Custom gauge clusters
Custom gauge cluster: design your own digital dash
A custom gauge cluster is one of the best ways to make an interior feel like yours. You don't have to settle for an off-the-shelf look or pay a shop hundreds of dollars for a one-off design.
Your options for a custom gauge cluster
1. A custom analog cluster
Custom shops will build a cluster with your colors, logo and layout using real gauges. They look great and they're built to order, which also means they cost the most and take the longest. Once it's made, changing it means buying new parts.
2. An off-the-shelf digital cluster
Bolt-in digital clusters are made for many popular cars and trucks. They're easy to install, but you get the looks they come with, plus maybe a few color options.
3. A programmable digital dash you design yourself
A screen like the Holley Pro Dash can show any layout you give it. Design the cluster once, load it, and change it whenever you want: new colors for a new paint job, a boost gauge after the turbo goes on, or a whole new look for show season.
How to design a custom digital gauge cluster
- Start with a layout. Two big dials with small gauges around them is a classic. A center tach with small gauges on both sides is another.
- Pick a style. White faces for a classic interior, carbon and chrome for a modern build, brushed aluminum for a truck.
- Choose your gauges. Speed, RPM, oil pressure, coolant, volts and fuel level cover most street builds. Add boost, air/fuel or trans temperature if your build needs them.
- Set redlines and warnings. A red zone on the tach and a warning light for low oil pressure are worth having.
- Make it yours. Add your logo, match your paint color, or use a photo of your car as the background.
Tips from good gauge cluster designs
- Keep the most important gauges biggest and closest to the center.
- Stick to one style for every gauge. Mixing styles looks unfinished.
- Big, clear numbers beat fancy fonts you can't read at speed.
- Leave some empty space. A crowded cluster is hard to read.
Design yours free
Gauge Garage lets you build a custom gauge cluster for the Holley Pro Dash in your browser, no design skills needed. Start from a template or a layout for your car, like the Mustang or C10, and make it your own.