Hot Water Temp Gauge

Saw a temp gauge at the swap meet this weekend. My question is, were there two types? I thought that that they were mounted BELOW the dash on the left side. But I found a picture on the Internet that showed it mounted IN the dash on the left side. That would need a big hole.

Can anyone steer me correctly?

--Bill

I can't steer you correctly but I can drive you nuts.

The accessory 1936 Standard temperature gauge mounts to the left of the present gauges and a hole must be cut into the dash. Would be about centered horizontally with the other dials.

What was the asking $$$ ?

Most I've seen have been in the dash to the left so that's what I did. It takes a 2 inch hole.



A picture I found of one installed.

Hey Bill! You should have asked....Starting in 34, the standards had an accessory temp gauge. All that I have ever seen are installed in the dash. I would think anything below the dash would be aftermarket. I think Dave has installed one before, you might talk with him.

Ahhh... three great answers!!! Thanks... I sure like the photo of it installed in the dash. It looks great there.

When we drove the 6 Cylinder Tour last summer in Baker City, Oregon, I felt a tad blind since I never knew what the water temp was doing to me... It was 90 degrees outside and one trip took us up to 7,200 feet elevation. Even though I never had any problems at all, I always felt a tad unsure.

So.... when I found one of these (NOS) on Saturday at the local swap meet, I just about wet myself.

Two inches, huh? Wow.... Gonna have to figure out a way to make a hole that big. I guess that I could sacrifice one of my wood key-hole blades... ha ha.. Just kidding.

-Bill

Just purchase a 2" hole saw and mandril.....about 10 bucks worth.
Some times your better of not knowing what the temperature is as long as there is no steam coming up.

I found one on ebay a couple years back . N O S A.C. same color to match other guages on my 36 std coupe. It came with all the parts to fit the curve section of the dash. I still have the directions as where to drill the hole if anyone is interested . I can copy and send .

Hey thats a real tall horn button ! Is that for a real tall driver ?

easy money -- I sent you a PM.

Gene -- you are THE SMART ONE!!! ha ha...

I own a '35 Standard that left the factory without a temp gauge.
About 20 years ago, I found a NOS GM accessoery fauge in GM box and installed it. The instruction sheet said it was for '35-'36 Chevys. The correct location for installation is to the left
of the instrument cluster and just above the steering column. I believe I have the isstruction shett and original box in my garage; I I can't find it now, but I can try to locate it tomorrow, and possibly copy and send it to you. I had to cut a two inch hole in the dash for it, and that dash is like a bank vault. Let me know if you want a copy!
Phil Lipton
millnphil@yahoo.com

I was so anxious to reply and help, I forgot the '35-'36 Dashes
are different. My parts book lists the accessory gauge as the same. If you still want location info, I'll be happy to send you what I have, but the pictures '36 dash pretty much nail it!
Good luck! I made my hole by starting small, gradually going bigger, and then putting a 2' diameter template hole at the location and filing by hand with a rat-tail file. It took time, but worked out OK. Phil

Originally the 1935 and 1936 was different due to dial and pointer colors. Eventually the 1935 was discontinued and the 1936 sold for both years.

Dang, I'm so excited about this, I might go heat up some water on the stove and see what the gauge reads....

I wonder if it will get hotter, sooner than my spouse.???! ha!

She DOES NOT like it when I do car stuff in the kitchen!!

Sounds like your wife is like most wives, car stuff belongs in the garage.
Tony

By all means, test it before you bore that hole (maybe while your wife is gone shopping).

Bill,
I recommend you find an electrician or sheet metal worker and borrow his 2 inch plug cutter for your dash. Greenlee is a popular brand of these tools.
The '35 and '36 Standard accy. temp gauges were pretty much the same. The '36 version became the replacement for the '35.
I believe that technically they used slightly different color combinations. My '35 has brown and tan gauge faces and my accy. temp. gauge matches perfectly. The '36 gauge faces were black and tan and the later version of this gauge was colored to match these. Also the gauges packaged for the '36 standards included a wedge shaped trim ring to compensate for the shape of the instrument panel. The '35 panel is flat and does not require this part.
P.S. I hear you got your wheels powder coated. How do they look?

Mike