I replaced all the gauges last weekend and it turned out great. One thing I did forget though was to designate a light for the highbeam indicator (that idiot light above the speedo that tells you if your high beams are on... like you can't tell?). I personally don't care, but I think NC State inspections does.

I remember it was on the upper level of the harness plug on the speedometer side of the dash, but I need to know what color the wire was...

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

I need to ask you a question. I am thinking about swapping the complete dash and clusters from an '87 firebird V6, into my '83 TA V8. Do both cars have to have V8's for the swap to be successful? Do all your gauges still work properly? I want to do this really bad, and think it looks great, but am not sure if it will work. Please let me know. Or is it necessary to swap the dash and gauges from a V8 in order to be put in a V8? Thanks. Sorry that i cant help you, but please help me.

James

'83 TA

 

Light green.

Tim

 

Thanks Tim, that was what I though. Confused if it was the yellow or the green one.

Jims83TA: I don't know if I can help you too much or not. The way my stock 84 dash looked was like this... Basically, all the gauges (behind the clear plastic) pushed into the rear of the holder (white plastic thing that holds all the gauges and plugs screws to the dash more or less). Behind the holder, there is a flimsy green sheet that has circuits running through it. Kind of like a really thin motherboard or something. Well, two harnesses plug into that from the rear (each harness has about 15-16 pins on it).

If the pins from the V6 match up with the pins from the V8, then you may be OK. I have the feeling though that the 87 looks for some things that the 83 doesn't (ie- speedometer speed, tach reading, etc..).

That is the best answer I can give you. You should really ask someone who knows for sure or try it yourself. I replaced all my stock gauges with aftermarket ones and threw most of it out...



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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

Jim:

You do need to swap in a cluster from a v8 if you have a v8. The tachometer will not read the correct revs if you use a v6 cluster.

Two other issues you'll have to deal with:

Does your current dash have gauges for the oil pressure, volts, temp? If you have the cluster with the huge gas gauge and the idiot lights, you'll need to replace the sending units for the gauges with the ones for a gauge cluster rahter then an idiot light cluster.

Your current cluster has a speedo cable going to it from the transmission, and then there is a speed sensor in the speedometer head. (pretty sure this is the case for your year). The new cluster will need a vss on the transmission, and you'll have to install the vss signal buffer box and run vss wires to the new cluster, the ecm if you're using it. If you have cruise control, you'll have to get an electronic cruise setup and install that in place of your existing equipment. Unfortunately, you'll also need to get a new multifunction arm (turn signal stick) because they changed the way the cruise switch is wired between the mechanical system and the electronic system.

I can provide more information of you need it, I've done all this swapping in my car.
http://www.angelfire.com/mt/psh/speedo.htm

This page has more information about the speedo/vss swap, but it doesnt cover the cruise control.




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82 T/A 305/TH350; soon to be 350/T-5