Can a 77 Tach cluster be used in a 76

[wesmigletz]

Our 76 has a working tach cluster, but the plastic on the green gauge bezel where the high beam indicator bulb twists in is busted. I cannot get good contact. We failed safety inspection due to the indicator light not working.

Can a 77 tach cluster be used in our dash with a 76 circuit board?

Thanks in advance,

Wes

[ray_mcavoy]

From what I have seen, there were 2 cluster styles used for 76.

The early ones had a single "brake" warning light at the bottom of the speedometer and a single "fasten belts" indicator light at the bottom of the tachometer.

The later ones had wider "windows" at the bottoms of the speedometer & tach giving room for 2 indicator lights at the bottom of each. If your 76 has this later style, it is identical to a 77 cluster that has a mechanical oil gauge.

If your 76 has the earlier style, the late-76 / 77 style cluster will still work if you swap the flexible printed circuit. Or make a minor re-pin change to the cluster connector ta account for the slight differences in the "brake" & "fasten belts" lights.

Another alternative you might want to consider is repairing the existing cluster housing. If the rest of the plastic isn't deteriorated, you might be able to cut that high beam indicator section from a junk donor housing and glue it into yours. I've had good results using Permatex Plastic Welder epoxy for these type of repairs.

[wesmigletz]

Ray, thank you for the information.

The openings in my housing for gas and tach are kinda banana shaped about 2 to 2 1/2" long, same size for both. Does that mean the 76 circuit board will work?

Thanks again,

Wes

[ray_mcavoy]

You're welcome!

With the 2 to 2-1/2" banana-shaped openings at the bottoms of the speedometer & tach, it sounds like you have the later-76 style cluster. Which is identical (including the printed circuit) to the 77 clusters w/mech oil gauge. So you could swap the whole cluster as-is or take them both apart and mix & match the parts, picking out the best ones to make one good cluster.

[wesmigletz]

Thanks a lot Ray