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Thread: dummy lights to real gauges

  1. #1
    Garrett booster
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    dummy lights to real gauges

    My c/v currently has the (cheapo) gauge cluster with dummy lights. Can I just swap in a gauge cluster with actual gauges ? or do i have to change sending units too ?

    Just dropped another engine in and makes me really nervous to not know whats going on.

  2. #2
    turbo addict Tony Hanna's Avatar
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    Re: dummy lights to real gauges

    I don't know the answer to your question, but for what it's worth, I wouldn't even fool with swapping in stock gauges. They aren't very accurate even when they're working properly. My advice would be to install a set of aftermarket mechanical gauges. They're cheap, easy to install and best of all, fairly accurate.

  3. #3
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    Re: dummy lights to real gauges

    Thanks for the quick reply. I was thinking of that but I already have the gauge cluster (free).

  4. #4
    turbo addict Tony Hanna's Avatar
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    Re: dummy lights to real gauges

    Quote Originally Posted by TurboBlue
    Thanks for the quick reply. I was thinking of that but I already have the gauge cluster (free).
    Well, you can't beat the price.
    But still, what's a cheap mechanical 3 gauge set cost, like $30 at Walmart?
    With that you can actually tell what's going on. You know for a fact you've got 30 psi of oil pressure instead of "about 1/4 of the way up the gauge".
    If you want to run stock temperature and volt gauges, that's cool. They're usually good enough to let you know when there's a problem, but I'd at least run an aftermarket oil pressure gauge.

  5. #5
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    Re: dummy lights to real gauges

    Well looks like the dash is coming apart immediately. Heater core is leaking, and the donor van that has the gauges i was gonna use also has a good core.

    I am not looking foreward to this job

  6. #6
    turbo addict Tony Hanna's Avatar
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    Re: dummy lights to real gauges

    Quote Originally Posted by TurboBlue
    Well looks like the dash is coming apart immediately. Heater core is leaking, and the donor van that has the gauges i was gonna use also has a good core.

    I am not looking foreward to this job
    I've not had to do a heater core in a TD yet. But from what I've seen, it doesn't sound like much fun. Good luck.

  7. #7
    Garrett booster
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    Re: dummy lights to real gauges

    99% sure they do swap aslong as both use the samekind of speedo setup cable vs electronic. Thinking they switched in 90 but I'm not positive. Even then you can may be able to swap the speedos around.
    http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/...r/cluster.html
    Might give you a few ideas while your at it.

  8. #8
    Garrett booster
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    Re: dummy lights to real gauges

    Now that's a cool idea.

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