Switching cluster types (please read)

[mrnapolean1]

I have an '87 SWB R10 Chevrolet that has the cluster with the "idiot" lights in it.
I want to switch to a cluster that has the gauges and prefer a factory tach (which is unheard of in these years)

If I was to purchase a cluster from a junk yard with gauges, how would I go about hooking it up to work with the gauges?

Or is there a way to delete the "idiot" lights and put my own gauges there?

Right now my gauges are mounted near the ground and I want to move them to a more visible area.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

You can go either way, there are several threads here about doing both. While not terribly complicated, there is a lot of wiring involved. A wiring diagram for your truck will be a good piece of information to have.

Where are you located in Texas, BTW?

 

[mrnapolean1]

You can go either way, there are several threads here about doing both. While not terribly complicated, there is a lot of wiring involved. A wiring diagram for your truck will be a good piece of information to have.

Where are you located in Texas, BTW?

In a tiny town called Venus.
What would be easier?

 

[Boone83K10]

along with the wiring you would have to switch the senders too. idiot light vs gauge senders are totally different.

 

[robert8096]

I just mounted a set of aftermarket gauges in the panel and mounted a small tach to the A pillar. It was a lot easier that swapping the wires around in the connector to match a factory gauge cluster. All I had to do was cut the area in the cluster pod to fit the gauges. You really can't tell when the cluster face installed.

I am getting ready to completely replace the wiring with a 21 circuit harness and when I finish with the harness then I am going to install the Dakota cluster.

 

[mrnapolean1]

I just mounted a set of aftermarket gauges in the panel and mounted a small tach to the A pillar. It was a lot easier that swapping the wires around in the connector to match a factory gauge cluster. All I had to do was cut the area in the cluster pod to fit the gauges. You really can't tell when the cluster face installed.

I am getting ready to completely replace the wiring with a 21 circuit harness and when I finish with the harness then I am going to install the Dakota cluster.

Where did you get that cluster from?
I am eventually going to completely gut and redo this truck from the ground up.

 

[robert8096]

I picked up the Dakota cluster from another truck forum but you can get it here.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dak-vhx73cpucb?seid=srese1&gclid=CP2YltiT-7sCFaTm7AodfUYATg