Guages where lights were

[manimal]

Can i replace my idiot light instrument cluster with a full guage cluster without changing the wire harness?(direct swap)?

Thanks-Lance

[manimal]

ttt

[mySAVIOReigns]

I believe you can - I hear it's a lot easier if you do change the wiring harness though. here is a link to 73-87.com - there are a few write-ups in there and they could probably help you more than myself.

[manimal]

Thanks but that article was about installing autometer guages.I just want to put a factory instrument cluster in that has guages instead of idiot lights.Thanks anyway.

-Lance

[BowTieOgre]

It would seem to me that you could just swap them out. I mean if I was building trucks I would use the same harness and just make different clusters. You might try to get a pic of the cluster plug that fits into the printed circuit and putting that up here. Maybe if it has all the wires and contact points it will work?

[78Chevy]

I am also trying to figure this out on one of my projects. Mine is a 80 with your same "idot lights" and I have an 81 with the regular gauges. I have the full chassis and engine wiring diagrams for both and the wire color and placements between the two, on paper, are the same. So the only problem would be the printed circuits being different from the connector to the gauges, but this is not likely with them being so close in age.

I must have missed the year model of the truck you are wanting to replace the lights, and the year model of the donor instrument cluster. I can get you the wiring harness diagrams for both and we could proably tell if it was going to work up to the printed circuit.
Anyways hopes this helps!
Al

[jdmaffeo]

There is some wiring trace work that you will have to do. I have completed this in my 84. I ended up having to trace each wire and then taking them out of the plug end and putting them into a completely different order. You will also have to get the sending units for the gauges (temp, oil pressure). If you get a cluster with a tach, you will need to get the harness as well.

[BowTieOgre]

Originally Posted by jdmaffeo

You will also have to get the sending units for the gauges (temp, oil pressure).

Good call...I forgot about that.

[ghetto_superman]

I haven't done it on a 72-87, but have on a 67-72 and based on what JD above me said, it's more or less the same process. Doesn't make sense in the 'production simplicity' area, but whatever. I recommend trying to find some wiring diagrams on this site somewhere or elsewhere on the internet, that will save you much time and frustration of climbing upside down under your dash trying to trace stuff manually. It also will help with what the harness needs to look like for the gauges. Since it's a pretty good chance that youve just got the gauge panel and not the whole donor truck to compare wiring to.

Another option is a simple wiring adapter-- I dont know if these are produced, but its worth a shot if maybe some site vendors make them or painless or some company along those lines. THAT would be the best way to save on headaches. Good luck!

[Captkaos]

yes it is possible. It would be best if your new gauge cluster came from the same year range and your current truck, ie 73-75, 76-77 and 78-up.

You will have to switch the pins out on the cluster harness to make this work. I use a small punch from the back to release the connector.

[manimal]

It might be easier to just mount AutoMeter mech. guages under the dash! And probably more accurate!

[Captkaos]

It really isn't THAT hard.