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Post by bigblue78 on Nov 22, 2005 13:39:45 GMT -5
I own a 1978 Chevy pickup with no factory tach and the big fuel gauge
I found a gauge cluster from a 1977 with the large factory tach and the small fuel gauge.
Will this cluster bolt in and hook up to my exsisting conntections?
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Post by 19_Chevelle_69 on Nov 22, 2005 19:14:39 GMT -5
The cluster will bolt in, but you will have to redo some wiring if you are switching from idiot lights to a full gauge set.
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Post by bigblue78 on Nov 22, 2005 22:43:48 GMT -5
The cluster will bolt in, but you will have to redo some wiring if you are switching from idiot lights to a full gauge set. No Im not going from idiot lights, the truck currently has gauges just no tach and it has the big fuel gauge where the tach would be. The new cluster has the tach plus the small fuel gauge. Should this just be a plug and play? |
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Post by 19_Chevelle_69 on Nov 24, 2005 17:58:14 GMT -5
It won't be a direct bolt in, the wiring in your truck does not have a feed from the NEG side of the coil for the tach feed. You'll have to look at the circuit and see where the tags end up for the connector.
I would STRONGLY recommend getting a Haynes manual. It will have wiring diagrams for various years and options near the back of the book.
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Post by BowtieGuy on Nov 25, 2005 22:43:08 GMT -5
If you are willing to spend some cash there is a place that makes a dash kit for this trucks that look good and are almost plug and play, like Don said the tach for sure would have to be wired in. covansclassic.com/  |
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Highpsi
Wrencher
Chevy 4 life
Posts: 157
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Post by Highpsi on Nov 25, 2005 23:56:52 GMT -5
Cool. Perfect timing on this post for the next part of my project too! I am rewiring my truck now completely starting with the gauge cluster specifically. My gauges were the same as yours bigblue, with no tach. I was thinking that I was going to have to wire the tach in all by itself. I have yet to check a wire schematic, but I assume that you'd have to run the signal wire bare minimum. Those cluster assemblies look like are really nice package. Too bad I bought a complete brushed aluminum overlay years back, or that one might have been the best route! Price is steep though huh??  |
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roger
Fresh Meat
Posts: 8
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Post by roger on Aug 13, 2006 10:06:32 GMT -5
What you don't want to do is what I did to my truck. Remove the factory gauges from the cluster, hack the cluster into little pieces, remove the factory connections, cut larger holes in the gauge panel face and mount after market gauges in it. It looks good, and everything works, but it was a nightmare to do. And any work in that area of the dash is now very, VERY difficult to do.
If you're curious, I went with manual rather than electric gauges. I like em better. The tach is still on the steering column though....but now I want it in the dash too....
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Post by toyotatech3 on Dec 22, 2006 18:40:06 GMT -5
What you don't want to do is what I did to my truck. Remove the factory gauges from the cluster, hack the cluster into little pieces, remove the factory connections, cut larger holes in the gauge panel face and mount after market gauges in it. It looks good, and everything works, but it was a nightmare to do. And any work in that area of the dash is now very, VERY difficult to do. If you're curious, I went with manual rather than electric gauges. I like em better. The tach is still on the steering column though....but now I want it in the dash too.... thats what i'm doing with mine still got get the tach. it was difficult but it looks good. |
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Highpsi
Wrencher
Chevy 4 life
Posts: 157
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Post by Highpsi on Dec 25, 2006 9:51:01 GMT -5
What you don't want to do is what I did to my truck. Remove the factory gauges from the cluster, hack the cluster into little pieces, remove the factory connections, cut larger holes in the gauge panel face and mount after market gauges in it. It looks good, and everything works, but it was a nightmare to do. And any work in that area of the dash is now very, VERY difficult to do. If you're curious, I went with manual rather than electric gauges. I like em better. The tach is still on the steering column though....but now I want it in the dash too.... Even after you cut the back out of the gauge cluster housing it was that bad? I can't see why it would make such a mess. Not sure what you mean by "hacking it all to pieces" either. I have all electric gauges I am putting in (aside from the speedo) and I am bulding a neatly bundled custom harness for it all the way down to the fuse panel. The front bezel stays intact with just larger holes, then you gut the old factory gauges from the cluster and use the housing right? |
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