After spending two hours looking through the forum I still have a question I cannot answer. I have an 87 Firebird with a V6 and base instruments. I want to swap in another cluster with tach, temp etc. I know that cluster I get will have to be from an 87 v6 or later because of the electronic speedo and tach. What I couldn't determine from looking around is whether or not there were other differences in post 87 clusters. I know I saw one post that said there was some difference but I couldn't tell if that was in the cluster itself or the trim around the cluster. So my question is whether or not there are any other differences in the clusters that I should be aware of?
Thanks for any help.

 

There shouldn't be. Buy the correct engine sensors, install the cluster and post your results!

My step fathers car is an 86 Firebird that had dummy lights and a cable speedo. When reading in the shop manual the "book says" that the PINS for the Tach did not exist in the harness (at the cluster plug). Your 87 should already be an electric speedo car - I believe 86 was the last year for cables in the Firebird.

His car was converted from MPFI to V8 carb a number of years ago and the Carb engine harness wiring for the TEMP/ VOLTS/ OIL pressure were a direct match to his MPFI "dummy light" dash (& cluster) harness. I just had to use the right sensors on the motor. We never converted the cluster to full gauges at the at the time because the "book said" the tach wires were not there.

I just converted this car to a stick with electric speedo and when the original cluster was unplugged I found the TACH wire WAS on the Dash harness. I expected to splice/customized the plug for a Tach wire - but I didn't have to !

Now; He's got a full gauge package cluster with working electric Speedo and LOVES it !

 

Thanks! I lucked out and found a cluster from an 87 so I shouldn't have any issues with it fitting in my car. I just have to get the right trim, install some sensors and I should be good to go.

 

Okay so I was going to install my gauge cluster the other day. Upon preparing to remove my current cluster I noticed that it did not want to come out. Upon further inspection I realized that for some reason I have a mechanical speedo which ruined my plans because I had bought an electric speedo. Why do I have a mechanical speedo? I have proof that my Firebird is an 87 and that nothing has ever been changed about it because the previous owners were family.