Instrument Panel Gauges and Lights - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

steveb64 · 02-02-2010, 11:18 PM

If you have the instrument panel with the mechanical oil pressure gauge, is there also an idiot light that comes on with low oil pressure? I assume it's either one or the other, and not both on this setup?
I haven't had a chance to trace out the wiring or take a good look at the panel to see if there is an "oil" bulb and colored window.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1265166877

Greg63 · 02-02-2010, 11:26 PM

In my '63, there is the gauge for mechanical oil pressure plus I plumbed in an idiot light sending unit and ran the wire to one of the two unused red lights in the dash (brake and overspeed). Now I have a gauge to look at as well as a light to get my attention when I am not looking.
Greg.

*blackedoutharley* · 02-03-2010, 06:02 AM

In the gauge cluster you have posted there are only 3 "idiot" lights.

The one that indicates your high beams are on ("brights") and one each to the immediate left & right of the actual guages.

One says "Tandem lock" and the other says "over speed" (or something like this). I assume this is because the same clusters were used in the larger trucks (C-30 & up).

I used one of these for an indicator light for the electric fans and the other for my backup lights. When I turn either on it lights up to remind me they are on and need to be turned off. I suppose if you were creative you could change the wording on the lens to read what you are actually using them for.

*LILRED66* · 02-03-2010, 09:39 AM

The 4-5-6 Chevy truck factory clusters are either warning lights (electrical) or actual gauges (mechanical)...either, but not both, within the same cluster. All of the clusters have the Tandem Lock and the Over Speed windows, but were only utilized on the medium-duty (Series 40 & 50) and heavy-duty (Series 60 & 80) models. Great idea to use them for low oil pressure and reverse lights.

The left & right windows were also utilized on some models, equipped with a factory tachometer, in the right window, or a AIR gauge or VACUUM gauge in the left window. Although the tach was an option in the light-duty trucks, there are more commonly found in the medium & heavy-duty models.

02-02-2010, 11:18 PM	#1
steveb64 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Moline, IL Posts: 157	Instrument Panel Gauges and Lights If you have the instrument panel with the mechanical oil pressure gauge, is there also an idiot light that comes on with low oil pressure? I assume it's either one or the other, and not both on this setup? I haven't had a chance to trace out the wiring or take a good look at the panel to see if there is an "oil" bulb and colored window. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1265166877 Attached Images

02-02-2010, 11:26 PM	#2
Greg63 Enjoy your truck Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,066	Re: Instrument Panel Gauges and Lights In my '63, there is the gauge for mechanical oil pressure plus I plumbed in an idiot light sending unit and ran the wire to one of the two unused red lights in the dash (brake and overspeed). Now I have a gauge to look at as well as a light to get my attention when I am not looking. Greg. __________________ 1 Corinthians 10:13 1963 Chevrolet 1/2 ton 2010 Camaro SS/RS 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2016 Jeep Cherokee

02-03-2010, 06:02 AM	#3
blackedoutharley Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Plumas Lake, Ca. Posts: 1,009	Re: Instrument Panel Gauges and Lights In the gauge cluster you have posted there are only 3 "idiot" lights. The one that indicates your high beams are on ("brights") and one each to the immediate left & right of the actual guages. One says "Tandem lock" and the other says "over speed" (or something like this). I assume this is because the same clusters were used in the larger trucks (C-30 & up). I used one of these for an indicator light for the electric fans and the other for my backup lights. When I turn either on it lights up to remind me they are on and need to be turned off. I suppose if you were creative you could change the wording on the lens to read what you are actually using them for.

02-03-2010, 09:39 AM	#4
LILRED66 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 3,906	Re: Instrument Panel Gauges and Lights The 4-5-6 Chevy truck factory clusters are either warning lights (electrical) or actual gauges (mechanical)...either, but not both, within the same cluster. All of the clusters have the Tandem Lock and the Over Speed windows, but were only utilized on the medium-duty (Series 40 & 50) and heavy-duty (Series 60 & 80) models. Great idea to use them for low oil pressure and reverse lights. The left & right windows were also utilized on some models, equipped with a factory tachometer, in the right window, or a AIR gauge or VACUUM gauge in the left window. Although the tach was an option in the light-duty trucks, there are more commonly found in the medium & heavy-duty models. Last edited by LILRED66; 02-03-2010 at 09:39 AM.



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