Gauge cluster up grade

[Byard-HWJ]

Hello, currently swapping a 1993 TBI 454 into a 1980 K30. The K30 gauge cluster is idiot lights and I would like to have gauges and believe I need to satisfy ECM. Do I need to be looking for a cluster from a TBI square body to swap in? I think I have read that there maybe some repinning going from lights to gauges? any help or suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ricko1966]

Be sure to use senders that match the year of your gauges,not the year of the truck,not the year of the engine.

 

[CountKrunk]

There are a lot of options. Used from ebay/here/junkyard brand new from many different vendors.

Which way are you going to go?

 

[Ricko1966]

There are a lot of options. Used from ebay/here/junkyard brand new from many different vendors.

Which way are you going to go?

Oh now you've done it!!!!!You just opened this up to 37 pages of gauge recommendations

 

[Byard-HWJ]

Ricko1966, thanks well I have already bought senders for temp, oil , etc for the 1993

 

[Byard-HWJ]

thanks for all of the advice but do I need a cluster from a TBI era truck or will a gauge cluster from a pre TBI truck do what I need. Please accept everybody aren't experts in this stuff.

 

[CountKrunk]

You have a lot of options. If you want to keep the what you have, but swap idiot lights to gauges.

You just need a gauge that will fit in that spot, then wire it up/hook it up (oil ya know you'll need a line to hook into a port, you can look up where). You would ignore the pins/wiring on your oem and just run new wires/etc that the new gauge needs to operate.

I was going to do that with mine then i found a non idiot light that a member on here pulled. I bought that unit from them.

 

[CalSgt]

Not sure what the PROM type ECM will want to see for its needs but your gauge cluster can be entirely independent if desired…

I have a full set of senders that communicate with the PCM in my truck and a secondary set running a to Dakota digital gauge cluster.

Swapping in a gauge assembly from a ‘93 doesn’t sound appealing to me, they were early era digital gauges and many of them used stepper motors to control the needles. You’d be better served with a direct fit aftermarket set or getting a GM gauge set from a square that didn’t have idiot lights. My original ’80 gauges had temp, oil pressure, volts, fuel, and speed with a “Brake” and “4x4” lights, not sure what other gauges you would want

ETA: The Dakota Digital RTX gauges are nearly factory in appearance and fit great, I don’t have any experience with other brands for comparison

 

[Ricko1966]

Ricko1966, thanks well I have already bought senders for temp, oil , etc for the 1993

Okay doesn't matter what you already bought. They have to match whatever year gauges you use.

 

[Byard-HWJ]

Swapping in a gauge assembly from a ‘93 doesn’t sound appealing to me, they were early era digital gauges and many of them used stepper motors to control the needles. You’d be better served with a direct fit aftermarket set or getting a GM gauge set from a square

I'm not planning on putting gauges from a 1993 GMT400 in my squarebody.

I found a cluster from a 1988 that has gauges and a tach, I think I will go that route.

 

[Byard-HWJ]

Okay doesn't matter what you already bought. They have to match whatever year gauges you use.

Well lucky for me it looks like my 1993 senders are the same as most 73-87 trucks.
SA

 

[Ricko1966]

Well lucky for me it looks like my 1993 senders are the same as most 73-87 trucks.
SA

I didn't think the spread was that big I thought it was 3 different groupings. I'm actually 90% sure it is. Oil pressure senders changed at least once also