Aftermarket Gauges - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BIG82 · 10-27-2005, 07:24 PM

Does anyone make aftermarket gauges for 81-87 trucks that are direct fit?

apstguy · 10-27-2005, 07:37 PM

There is a full digital setup at www.dakotadigital.com but most people hate the only digits display. I like it. There was one other company that was "working on" a full aftermarket kit for 81-87 Chevy trucks. I can't find the link again. Someone else know what I am talking about?

bigblock73 · 10-27-2005, 08:08 PM

Covans offers a kit for 73-87 GM trucks.

**swervin ervin** · 10-27-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Covans offers a kit for 73-87 GM trucks.

Wow!! $950.00.

I still like mine much better.

Here's a pic of the way mine looked when I first did them. I have now moved the three LED's and have a billet bezel. I guess the biggest thing Covan's has going for them is the plug and play part. Mine were definetely not plug and play.

phantom dually · 10-27-2005, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swervin ervin

Wow!! $950.00.

I still like mine much better.

Here's a pic of the way mine looked when I first did them. I have now moved the three LED's and have a billet bezel. I guess the biggest thing Covan's has going for them is the plug and play part. Mine were definetely not plug and play.

I agree!!!!

BIG82 · 10-27-2005, 10:34 PM

Thanks for the help. What gauges are you using swervin? I like it. Was it hard to do?

bigblock73 · 10-27-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG82

Thanks for the help. What gauges are you using swervin? I like it. Was it hard to do?

big82, check out this page on 73-87.com. It has three different gauge how-to's on it...Mikes, Mine, and one from an older Four Wheeler magazine

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/garage_interior.htm

It should answer most of your questions.

bigblock73 · 10-27-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swervin ervin

Wow!! $950.00.

I still like mine much better.

I agree too Mike. Not only that, but from everything I have read...their (Covans) fit and finish is not very good.

texan1186 · 10-27-2005, 11:46 PM

I dont mean to steal the thread but do the auto meter gauges(sport comp or ultra lite) have ank kind of backlighting for night driving??

79BIG10 · 10-28-2005, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texan1186

I dont mean to steal the thread but do the auto meter gauges(sport comp or ultra lite) have ank kind of backlighting for night driving??

I've got the same ones Swervin has (Pro-comps) and they have great lighting for night driving. Much better than the stock ones ever thought about.

bigblock73 · 10-28-2005, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texan1186

I dont mean to steal the thread but do the auto meter gauges(sport comp or ultra lite) have ank kind of backlighting for night driving??

I believe all quality aftermarket gauges are back lit...the gauge companies would be stupid not to include this feature.

ARAMP1 · 10-28-2005, 05:53 PM

The only problem with the autometer gauges is that the 5 inch gauges are 160 MPH and 10K RPM. Not very useful for my 4 wheel drive truck that doesn't rev too much above 5K and has never gone over 90 MPH.

**swervin ervin** · 10-28-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARAMP1

The only problem with the autometer gauges is that the 5 inch gauges are 160 MPH and 10K RPM. Not very useful for my 4 wheel drive truck that doesn't rev too much above 5K and has never gone over 90 MPH.

Yeah, but don't it look really cool?

ARAMP1 · 10-29-2005, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swervin ervin

Yeah, but don't it look really cool?

It looks damn cool

hobbz · 10-29-2005, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARAMP1

The only problem with the autometer gauges is that the 5 inch gauges are 160 MPH and 10K RPM. Not very useful for my 4 wheel drive truck that doesn't rev too much above 5K and has never gone over 90 MPH.

i would hate to be in one of these trucks going 160mph. im scared enough doing 100mph in a car, i couldn't imagine 160mph in a 5600lb truck

WakBordr7387 · 11-08-2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblock73

big82, check out this page on 73-87.com. It has three different gauge how-to's on it...Mikes, Mine, and one from an older Four Wheeler magazine

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/garage_interior.htm

It should answer most of your questions.

Just a quick question for you bro, I don't know if the truck Im looking at is yours or not. But I was wanting to know what wiring harness from painless was used. It was said on this page http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...ge_surface.htm. I was just wondering as Im looking to do something similar to that.
Thanks

bigblock73 · 11-08-2005, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WakBordr7387

Just a quick question for you bro, I don't know if the truck Im looking at is yours or not. But I was wanting to know what wiring harness from painless was used. It was said on this page http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...ge_surface.htm. I was just wondering as Im looking to do something similar to that.
Thanks

Yup, it is my truck. I used their universal gauge wiring harness. They only have two I believe, one for a mechanical speedo, the other for an electric speedo.

Hope this helps.

WakBordr7387 · 11-08-2005, 10:22 PM

Thanks man, I was looking on painless's website and didn't see anything for universal gauges. All I saw was for the entire truck. If its not to much trouble could you please post a link to which one you are talking about, I can't seem to find it.

**swervin ervin** · 11-08-2005, 11:01 PM

Here you go.

http://www.painlesswiring.com/webcat...-connector.htm

10-27-2005, 07:24 PM	#1
BIG82 The Higher The Better Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 67	Aftermarket Gauges Does anyone make aftermarket gauges for 81-87 trucks that are direct fit?

10-27-2005, 07:37 PM	#2
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,087	Re: Aftermarket Gauges There is a full digital setup at www.dakotadigital.com but most people hate the only digits display. I like it. There was one other company that was "working on" a full aftermarket kit for 81-87 Chevy trucks. I can't find the link again. Someone else know what I am talking about? __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

10-27-2005, 08:08 PM	#3
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Re: Aftermarket Gauges Covans offers a kit for 73-87 GM trucks. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

10-27-2005, 10:34 PM	#6
BIG82 The Higher The Better Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 67	Re: Aftermarket Gauges Thanks for the help. What gauges are you using swervin? I like it. Was it hard to do?

10-27-2005, 11:46 PM	#9
texan1186 Under Major Construction Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: harker heights, tx Posts: 120	Re: Aftermarket Gauges I dont mean to steal the thread but do the auto meter gauges(sport comp or ultra lite) have ank kind of backlighting for night driving??

10-28-2005, 05:53 PM	#12
ARAMP1 ROCK*STAR Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 202	Re: Aftermarket Gauges The only problem with the autometer gauges is that the 5 inch gauges are 160 MPH and 10K RPM. Not very useful for my 4 wheel drive truck that doesn't rev too much above 5K and has never gone over 90 MPH.

11-08-2005, 10:22 PM	#18
WakBordr7387 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 45	Re: Aftermarket Gauges Thanks man, I was looking on painless's website and didn't see anything for universal gauges. All I saw was for the entire truck. If its not to much trouble could you please post a link to which one you are talking about, I can't seem to find it. __________________ 86' C-10 Silverado 85' C4 Corvette When in doubt, BURN OUT!!

11-08-2005, 11:01 PM	#19
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Re: Aftermarket Gauges Here you go. http://www.painlesswiring.com/webcat...-connector.htm __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10



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