Going from lights to gauges - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rcbildr · 05-22-2012, 02:57 AM

I'm working on my old 83 1ton chevy and the truck originally had the idiot lights instead of gages. I'm storing a 76 parts suburban for a friend of mine and he said I can use whatever I want off the truck. The burb has the factory gages. If I pull the cluster and sending units off the burb and put them in the truck, will there be any changes to the wiring needed? I've been doing a lot of thinking about it and the only problem I think I might have will be for the volt gage...only really care about the oil pressure and temperature gages anyways. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

motornut · 05-22-2012, 09:32 AM

I did this on the 78 below,pics and info there may help
cause yes, you gotta change wires

because their are differences in sending units and some gauges,swapping at all over should work

**hatzie** · 05-22-2012, 10:04 AM

76 has a mechanical oil pressure gauge that uses a copper capillary tube from the engine into the cab.
You'll need to re-pin the cluster plug too.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456877

rcbildr · 05-30-2012, 08:18 PM

Thanks for the info and links. I just printed up the diagrams...will post up how it goes in a couple days.

05-22-2012, 02:57 AM	#1
rcbildr Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Gold Bar, WA Posts: 1,216	Going from lights to gauges I'm working on my old 83 1ton chevy and the truck originally had the idiot lights instead of gages. I'm storing a 76 parts suburban for a friend of mine and he said I can use whatever I want off the truck. The burb has the factory gages. If I pull the cluster and sending units off the burb and put them in the truck, will there be any changes to the wiring needed? I've been doing a lot of thinking about it and the only problem I think I might have will be for the volt gage...only really care about the oil pressure and temperature gages anyways. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! __________________ My Projects: 1960 GMC 1/2ton with 305 V6 (daily driver) 1963 Chevy 1/2ton 2wd...converting to 4x4 1967 Suburban 1/2ton 2wd My Girlfriends Projects 1985 Chevy Suburban 3/4ton 4x4 with 6.2L diesel, 4" lift, converted to TH-400, Warn Premium manual hubs, & Wildcat 315/75/R16 tires. (daily driver) 1978 Camaro Type LT with a Marine 350 & vortec heads, Rochester Carb, & roller cam 1978 Camaro Z28

05-22-2012, 09:32 AM	#2
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Going from lights to gages I did this on the 78 below,pics and info there may help cause yes, you gotta change wires because their are differences in sending units and some gauges,swapping at all over should work __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

05-22-2012, 10:04 AM	#3
hatzie Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wentworth, NH Posts: 5,014	Re: Going from lights to gages 76 has a mechanical oil pressure gauge that uses a copper capillary tube from the engine into the cab. You'll need to re-pin the cluster plug too. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456877 __________________ 1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials... 1973-1991 GM Light Truck Service, Unit/Overhaul, Wiring Manuals, Parts Books and Some 1968-1999 GM Service Training textbooks in PDF 1988-1998 GMT400 CK service manual project 1988-1993 GMT400 CK parts books. 1967-1972 GM Light, Medium, & Heavy Truck Service Manuals in PDF Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions. And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful.

05-30-2012, 08:18 PM	#4
rcbildr Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Gold Bar, WA Posts: 1,216	Re: Going from lights to gages Thanks for the info and links. I just printed up the diagrams...will post up how it goes in a couple days. __________________ My Projects: 1960 GMC 1/2ton with 305 V6 (daily driver) 1963 Chevy 1/2ton 2wd...converting to 4x4 1967 Suburban 1/2ton 2wd My Girlfriends Projects 1985 Chevy Suburban 3/4ton 4x4 with 6.2L diesel, 4" lift, converted to TH-400, Warn Premium manual hubs, & Wildcat 315/75/R16 tires. (daily driver) 1978 Camaro Type LT with a Marine 350 & vortec heads, Rochester Carb, & roller cam 1978 Camaro Z28



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