Hello all. It has been many years since I posted or asked a question- like 16-17 years. Was under a different user name then...

I have scoured through and have not been able to find the question/answer.

Im about 5months into this 1985 base bird. The previous owner swapped a TA/tach and full gauge cluster in place of the dummy lights. The cluster was from a 1985 as well.

My questions:
1- Would this gauge set light up if installed without changing anything?
2- What needs done other than the tach wire (found info on that on the forums) to get this up and running?
3- Is there a place online to get the pinouts for the base cluster and upgraded cluster from 1985?

Thank you all, appreciate the forums and info they provide.

 

'Been there done that.
I installed a '85 T/A cluster in my '83. You must re-pin the C1 and C2 connectors in the dash panel behind the cluster.
The Factory Service Manual shows where the wires are supposed to go. My car already had a tach wire in the engine compartment to the distributor but not inside the car to the dash, so I had to run my own. It's not rocket surgery but it is a little bit tedious, and you must pay careful attention. I first wrote down all the wire colors and connections and drew my own little diagram to cross-reference the connections from the base cluster to the T/A cluster. You will need the correct Oil and Temp gauge sending units as well...

 

Thanks so much for the input TL.

Is this something where I am going to have to purchase a factory service manual? I have a Chiltons and several other manuals for GM 85- but pretty sure this level of detail isnt in there...

The reason I ask about purchasing is that the FSM is not cheap in general and I dont know if I would ever need it otherwise. I am swapping a 350 with carb so all of the other ECM wiring that was related to the V6 that was in the car has been removed.

 

Chilton's will not have that information.
None of the instrument panel wiring has anything to do with the ECM wiring, so that's a non-issue. I'll do whatever I can to help, but that is assuming the '85 pinouts are the same as '83, which is the year my FSM is for...

 

Thanks TL. I will order up an FSM then thats specific, seems to make sense and what you are driving at. Essentially, all years could have subtle differences.
What another cool manual to add to my collection?!

 

I'm not aware of any others, but I'm sure someone else here can chime in if there are more resources...

 

This might help.1985 Service manual pg. 1586 305 carbureted Vin H and G. Telltale cluster. (Trouble Lights)

Gages cluster with Tach 1985 SM Vin G and H pg. 1573


Gages cluster printed circuit pin out 1985 SM pg. 1587

Be careful I don't know if this is a typo but, in the telltale (trouble light) dash cluster connector #1 is at the top of the printed circuit board and on the gages cluster the #1 connector is at the bottom of the cluster.

 

Thanks for posting that, Toon86...

 

Wow, thank you. That will be a crap ton of re-pinning to make this swap.
Appreciate it.

 

Not too bad. Was more of a challenge running a tach wire from the C100 connector in the firewall. 'Had to buy the appropriofate connector to do it like factory. Of course there are other ways of doing it...