lights to gauges???help please! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bagged74 · 04-13-2005, 10:57 AM

does anyone know what you have to change to go from an idiot light dash to a gauge dash in an 86 C-10? I figure the sending units are probably different, but is the wiring different also? Any info would be appreciated.

60-66 Nut · 04-13-2005, 12:40 PM

I've done the swap, but it's been many years ago, and I can't remember all the details. The sender units are definatley different, the engine harness should be the same but I think the harness plug may be different on the back of the cluster. Maybe someone else can tell you for sure. I guess if you wanted to, you could change the plug along with the cluster, you'd just have to be sure to put all the wires back where they belong. Best of luck.

60-66 Nut

75stepside · 04-13-2005, 03:51 PM

instead of changing the entire harness plug, you can probably just use a tiny screw driver and move the pins around as needed... if i can get to my painless manual, i could post the schematics of each guage cluster plug...

**tkeduk8r** · 04-13-2005, 10:42 PM

Ive done htis swap in my 74, and even though i cant find my schematic anymore it was relatively easy to do... All you need to do is compare the circuit sheets on the back of each panel and compare which wires go to which gauge... and heres a hint to, you should use a newer cluster with an electronic oil pressure gauge and voltmeter... now each gauge needs a hot and a ground to work... the lights have their own bus to work also.. so just find your black wire (ground) from you harness, locate where it plugs into the cluster and follow the bus around, that wil give you your grounds, then the other bus on the gauge is the sending unit hot.. sounds confusing but its really not... then when your done figuring out what goes where, then start switching wires around in your harness connector with a small jewelers flat head screwdriver... i did mine in an after noon and it worked out slick, just take your time and have patience, all those busses start to lokk the same after a while... if you have any questions ill help you out the best i can..
--Mike

bagged74 · 04-14-2005, 12:14 AM

Thanks for the info guys. And if any of you can find that schematic, that would be greatly appreciated also.

**N2TRUX** · 04-14-2005, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagged74

..... a gauge dash in an 86 C-10? .... Any info would be appreciated.

Hmmm? What 86 C10 are you working on? It can't be yours cause you don't have one....right?

bagged74 · 04-14-2005, 10:42 AM

well maybe I do, but I'll never tell.

Actually I do and I hope to be able to drive it sometime in the near future, but I cant stand those idiot lights. I have two gauge clusters and a whole harness if needed, I jsut have to figure out exactly what to do.

TrainD5115 · 04-14-2005, 10:45 AM

You could go with updated gauges mounted in a stock (modified) bezel also. It might be easier than trying to work on the wiring harness.

bagged74 · 04-15-2005, 01:51 AM

I have gone that route before with a set of Autometers. They are very cool, but i'm not looking to spend that much on the gauges in this truck.

**N2TRUX** · 04-15-2005, 11:02 AM

Ok, then maybe I could get some pics of the truck that you may or may not have....

04-13-2005, 10:57 AM	#1
bagged74 its just $$$$$ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OK Posts: 2,078	lights to gauges???help please! does anyone know what you have to change to go from an idiot light dash to a gauge dash in an 86 C-10? I figure the sending units are probably different, but is the wiring different also? Any info would be appreciated.

04-13-2005, 12:40 PM	#2
60-66 Nut Professional Beer Tester Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 453	I've done the swap, but it's been many years ago, and I can't remember all the details. The sender units are definatley different, the engine harness should be the same but I think the harness plug may be different on the back of the cluster. Maybe someone else can tell you for sure. I guess if you wanted to, you could change the plug along with the cluster, you'd just have to be sure to put all the wires back where they belong. Best of luck. 60-66 Nut __________________ 60 Ford F100 Custom Cab 61 Apache Short Fleetside 64 C10 Short Stepside 65 C80 409 V8 5spd(X-Firetruck) 83 GMC 350 Olds Diesel 85 GMC Short Bed 86 GMC Short Bed 90 GMC R3500 Crew Cab 92 GMC 1500

04-13-2005, 10:42 PM	#4
tkeduk8r Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Alexandria, MN Posts: 1,462	Ive done htis swap in my 74, and even though i cant find my schematic anymore it was relatively easy to do... All you need to do is compare the circuit sheets on the back of each panel and compare which wires go to which gauge... and heres a hint to, you should use a newer cluster with an electronic oil pressure gauge and voltmeter... now each gauge needs a hot and a ground to work... the lights have their own bus to work also.. so just find your black wire (ground) from you harness, locate where it plugs into the cluster and follow the bus around, that wil give you your grounds, then the other bus on the gauge is the sending unit hot.. sounds confusing but its really not... then when your done figuring out what goes where, then start switching wires around in your harness connector with a small jewelers flat head screwdriver... i did mine in an after noon and it worked out slick, just take your time and have patience, all those busses start to lokk the same after a while... if you have any questions ill help you out the best i can.. --Mike __________________ 63 C20 2WD, 230/SM420/4.11 73K 68 C30 dump truck, 327,SM425,4.56 66K original 68 C10 2WD SWB Stepper, 250/3-tree/3.73 66K.... Wifes 68 Buick Skylark Custom Conv., 350/TH400/2.56 In our family since '79 69 GMC 1500 SWB 2WD, 350/TH350/3.73 posi... 70 K10 SWB 4X4 4-sp,ps, pb, tilt, buckets, console, sliding back window (Need AC parts) WIP 72 Chevy K20 4x4 350/350/205/4.56 donor 72 Vette 350/M21/3.70 posi, triple black and super fast 84 Olds Cutlass Brougham 350/2004r/4.11 was Dad's

04-14-2005, 10:45 AM	#8
TrainD5115 North Coast, baby! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 437	You could go with updated gauges mounted in a stock (modified) bezel also. It might be easier than trying to work on the wiring harness. __________________ Brad 79 Scottsdale C20 350/350 3.73's Still running full CA smog gear!

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04-13-2005, 03:51 PM	#3
75stepside Proud Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 741	instead of changing the entire harness plug, you can probably just use a tiny screw driver and move the pins around as needed... if i can get to my painless manual, i could post the schematics of each guage cluster plug...

04-14-2005, 12:14 AM	#5
bagged74 its just $$$$$ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OK Posts: 2,078	Thanks for the info guys. And if any of you can find that schematic, that would be greatly appreciated also.

04-14-2005, 10:42 AM	#7
bagged74 its just $$$$$ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OK Posts: 2,078	well maybe I do, but I'll never tell. Actually I do and I hope to be able to drive it sometime in the near future, but I cant stand those idiot lights. I have two gauge clusters and a whole harness if needed, I jsut have to figure out exactly what to do.

04-15-2005, 01:51 AM	#9
bagged74 its just $$$$$ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OK Posts: 2,078	I have gone that route before with a set of Autometers. They are very cool, but i'm not looking to spend that much on the gauges in this truck.

04-15-2005, 11:02 AM	#10
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	Ok, then maybe I could get some pics of the truck that you may or may not have....



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