Latest thinking on replacement gauges
- Thread starter dhenderz
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dsteelejr
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Using the tach conversion kit from LMC is going to be the most affordable option. My truck had factory idiot lights so I had to buy new volt, oil and temp gauges in addition to the tach kit. Was about $450. Much cheaper than the higher end after market sets. Plus I enjoy the factory look. I recommend it, but its your money and your truck. Do what makes you happy.
OlRob
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Is there a dedicated section or thread for aftermarket gauge modifications? Like a full Autometer gauge build thread? I would like to find it.
Muddybuddy
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@metal tech do you have pics of the speedhuts installed? Had them on old foxbody mustang, loved the gauges and all the options and gps speedo. Curious how they look in a square. What bezel did you use?
Wannabe
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I bought these on ebay, they are Chinese but not bad looking. 7 colors are switchable so if you get tired of the color just change it. Drawbacks,,,, the metric ranges are more predominant than sae., the lens are real glass so don't drop one it will shatter. Don't ask, just take my word for it.
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87longsquare
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my mechanic recommends that the best product to update my idiot light gauges on my 82 k1500 is Dakota Digital- they do look good but expensive- has anyone had success with other brands?
Terlingueno
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I have warning lights on my dash but I wanted to eyeball the actual water temp, volts and oil pressure and not rely on a 'warning light' plus have a tach. So I installed an Autogage set and an Auto Meter tach. They work and give me the information I want and need for the past 18 years. Does it look good and stylish? Some say it doesn't. But it is a truck and does truck things. The total cost back in 2008 for both the gauges and the tach was less than $175.
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TotalyHucked
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I've had my Dakotas for almost 6yrs and 60k miles. Highly recommended, easy install, they still look and function like they're new. I'll never run another brand, nothing else even comes close to these in quality and function. These are the Squarebody Syndicate versions that look stock-ish
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I bought dakota digitals for mine also, mostly because I am doing a motor swap to an EFI system. You can get a full new OEM gauge cluster from LMC for about half the cost of digital gauges and would only need to swap the coolant temp switch and oil pressure switch to sensors to make a full sensor gauge instead of the idiot light setup. You would have to piece it together as they no longer sell a complete kit of the OEM gauge cluster. I think the back plate is the same between dummy lights and standard gauges. You would probably just need a new lense(11) and new cover panel(13) along with the voltage, oil press, and coolant temp gauges. https://www.lmctruck.com/interior/dash-components/cc-1981-87-dash-bezels-and-components.
Volt Gauge(3) https://www.lmctruck.com/interior/gauges/cc-1973-89-ammetervoltmeter-gauge
Oil Press(4) https://www.lmctruck.com/interior/gauges/cc-1973-89-oil-pressure-gauge
Coolant Temp(3) https://www.lmctruck.com/interior/gauges/cc-1973-89-temperature-gauge
Looks like it uses a different printed circuit board as well. New circuit board would be 38-8039 https://www.lmctruck.com/interior/dash-components/cc-1981-87-printed-circuits-and-retaining-clip
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Frankenchevy
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I really like those, but dang…$1,760!
Edit: never mind, is that these are a little under $1000. Rtx vs Vtx. I think the cheaper version actually looks better.
TotalyHucked
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I was gonna say, wait a min! I had to go look, they were ~$600 or so when I got them in 2020. Last I knew, they were ~$800, crazy that they're almost a grand now. I still stand by my statement though. All gauges are expensive (like everything else now), there are still the only one's I'd consider. Even if I had to save up longer.
gmbellew
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No doubt the DD gauges are awesome. If I were to make the leap, I’d go all the way to their top of the line. But I still keep rocking the stock gauges, though. Partly because they still work, partly because they are nostalgic, and partly because of the high cost of the DD gauges.
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