The body of my car is a base model 87 Firebird. No options, idiot lights.. power nothing.. heh.

The gauge cluster I have is out of an 87 Formula that had an LG4 motor.

My question is.. I think my Firebird's stock speedometer is cable driven (I could be wrong). I guess the one out of the Formula is electrical? I don't know. Here's a pic of the back of it. Would this work if I swapped it in?

I don't care about the oil pressure, coolant temp and other gauges. All I was concerned with was rpm gauge, gas gauge, and speedometer.

Can we cut the back of this if that's where a cable plugs in?

 

First see what you have; look under the car by the (driverside door)near the tail of the transmission you will either see a single cable conection or a electrical connection. If you have the electical the dash should should work with out further complication. That dash in your picture is a quartz electrical speedo and there is no cable attachment.
Interesting fact: if you have electrical speedo (and still have the factory computer set up) if you try to run a cable speedo you will get a check engine light. Because where the cable connection would be on the trans is the Vehicle Speed Sensor. I understand there are F-body's that use the cable speedo so you have to find out what part they have in the trans.No so easy without a lot of research.
I am in the process of doing the same. I want an aftermarket speedo but I still use the ECM. If I find out anything I will let you know, AND let me know if you find anything out OK?

 

Well, I definitely have a cable driven speedometer, but someone actually pointed me to an article on this site about doing the conversion: http://www.hioutput.com/tech/speedo.html

Looks like it should work.

 

The problem is the VSS that goes in the trans, when you go to the parts store they ask you what RPO code do you have?
D9A D9B or D9E?
I looked, asked, posted a thread, went to the dealer, and nobody really responded, and the dealer was of no help. So I went to the store and ordered one for a D9E. When I got it, it didnt even look like it would fit; hole sealing was totally different than what I needed, so now I have to guess between A & B. But now i am thinking of just screw the factory dash and getting VDO gauges because they have a cable speedo with an adaptor plug-in for the VSS.

 

hi just wondering if any one has gone the other way computer and vss is gone, now i would like to hook up a cable drive. i have the trans end figured out now trying to do the cluster. if you have looked at this project you know the problems i am talking about,any info would be greatl. thanks