73-80 Instrument Cluster in 81-87

[84GMC15tepside]

I was looking online for an instrument cluster with a tach and came upon one but it's for a 70s truck. It looks the same as the 80s cluster... has anyone tried this swap? How about a single gauge from a 73-80 into the 80s cluster? Thanks in advance

[motornut]

most wire changes are going from idiots to gauges or tach n gauges
i went from idiots to gauge tach,in my 78 ,same font
had to repin it ,powered from the cluster power,grounded to the ebrake area

[ray_mcavoy]

Yes, going from an idiot light cluster to a gauge cluster (either with or without a tach) is what requires making changes such as re-pinning the cluster plug.

However, you will run into some additional issues if you try to put a 73-75 or 76-77 cluster in a 78-up truck. Namely, the 73-75 clusters have ammeters instead of voltmeters. And the 73-77 clusters have mechanical instead of electric oil pressure gauges.

[84GMC15tepside]

Okay and would it be a problem putting an auto cluster in a manual trans truck?

[motornut]

could you throw up some pics?easier to tell

[MalibuSSwagon]

Originally Posted by 84GMC15tepside

Okay and would it be a problem putting an auto cluster in a manual trans truck?

This is the easy part of your question. The auto trans indicator is removed by simply removing 2 screws holding it to the bottom of the cluster. It slides out from under the lens after that. You then can either use your original clear lens cover or put a piece of black tape on the lens where the indicator has, like the factory did.