Dumb question? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Mechdawg · 10-02-2006, 06:07 PM

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

BarryB · 10-02-2006, 06:14 PM

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.

Longhorn Man · 10-02-2006, 07:20 PM

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.

corn · 10-02-2006, 08:34 PM

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...

Mechdawg · 10-02-2006, 10:44 PM

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.

Longhorn Man · 10-02-2006, 10:55 PM

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.

67chevy2wd · 10-02-2006, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

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.

I don't know why but that made me laugh

, 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.

Longhorn Man · 10-02-2006, 11:23 PM

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.

67chevy2wd · 10-03-2006, 01:06 AM

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

Mechdawg · 10-03-2006, 08:01 AM

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

**slomotion** · 10-03-2006, 08:41 AM

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.

Mechdawg · 10-03-2006, 05:48 PM

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?

67chevy2wd · 10-03-2006, 05:56 PM

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

Mechdawg · 10-03-2006, 06:42 PM

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battery guage is in the lower left corner.

**slomotion** · 10-03-2006, 07:27 PM

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

Longhorn Man · 10-03-2006, 07:33 PM

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.

Mechdawg · 10-03-2006, 07:47 PM

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.

10-02-2006, 06:07 PM	#1
Mechdawg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dover AFB Delaware Posts: 159	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

10-02-2006, 06:14 PM	#2
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	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.

10-02-2006, 07:20 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	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.

10-02-2006, 08:34 PM	#4
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Re: Dumb question? 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...

10-02-2006, 10:44 PM	#5
Mechdawg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dover AFB Delaware Posts: 159	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.

10-02-2006, 10:55 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	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.

10-02-2006, 11:23 PM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	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.

10-03-2006, 01:06 AM	#9
67chevy2wd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Salem, ND Posts: 1,558	Re: Dumb question? Here it is just scroll down a bit, I forgot this was there. http://www.gmcpauls.com/Tech%20Tips1.htm __________________ 07 Chevy classic LBZ Duramax (a few mods) '67 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd (in pieces) '69 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd (on hold) '71 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 ‘71 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd suburban

10-03-2006, 08:01 AM	#10
Mechdawg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dover AFB Delaware Posts: 159	Re: Dumb question? Thanks so much for the link and the help you guys rock. Now hopefully I didnt due any permanent damage.

10-03-2006, 08:41 AM	#11
slomotion Old Duffer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Maine Posts: 1,821	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. __________________ '68 Short C20 Flatbed Dually w/ 292 4bbl, Langdon cast headers, and WC T5 trans. '81 G10 Shorty Van "Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement." Will Rogers "Under promise, then over achieve."

10-03-2006, 05:48 PM	#12
Mechdawg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dover AFB Delaware Posts: 159	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?

10-03-2006, 05:56 PM	#13
67chevy2wd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Salem, ND Posts: 1,558	Re: Dumb question? Do these trucks come with a voltmeter or ammetter from factory? __________________ 07 Chevy classic LBZ Duramax (a few mods) '67 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd (in pieces) '69 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd (on hold) '71 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 ‘71 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd suburban

10-03-2006, 06:42 PM	#14
Mechdawg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dover AFB Delaware Posts: 159	Re: Dumb question? battery guage is in the lower left corner.

10-03-2006, 07:27 PM	#15
slomotion Old Duffer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Maine Posts: 1,821	Re: Dumb question? 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 __________________ '68 Short C20 Flatbed Dually w/ 292 4bbl, Langdon cast headers, and WC T5 trans. '81 G10 Shorty Van "Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement." Will Rogers "Under promise, then over achieve."

10-03-2006, 07:33 PM	#16
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Dumb question? 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.



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10-03-2006, 07:47 PM	#17
Mechdawg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dover AFB Delaware Posts: 159	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.

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