Does anyone have a schematic for the this cluster? I'd like to splice it into my Corvette. http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/c...92-cluster.JPG Thanks! -- Joe

I created the cluster pinout diagram and put it up on our diagram page here: http://www.austinthirdgen.org/index.php?pid=19
Scroll down about half way, look for "Instrument panel pinout".

Hope this helps.
Lou

That is exactly what I needed. Thank you so much!

I love corvettes, but the interior is soo ugly it's almost unbarable. I'm attempting to get rid of my lame atari dash in favor of the late model camaro
dash (which I always adored)

-- Joe

You are welcome. I know how desired this diagram is so I shared it with my fellow thirdgenners.
Got any pictures of the Corvette dash? I have never seen one and now I'm curious.

Lou

Sure. here is the cluster:

http://www.corvette.co.uk/itemImages/parts_24_thumb.jpg

in the car:

http://www.laruetx.com/autos/vette/left_int.jpg

The dimensions are very similar, so a cut + splice and a custom bezel should make it happen.

Thanks!

-- Joe

Oooohh, StarWars gauges. Me likey!
I had gauges like these on my boat. Had to replace them because they were fogging and cracking and stuff.

Thanks for the pictures.
Lou

Not sure if you already know this or not, but those tachs are notoriously bad on the 90-92 clusters. Almost none read correctly at this point. There's a post on fixing them with a simple resistor being added though.

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/electronics/357893-90-92-tachometer-fix.html

Jay is right, hopefully your tach will work.
If you need it adjusted and don't have a function generator, feel free to send it to me, Joe, I can do it.

Lou

I'll check that thread out when I get back later. Thanks for the heads up.

Though, anythings better than my digi dash that reads 1 at any RPM

-- Joe

So that thread talks about sub-5k operation in a few points. Does this tach still go crazy after 5k? I need it to read until about 6400.

-- Joe

If the tach driver is adjusted, it should be able to read fine in the WHOLE range (it should be actually able to deflect the needle 360 degrees if there weren't any bump stops).

Lou

Ok. I have to fix the circuit board/tape in the back too. It has seperated in some spots and the traces are touching.. lame.

Then I need to find some male sockets for this thing, so I can make a conversion harness for my Corvette.

Assuming it fits and I can make a custom window, it should look pretty sharp.

-- Joe

I got my male connectors here on TGO from the Classifieds section.
You might get lucky too. There are many people parting out cars and the dashboard harness is usually among the leftovers.

Lou

I was gonna run to the junkyard and see if I couldn't grab some. Do most of the EFI Fbody's run the same connector, or just the 90-92 camaro?

I need a speed buffer too.

-- Joe

I did the same swap, going from the 82-89 style to the 90 - 92. I was able to reuse my stock connector, just repinning it to match the new cluster. So you should be able to use any 82-92 Camaro cluster connectors. I forget if the Firebird uses the same kind.

The TBI cars use the speed buffer, as well as the Firebirds from 86 to 89. Are you still using the '165 ECM? Originally that's what I did as well before converting to speed density. Just ran the electric( magnetic ) VSS sender in the trans to the speed buffer from a TBI car. It has the connections for the ECM, dash and cruise.

I'm running a '730 ECM with a repinned '165 harness. I know I can drive the VSS and gauges directly with the ECM, but all the wiring to the cluster is intact (cluster has a built in VSS), so the theory is to take the fbody connectors + speed buffer, and make an adapter connector to plug into the Corvette harness.

That way I can just plug the C4 cluster back in if I need to.


-- Joe

Ok I'm not at all familliar with C4 wiring or electrics since I've never worked on one. I'm not sure why you'd need the buffer is using the '730. The pin out diagram you attached seems to say it's not needed either unless using the '165
Using an adapter, couldn't you just run the speedometer output from the ECM to your new adapter?
Not sure how you have it set up right now. Is the C4 cluster cable driven or electric?

I made up the pinout diagram I attached thanks to an FSM and Lou's diagram. I dont *need* a speed buffer, but by running one I don't have to change the wiring to the ECM. Right now the VSS at the tranny goes to the cluster, and then a wire to the ECM. By running a speed buffer I don't change any of the cars wiring, so I can have plug and play clusters.

The C4 is electric.

-- Joe

Ok so you're more using the buffer as a way to split the signal. Wired from the C4 harness--->adapter---> to the buffer, and then one output to the ECM, via the adapter back to the C4 harness, and the other just goes to the cluster.
Right? Just trying to follow along.

Next question, since you are trying to do a plug in harness adapter, what is your plan for the male socket? I'm doing something simillar with now swapping out my 90-92 gauges in favor of a set from a 96 Z28.

Which male socket? I grabbed a dash harness for the cluster today at the junkyard to plug into the '90 cluster I have. The C4 connectors are male, so I need to deal with that. They use the same connectors as a '165 ECM, oddly enough so I might be able to steal a female socket off an ECM.

The '96 Z28 uses an odd tach and speedo signal, no?

-- Joe

I was thinking backwards. But Yeah I meant what were you planning on doing for the C4 side of the adapter harness so it would plug in. The ECM socket should work nicely.
Unfortunately for me, the factory harness just plugs into the PCB so there's not real easy way to make an adapter. Cut and splice the new one into the old. The car's so far from original at this point I'm ok with that lol.

It was 1997 that they switched over, 93-96 still uses the standard stuff. My reasons for switching are the yellow printing. I got it to light up in red using some LEDs so at night it looks fine and matches my add on gauges, but during the day the add ons are white printing. Small annoyance, but it's all the little details I could go all aftermarket, but I got the cluster for $35. A little wiring, and some work on a custom fiberglass bezel and I saved a bunch of $.

Can you post a picture of the cluster?

I took apart a 86+ firebird cluster today. It's all aftermarket denso gauges with a circuit board. Funny how the board just screws to each of the terminals on teh gauge. You can use the gauges off the board with normal screw terminals. Thats an option for me too, to just make one using firebird gauges, like the second pic attached.

First pic shows the comparison between the dimensions of the 90-92 camaro cluster, and the C4 cluster.

-- Joe

Not mine but mines just like it. I was thinking originally like that, where just using the individual gauges and positioning them where I wanted, since the 90-92 style is the same. This one isn't. When you remove the trim panel, it's one big sheet. The actual guages might be seperate, but I would have to cut the face panel, and I'm not sure about the illumination plastic underneath.

- that Firebird cluster looks really odd. Doesn't looks like any of the ones I have seen. Wait nevermind, I'm guessing that is one that was custom fitted by using Firebird gauges.

Yeah, a guy on the corvetteforum made it from cutting the gauges out of a firebird cluster. Notice the speed buffer and plug-n-play harness. Thats my goal.

-- Joe

That will be nice. I hate wiring hack jobs. Defintely interested to see the outcome when you get it all put together.

I just wanted to pop in and say thank you to those helping! BigBabyLou, the diagrams are GREAT !!! Thanks! I am doing research and found this thread by the search feature.... You made my wiring job MUCH easier...

Jason

Always glad to help
I'm happy that somebody can benefit from what I did. It's a good feeling.

Lou