Project X has been around the block – literally and figuratively. The perpetual-project 1957 Chevy has had just about every engine, transmission, and suspension configuration under the sun, with interiors and trim styles to match. The car is currently being revamped at Chevrolet Performance for a drive from their Detroit-based facility to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Car Craft Summer Nationals, then later on to the Danchuck Tri Five Nationals. But, before we ventured out on the open highway behind the wheel of the legendary heavy Chevy, there were a few urgent concerns to be addressed.
One area that needed immediate attention was the gauge setup, which was circa early 2000s. The instrument cluster had seen better days and the gauges were more of a rough estimate than a source of trustworthy information – a concern on even a short grocery store jaunt. To remedy the problem, and ready the car for its impending long-haul across several state lines, we turned to Classic Instruments for a set of precision gauges to monitor the car’s vitals.
The team not only hooked us up with a set of ultra-accurate, plug-and-play gauges, they gave the cluster assembly a much-needed custom touch befitting of a car with a legacy as long as that of Project X. “We customized the gauges and tried to match the color and the feel of the car,” said John McLeod of Classic Instruments. “We designed the black with the yellow and we built in a shift light from our Autocross series, where we offer a built-in shift light with a controller.”
Though Project X’s new instrument cluster is substantially customized, Classic Instruments also offers a direct-fit cluster for ’57 Chevy’s. They supply all the instruments, the brackets, and the sending units to get it mounted in the stock 1957 panel and the fuel gauge is matched to the 0-30 ohm, stock, sending unit. Pretty much, if you can dream it up for your unique hot rod, Classic Instruments can build it.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Project X as it journeys across the country on a trek that will eventually lead it back to its Southern California home in Super Chevy’s newly built tech center.
1. Project X’s new gauges feature color-matched yellow highlights endowed with the car’s official logo. Classic Instruments also moved the voltage and fuel gauges into the center, on either side of the 140-mph speedometer.
2. The gloss black gauge housing is a big step up from the car’s former setup and is a direct-fit in 1957 Chevy’s
3. Here’s a side-by-side comparing the old and new instrument clusters. The new setup is much slicker and is completely ready for the rigors of the open road.
