47-55.1 Stock gauges with LS setup

[51 3600]

While my truck is at a shop having the drivetrain installed, I thought I would work on refurbishing my stock gauges. I need some help in understanding whether these old gauges can be adapted to work with 5.3, 4L60e, PCM, etc.

If it can be done I don't know how nor how complicated it might or might not be. Have done searches (though I'm not the best at doing that) and I've read the ammeter to voltmeter tech tip on the Stovebolt forum which leaves gas, temp, oil pressure, and speedo gauges. Not a fan of resorting to GPS in the last instance. Also not keen on shelling out for Dakota Digital or some similar product.

Can use some edumacating and figured the info would be found on this forum. Thanks in advance for any help.

[mongocanfly]

The LS doesnt need the gauge readings to run..the ecm does need the water temp sender that's on the drivers side head...
For oil pressure you'll need a adapter from metric to npt to install your stock sender
For water temp, the easiest way is drill and tap the passenger side head at the rear and install your stock gauge sender there..
For the speedometer about the only thing you can do to keep the stock speedo is use a convetor box that goes from pulse to cable drive..Dakota sells these..but it's not cheap..
Gas gauge has nothing to do with a LS swap..but your sender ohms need to match your gauge.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

The LS doesnt need the gauge readings to run..the ecm does need the water temp sender that's on the drivers side head...
For water temp, the easiest way is drill and tap the passenger side head at the rear and install your stock gauge sender there..

4th gen camaros with LT1 and LS have a dual output sender, one for ecm and one for gauge. I get the sender and the plug from ICT billet but only because they are across town. amazon has them too.

edit: oh I am a dummy, that sender wont work with a stock gauge.

[51 3600]

Excellent, precise info, just what I need to know. Now I know it’s doable so will proceed with restoration and mods. May have to bite the $ bullet for the Dakota piece.
Thanks so much!

[mongocanfly]

I'm running 2 of the Dakota boxes...they're sorta aggravating to setup but work good when your done..
If you ever change gear ratios or tire sizes you can adj the calibration to fit your needs..

[51 3600]

Checked on the Dakota Digital unit ECD-200BT: Electronic Signal to Mechanical Cable Drive Adaptor and at $329 I'm not quite ready to go that route. Found a couple of threads here and on the Stovebolt forum converting electric speedos. Chunk of labor involved and cosmetic work but I think I'll study that a little further first. Learning more every day.

[mongocanfly]

ecd-100 is the ones I used...its not cheap

[51 3600]

From email DD sent me, looks like the ECD-200BT replace the ECD-100 as I couldn't find the latter listed under there products. New updated version I guess along with updated price.

[mongocanfly]

That figures...wonder what they changed?

[51 3600]

Here's the link DD sent https://www.dakotadigital.com/index....rod/prd886.htm I don't know anything about the EDC-100 but you should be able to determine the differences. More bells and whistles I would guess.

[mongocanfly]

Yeah this part is different...

Bluetooth-enabled to sync with available mobile app for stone-simple set up.
• Supplied programming switch and LED readout make setup easy.
• For OBD II equipped vehicles, the supplied pigtail will easily plug into the DLC, simplifying the wiring connections.

The 100 is kinda aggravating to setup....
But I get easily lost in technology, so even with the changes they made, I'd have to have help...

[e015475]

I used a Speedbox from Speedhut to drive the stock speedometer - seems to work ok but the GPS wart is going to be a challenge to hide



For the water temp, I took out the freeze plug on the back of the cylinder head and made a cover that would accept the thread on the stock temp sender, and sealed with a little silicon



For the fuel level, I took the resistance track off of a stock tank sender and grafted it to the sender from the Camaro tank I used to get a 0-30 ohm signal.



I also have a bluetooth adapter that fits on my OBD connector and it scans the PCM. I monitor water temp on my phone just in case. So far the PCM and the stock gauge read the same, although the stock gauge seems slow and heavily damped.

[layinrocker65]

I ran one of those speedo converter boxes on my 74 for years. I hated it. Super inconsistent as slow speeds. Needle never swept smooth. The cable could not have been straighter. Maybe the technology has been upgraded in them.

I have DD gauges now but they are sooooooo expensive for the “stock” looking ones.