Swappin' Guage Clusters - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*JCampbell* · 07-10-2009, 01:05 PM

I'll make it quick:

'77 Truck. '83 instrument cluster.

Plug and play?

77gmcjoe · 07-10-2009, 01:20 PM

Not P'N'P.
77 oil gauge is mechanical, 83 oil gauge electric.

*JCampbell* · 07-10-2009, 01:25 PM

That's the only difference?

So theoretically, I could swap in the '83 cluster and the only thing not working would be the oil pressure guage?

USSkoval · 07-10-2009, 01:34 PM

I do believe the pin locations are different too.

*JCampbell* · 07-10-2009, 01:54 PM

Dernit!

The cluster in my '77 is jacked and I wanted to drop in the cluster out of the '83 since it's pretty cherry.

Anybody have a link to a wiring schematic for both years? That would be swell.

flamingbig10 · 07-10-2009, 02:06 PM

you'll have to do a little rewiring, you have swap out the gauge bezel pigtail

JohnC · 07-10-2009, 02:10 PM

Yeah not a plug and play, but can be done.

*JCampbell* · 07-10-2009, 03:20 PM

Good to know...again, anyone have any info on the nuts and bolts?

I'm an Electrician by trade, so a little rewiring doesn't bother me, just need a schematic.

Unless I'm better off swapping the whole dash harness from the '83 into the '77...or am I drinking too much Kool-Aid?

glock35ipsc · 07-10-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCampbell

just need a schematic.

Here's a bunch of them!

*JCampbell* · 07-10-2009, 03:42 PM

Nice! Thanks!

Jonboy · 07-10-2009, 05:46 PM

You should be able to re-pin the connector and be fine. It might be easier to find another 77 cluster, though.

flamingbig10 · 07-10-2009, 05:57 PM

if the wiring on the donor truck is good I would swap over the complete wiring harness and also you won't have to mess with the front lighting wiring since your doing 81-87 swap

*JCampbell* · 07-10-2009, 06:01 PM

Hmm…according to the schematics, it looks like the pin connectors are essentially mirrored from 77-80 & 81-87.

Can anyone confirm this?

Jonboy · 07-10-2009, 06:23 PM

It's the same plug. I had to repin mine when I swapped to a later tach cluster in my '77 Blazer, but I figured it's because of the tach. I would try to plug it in, and see what happens. They both use voltmeters, so it shouldn't hurt anything by plugging them in.

*JCampbell* · 07-10-2009, 07:17 PM

Roger that. Thanks.

USSkoval · 07-10-2009, 08:34 PM

I don't think those diagrams are quite listed correctly. I didn't really look them over, but the '77 wiring is similar to the '73-'76 models. The second group should only be '78-'80. '77 had the mechanical oil pressure and windshield wiper wiring, and glass fuses... like the '76 and older. People have put a '78-'80 cluster into the '81 and newer trucks, without issue. But the '77 clusters (and older) do not swap over without work.

**N2TRUX** · 07-10-2009, 10:58 PM

The main thing to remember is DO NOT put a later cluster in anything 73-76 . It had an "AMP" gauge rather than a "Volt" gauge and it will melt you cluster

USSkoval · 07-10-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

The main thing to remember is DO NOT put a later cluster in anything 73-76 . It had an "AMP" gauge rather than a "Volt" gauge and it will melt you cluster

Would it work with the original AMP gauge installed?

pig rig · 07-11-2009, 12:43 AM

campy just go for it you've got a parts truck and I'm coming down to see you and I know I've got what you need to put it back together

*JCampbell* · 07-13-2009, 02:31 PM

You probably right about that.

**Captkaos** · 07-13-2009, 03:34 PM

Other than not having a working oil gauge the worse that could happen is nothing works.

Historically though, I have had to repin everyone I swapped be it 2 or 10 pins.

JohnC · 07-13-2009, 03:37 PM

Don't mean to jack your thread, but I picked up a factory tach cluster this weekend out of a 06/81 build date truck. Would I have to re-pin for my 84?

**Captkaos** · 07-13-2009, 04:01 PM

for the fuel gauge, most definitely,

JohnC · 07-13-2009, 05:49 PM

Cool thanks. Not sure if I want to use it or not, just was curious.

07-10-2009, 01:05 PM	#1
JCampbell Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 1,332	Swappin' Guage Clusters I'll make it quick: '77 Truck. '83 instrument cluster. Plug and play?

07-10-2009, 01:20 PM	#2
77gmcjoe What do we get for $10? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Beardstown, Illinois Posts: 340	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Not P'N'P. 77 oil gauge is mechanical, 83 oil gauge electric. __________________ 1977 GMC K25 400/400/205 1989 Chevy Suburban R1500 350/700R4 (work beater) 1994 Chevy K3500 dually 454/4L80 1996 Corvette LT4 350/ZF 6 speed 2000 Bonneville SSEI Supercharged 3.8 Liter V6 1966 Chevelle 2 door sedan (Needs major repair )

07-10-2009, 01:25 PM	#3
JCampbell Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 1,332	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters That's the only difference? So theoretically, I could swap in the '83 cluster and the only thing not working would be the oil pressure guage?

07-10-2009, 01:34 PM	#4
USSkoval Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Jefferson, OH Posts: 999	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters I do believe the pin locations are different too.

07-10-2009, 01:54 PM	#5
JCampbell Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 1,332	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Dernit! The cluster in my '77 is jacked and I wanted to drop in the cluster out of the '83 since it's pretty cherry. Anybody have a link to a wiring schematic for both years? That would be swell.

07-10-2009, 02:06 PM	#6
flamingbig10 6.0 powered square Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mesquite texas Posts: 3,459	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters you'll have to do a little rewiring, you have swap out the gauge bezel pigtail __________________ Aaron 1980 c-10 short bed lowered, cammed 6.0, 4l80e 3600 stall, smp tune, wilwoods, and flames best time so far best et 7.86 @87 on motor 7.57 90 on a 75 shot Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283326

07-10-2009, 02:10 PM	#7
JohnC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 7,461	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Yeah not a plug and play, but can be done.

07-10-2009, 03:20 PM	#8
JCampbell Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 1,332	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Good to know...again, anyone have any info on the nuts and bolts? I'm an Electrician by trade, so a little rewiring doesn't bother me, just need a schematic. Unless I'm better off swapping the whole dash harness from the '83 into the '77...or am I drinking too much Kool-Aid?

07-10-2009, 03:42 PM	#10
JCampbell Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 1,332	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Nice! Thanks!

07-10-2009, 05:46 PM	#11
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters You should be able to re-pin the connector and be fine. It might be easier to find another 77 cluster, though.

07-10-2009, 05:57 PM	#12
flamingbig10 6.0 powered square Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mesquite texas Posts: 3,459	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters if the wiring on the donor truck is good I would swap over the complete wiring harness and also you won't have to mess with the front lighting wiring since your doing 81-87 swap __________________ Aaron 1980 c-10 short bed lowered, cammed 6.0, 4l80e 3600 stall, smp tune, wilwoods, and flames best time so far best et 7.86 @87 on motor 7.57 90 on a 75 shot Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283326 Last edited by flamingbig10; 07-10-2009 at 05:57 PM.

07-10-2009, 06:01 PM	#13
JCampbell Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 1,332	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Hmm…according to the schematics, it looks like the pin connectors are essentially mirrored from 77-80 & 81-87. Can anyone confirm this?

07-10-2009, 06:23 PM	#14
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters It's the same plug. I had to repin mine when I swapped to a later tach cluster in my '77 Blazer, but I figured it's because of the tach. I would try to plug it in, and see what happens. They both use voltmeters, so it shouldn't hurt anything by plugging them in.

07-10-2009, 07:17 PM	#15
JCampbell Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 1,332	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Roger that. Thanks.

07-10-2009, 08:34 PM	#16
USSkoval Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Jefferson, OH Posts: 999	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters I don't think those diagrams are quite listed correctly. I didn't really look them over, but the '77 wiring is similar to the '73-'76 models. The second group should only be '78-'80. '77 had the mechanical oil pressure and windshield wiper wiring, and glass fuses... like the '76 and older. People have put a '78-'80 cluster into the '81 and newer trucks, without issue. But the '77 clusters (and older) do not swap over without work. Last edited by USSkoval; 07-10-2009 at 08:37 PM.



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07-10-2009, 10:58 PM	#17
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters The main thing to remember is DO NOT put a later cluster in anything 73-76 . It had an "AMP" gauge rather than a "Volt" gauge and it will melt you cluster __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

07-11-2009, 12:43 AM	#19
pig rig Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: washington the state Posts: 730	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters campy just go for it you've got a parts truck and I'm coming down to see you and I know I've got what you need to put it back together __________________ my sports car rolls on six wheels only because I'm to fat to get in and out of new corvette http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/ph...ped_detail.JPG

07-13-2009, 02:31 PM	#20
JCampbell Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 1,332	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters You probably right about that.

07-13-2009, 03:34 PM	#21
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Other than not having a working oil gauge the worse that could happen is nothing works. Historically though, I have had to repin everyone I swapped be it 2 or 10 pins. __________________ 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

07-13-2009, 03:37 PM	#22
JohnC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 7,461	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Don't mean to jack your thread, but I picked up a factory tach cluster this weekend out of a 06/81 build date truck. Would I have to re-pin for my 84?

07-13-2009, 04:01 PM	#23
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters for the fuel gauge, most definitely, __________________ 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

07-13-2009, 05:49 PM	#24
JohnC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 7,461	Re: Swappin' Guage Clusters Cool thanks. Not sure if I want to use it or not, just was curious.

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