guage gone wrong

[Tony Marc]

So I finally got around to removing the dash on my CJ7 . I always thought the defroster was weak and sub par. Once I removed the dash panel I realized why. The PO installed a nifty water temp gauge right where the plastic duct goes. So the PO decided to grind away the defrost duct to make clearance for the gauge. Unreal! Any ideas on plugging up a 2 ½” hole in the dash? The gauge is getting tossed… and I don’t feel like spending the $$$$ for an entire new dash panel. Maybe I should just get a square metal plate to cover the hole and put a sticker on it saying “This is the work of a genius”
I included a pic of my chewed up duct…. Ya just gotta laugh….

 

[jeepardy]

Bondo!!! Just kidding, had that done to a plastic valve cover by a PO...

I'd remove it completely replace, but I have a couple donor jeeps lying around for that purpose.

If I had to repair it for a top notch job I'd use fiberglass and resin. To repair til I could find a replacement, I'd duct tape it cut a piece of flexible plastic like a butter tub lid, cut a patch just bigger than the hole and wrap and duct tape that on.

 

[Purple77CJ7]

I have thought of using these angle mounts to get more clearance by the duct, to put in a different gauge.
Auto Meter 2234 - Auto Meter Angle Rings - Overview - SummitRacing.com