87 suburban gauges - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68c10owner · 12-31-2008, 09:46 PM

any reason they won`t work in my 84 step side? Do I need to do anything else besides repin the plug? Where do I get the sending units for the gauges? I want to get rid of the idiot lights my truck has but I`m not ready to go with Autometer. I can get the burban gauges for $10. Is there any way to test them before installing them? It`s a speedo, fual gauge, water temp, oil psi and batt volts.

**old Rusty C10** · 12-31-2008, 11:00 PM

it should be the same dash /harness as a pickup so there should be no issue doing the swap

Prong · 01-01-2009, 03:26 AM

The sending units are different between the dummy lights and gauge setups. You'll need an Oil sender and a water temp sender. Both can be procured for about $25. Napa/Checker/Auto Zone/etc. should have these readily available.

68c10owner · 01-01-2009, 04:16 AM

Thanks guys. Are the dash harnesses the same for gauges and idiot lights? I remember my old chevelle had a different harness available depending on 6cyl or 8cyl and gauges or no gauges. Are these a direct plug in swap?

BLE 'BURBAN · 01-01-2009, 04:20 AM

And be sure to double check the printed circuits on the backside to ensure they're both the same if they are it's just plug-n-play besides the senders. If not then you'll have to repin the connector

BLE 'BURBAN · 01-01-2009, 04:43 AM

Trace your Original clusters board and make notes like I did.
As you look at the back of your cluster the pins are number'd on the right side from top to bottom 1-9 and on the left side from bottom to top 10-18. REMEMBER THIS IS AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE BACKSIDE OF THE CLUSTER
Make a chart that corrosponds to this and write down where each lead goes to on the cluster Double,triple hell even QUAD-DRUPLE check yourself to make sure you got it right. then do the same for the other cluster and compare the 2 charts. if everything is the same then plug-n-play away!
However if not then you'll have to repin your connector accordingly.
Just remember that as YOU LOOK AT THE CONNECTOR it's number'd on the LEFT SIDE top to bottom 1-9 and 10-18 on the rightside. You can use a small flat-tip jewlers screwdriver to release the terminals from the housing and change them around.

NOTE; I WOULD STRONGELY SUGGEST MAKING A CHART OF THE CONNECTOR ITSELF BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE CHANGE THAT HAS THE WIRE COLORS ON IT AS WELL SO YOU DON'T END UP LETTING THE SMOKE ESCAPE FROM YOUR WIRES. Because as we all know electricity flows thru smoke thats trapped inside the wiring harness's and when it escapes the wirings no good anymore.

Whoops Almost forgot my chart for a sample for you....This WAS the original backside of my cluster. Now my fuel gauge is in position # 7 and an extrat ground lead is in 14 on mine. But I did do a MAJOR MOD to my cluster though. See the link in my sig below.

**Captkaos** · 01-03-2009, 01:57 AM

An 87 will have an electronic speedo also that the 84 will be mechanical.

BLE 'BURBAN · 01-03-2009, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captkaos

An 87 will have an electronic speedo also that the 84 will be mechanical.

Only if it has a NP241 transfer case. All others I've come across were cable driven.

cjracing15 · 01-03-2009, 03:12 AM

I thought that they where all cable until 1990. I might be wrong but I have a freind that has a 89 blazer that has the speed cable. My 1990 burban was electronic speedo.

87Bob · 01-03-2009, 04:55 PM

I just installed a tach equiped cluster(unknown year) into my 85 that had gages but no tach. They went right in. I did a pin and circut comparison before had to be sure. I did find out that if your swaping a cluster that has gages to one with gages and a tach GM (at least in my 85) provided a jumper wire in the harness from pin 18 to 8 so I did not have to move any wires for the gas gage moving from the big gage to the small one. In wood working they measure twice cut once with wiring its best to check twice so no smoke

68c10owner · 01-03-2009, 11:54 PM

Thanks guys. I never heard back from the guy with the gauges so I`m going to wait and hold out till I can find a tach dash.

heavychevy79 · 02-05-2009, 03:59 AM

Bump

12-31-2008, 09:46 PM	#1
68c10owner Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Carmichael, California Posts: 3,011	87 suburban gauges any reason they won`t work in my 84 step side? Do I need to do anything else besides repin the plug? Where do I get the sending units for the gauges? I want to get rid of the idiot lights my truck has but I`m not ready to go with Autometer. I can get the burban gauges for $10. Is there any way to test them before installing them? It`s a speedo, fual gauge, water temp, oil psi and batt volts. __________________ Anthony

12-31-2008, 11:00 PM	#2
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,313	Re: 87 suburban gauges it should be the same dash /harness as a pickup so there should be no issue doing the swap __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

01-01-2009, 03:26 AM	#3
Prong Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: CO Posts: 475	Re: 87 suburban gauges The sending units are different between the dummy lights and gauge setups. You'll need an Oil sender and a water temp sender. Both can be procured for about $25. Napa/Checker/Auto Zone/etc. should have these readily available. Last edited by Prong; 01-01-2009 at 03:27 AM.

01-01-2009, 04:16 AM	#4
68c10owner Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Carmichael, California Posts: 3,011	Re: 87 suburban gauges Thanks guys. Are the dash harnesses the same for gauges and idiot lights? I remember my old chevelle had a different harness available depending on 6cyl or 8cyl and gauges or no gauges. Are these a direct plug in swap? __________________ Anthony

01-01-2009, 04:20 AM	#5
BLE 'BURBAN In the Forgotten far North. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 2,627	Re: 87 suburban gauges And be sure to double check the printed circuits on the backside to ensure they're both the same if they are it's just plug-n-play besides the senders. If not then you'll have to repin the connector __________________ 1987 R3500 CREW CAB DUALLY (BIG RED)Acquired 06/12/2015 1990 chevy suburban V2500 5.7L My cluster Mods-Nov 2007 overhead console Stereo install Round 2 Aug 2009 Heated/turn signal mirror upgrade

01-01-2009, 04:43 AM	#6
BLE 'BURBAN In the Forgotten far North. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 2,627	Re: 87 suburban gauges Trace your Original clusters board and make notes like I did. As you look at the back of your cluster the pins are number'd on the right side from top to bottom 1-9 and on the left side from bottom to top 10-18. REMEMBER THIS IS AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE BACKSIDE OF THE CLUSTER Make a chart that corrosponds to this and write down where each lead goes to on the cluster Double,triple hell even QUAD-DRUPLE check yourself to make sure you got it right. then do the same for the other cluster and compare the 2 charts. if everything is the same then plug-n-play away! However if not then you'll have to repin your connector accordingly. Just remember that as YOU LOOK AT THE CONNECTOR it's number'd on the LEFT SIDE top to bottom 1-9 and 10-18 on the rightside. You can use a small flat-tip jewlers screwdriver to release the terminals from the housing and change them around. NOTE; I WOULD STRONGELY SUGGEST MAKING A CHART OF THE CONNECTOR ITSELF BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE CHANGE THAT HAS THE WIRE COLORS ON IT AS WELL SO YOU DON'T END UP LETTING THE SMOKE ESCAPE FROM YOUR WIRES. Because as we all know electricity flows thru smoke thats trapped inside the wiring harness's and when it escapes the wirings no good anymore. Whoops Almost forgot my chart for a sample for you....This WAS the original backside of my cluster. Now my fuel gauge is in position # 7 and an extrat ground lead is in 14 on mine. But I did do a MAJOR MOD to my cluster though. See the link in my sig below. Attached Images __________________ 1987 R3500 CREW CAB DUALLY (BIG RED)Acquired 06/12/2015 1990 chevy suburban V2500 5.7L My cluster Mods-Nov 2007 overhead console Stereo install Round 2 Aug 2009 Heated/turn signal mirror upgrade Last edited by BLE 'BURBAN; 01-01-2009 at 04:55 AM.

01-03-2009, 01:57 AM	#7
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: 87 suburban gauges An 87 will have an electronic speedo also that the 84 will be mechanical. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

01-03-2009, 03:12 AM	#9
cjracing15 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lexington, TN Posts: 1,427	Re: 87 suburban gauges I thought that they where all cable until 1990. I might be wrong but I have a freind that has a 89 blazer that has the speed cable. My 1990 burban was electronic speedo. __________________ The fleet 94 Chevy 4x4 reg cab 2018 Traverse (wifes car) 1977 SWB stepside 1949 Chevy truck

01-03-2009, 04:55 PM	#10
87Bob Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Franklin Indiana Posts: 635	Re: 87 suburban gauges I just installed a tach equiped cluster(unknown year) into my 85 that had gages but no tach. They went right in. I did a pin and circut comparison before had to be sure. I did find out that if your swaping a cluster that has gages to one with gages and a tach GM (at least in my 85) provided a jumper wire in the harness from pin 18 to 8 so I did not have to move any wires for the gas gage moving from the big gage to the small one. In wood working they measure twice cut once with wiring its best to check twice so no smoke __________________ My Truck's not leaking its marking its territory!

01-03-2009, 11:54 PM	#11
68c10owner Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Carmichael, California Posts: 3,011	Re: 87 suburban gauges Thanks guys. I never heard back from the guy with the gauges so I`m going to wait and hold out till I can find a tach dash. __________________ Anthony

02-05-2009, 03:59 AM	#12
heavychevy79 Cheyenne Super Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 545	Re: 87 suburban gauges Bump



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