Dumb question?
 

Ive got a 67 c-10 Ive been putting together. I just installed the instrument panel I had left over from my 70 C-10. As soon as I turn the ignition on the panel lights come on dimly. I cant remember but I dont think those lights should come on at all until the headlight switch is turned on. The other odd part to that is the panel fuse is out of the fuse block right now. So is this all normal is it due to me putting a 70 panel in a 67 or is something just really jacked up.
Thanks all

Re: Dumb question?
 

I am not sure about the swapping of instrument panels, But it does sound like you have a short somewhere. I would pull the panel back out and check all connections. Might have a bad ground.

Re: Dumb question?
 

Did you install an inst panel with guages, in a truck that had dummy lights?
If so, your fuel guage is probably junk, and the dash lights will work stupid.

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Make a short ground lead & put one end on a screw on the panel & the other to the metal dash. Mine did the same thing until I did that...

Re: Dumb question?
 

I didnt have the panel that came with the truck but Im assuming that it did have dummy lights. My fuel gauge isnt hooked up yet the terminals for it pulled off of the circuit panel a long time ago when I had my 70 so I have to run wires to it from the harness.

Re: Dumb question?
 

look for an oil pressure tube. if you don't have one, or evendence of having one (or if the glove box option sheet is still there and says nothing about guages) then you need to rewire/replace the harness. Even though it plugs in, it is NOT wired the same.


I learned this the hard way years ago. Stupid fuel guage spun 2 or 3 circles then a puff of smoke filled up the cluster. That was about when the cussing started.

Re: Dumb question?
 

I don't know why but that made me laugh :lol: , just thinking about the fuel gauge doing that and poof it is all over.
Ohh yeah is there a way to tell the harness's apart, are you talking about replaceing the whole thing like the fuse block also.

Re: Dumb question?
 

some one will post a link to GMC Paul's site where it explains what to do... I don't have the link anymore.



My buddy who was with me was literally rolling in the dirt laughing so hard... I don't know if he was laughing at me... or laughing with my ex wife... but he almost wet himself.


I kicked him while he was down there.

Re: Dumb question?
 

Here it is just scroll down a bit, I forgot this was there.
http://www.gmcpauls.com/Tech%20Tips1.htm

Re: Dumb question?
 

Thanks so much for the link and the help you guys rock. Now hopefully I didnt due any permanent damage.

Re: Dumb question?
 

Useing the grid from GMC Pauls, you may have to "Re program" your wireing harness plug to match the wire ribbon on your cluster. All this amounts to is removing an individual connector from the harness plug and moving it to another slot to match the wire in the ribbon for the instrument you want to power up.

The connectors in the harness plug go into a slot that looks like a very fat, short "T". Insert a paper clip or tiny screwdriver into the leg of the "T" from the open end and pull the connector and wire out of the plug. Bend the little tang on the wire connector up a little and re insert it into the harness plug so it matches the wire in the ribbon ( or printed circuit) when the plug is reinstalled. You can pre test the circuits one at a time with a volt-ohm meter. It takes a little longer, but you're not as likely to smoke your gauges.

If you are going from "idiot lights" to gauges you have to change the sending units, but you can use the same wire.

Re: Dumb question?
 

I rewired the connector according to the chart and ran two new wires one to the battery terminal block and one to the alternator. Everything seems to be working right now although Im not seeing any kind of movement on the battery guage it just remains straight up. Also one last thing the oil pressure guage goes straight to the high mark when the engine is idling and off scale high when I rev it not sure if this is right or not I know low oil is bad but have never seen the high side before. The electrical issues of rewiring the connector shouldnt affect it since its a mechanical guage. any ideas?

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Do these trucks come with a voltmeter or ammetter from factory?

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Attachment 218014 battery guage is in the lower left corner.

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I think I would borrow an oil pressure gauge from someone and hook it up in the engine bay just to double check the installed gauge.

Good Luck

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stock is an amp guage.
Your oil pressure... is your engine stock? does it have a stock replacement oil pump, or an aftermarket unit?
have you warmed it up to operating temp? When i still had the old stock junk it would peg out (60 psi) untill it warmed up, then it would drop the 1/2 or so at idle.

Re: Dumb question?
 

The engine is a 327 from a 67 vette stock oil pump. Maybe Im just not letting it warm up enough Ill check it again tommarrow. Thanks again all for helping me with my issues.