Gauges

[benjy_26]

Hello all. I'm sure that this has been answered before, but I wasn't able to find specific info. 

 

I have an 87 SporTruck with the idiot light gauges, and I recently picked up a cluster from an 88 MJ at the junk yard. The difference between that cluster and mine is that the 88 has a different speedo cable (I think) and it has readouts for amps, oil pressure, and water temp. I'd like the keep the AMC logo'd idiot light (it looks cool :) ), but I would like the other read outs. My question is: Is it possible to only transfer SOME of the gauges off the 88 cluster onto my 87's cluster? 

[Eagle]

No.

 

And your stock cluster has three idiot lights -- one for temperature, one for oil pressure, and one for voltage/alternator. Which one did you want to keep, and WHY would you want an idiot light instead of knowing what your vehicle is doing?

[ckjeep]

do the gauge cluster just swap out or do you have to change any thing else? i have the idiot light cluster and want a full gauge cluster

[HOrnbrod]

Hello all. I'm sure that this has been answered before, but I wasn't able to find specific info. 

 

I have an 87 SporTruck with the idiot light gauges, and I recently picked up a cluster from an 88 MJ at the junk yard. The difference between that cluster and mine is that the 88 has a different speedo cable (I think) and it has readouts for amps, oil pressure, and water temp. I'd like the keep the AMC logo'd idiot light (it looks cool :) ), but I would like the other read outs. My question is: Is it possible to only transfer SOME of the gauges off the 88 cluster onto my 87's cluster? 

 

No, you have to go with either the idiot light or full gauge cluster because one printed circuit foil can not support both (or p/o both) type clusters.

[jimoshel]

do the gauge cluster just swap out or do you have to change any thing else? i have the idiot light cluster and want a full gauge cluster

The clusters are a direct swap. The speedo cable hook up is different on some years. Easier to swap the speedo head than the cable. Change the oil pressure sw and temp sw on the engine to gauge sending units.

[benjy_26]

No.

 

And your stock cluster has three idiot lights -- one for temperature, one for oil pressure, and one for voltage/alternator. Which one did you want to keep, and WHY would you want an idiot light instead of knowing what your vehicle is doing?

I tend to install aftermarket gauges in EVERYTHING, so the stock clusters are mostly ancillary for me. I thoughgt the AMC logo on the bottom left of my stock cluster was an idiot light of sone sort. If it isn't, what  is its  purpose? 

[benjy_26]

 

do the gauge cluster just swap out or do you have to change any thing else? i have the idiot light cluster and want a full gauge cluster

The clusters are a direct swap. The speedo cable hook up is different on some years. Easier to swap the speedo head than the cable. Change the oil pressure sw and temp sw on the engine to gauge sending units.

 

Pardon my ignorance, but how does one go about swapping the speedo head? 

[benjy_26]

 

Hello all. I'm sure that this has been answered before, but I wasn't able to find specific info. 

 

I have an 87 SporTruck with the idiot light gauges, and I recently picked up a cluster from an 88 MJ at the junk yard. The difference between that cluster and mine is that the 88 has a different speedo cable (I think) and it has readouts for amps, oil pressure, and water temp. I'd like the keep the AMC logo'd idiot light (it looks cool :) ), but I would like the other read outs. My question is: Is it possible to only transfer SOME of the gauges off the 88 cluster onto my 87's cluster? 

 

No, you have to go with either the idiot light or full gauge cluster because one printed circuit foil can not support both (or p/o both) type clusters.

 

Ah... forgot they were printed circuits.... Too bad they're not PTP wired. Then one could come up with some crazy combos. 

[cruiser54]

 

No.

 

And your stock cluster has three idiot lights -- one for temperature, one for oil pressure, and one for voltage/alternator. Which one did you want to keep, and WHY would you want an idiot light instead of knowing what your vehicle is doing?

I tend to install aftermarket gauges in EVERYTHING, so the stock clusters are mostly ancillary for me. I thoughgt the AMC logo on the bottom left of my stock cluster was an idiot light of sone sort. If it isn't, what  is its  purpose? 

 

Low fuel light? 

[Eagle]

I tend to install aftermarket gauges in EVERYTHING, so the stock clusters are mostly ancillary for me.

Then why bother swapping clusters? IMHO, a light that pops on is a better (more visible) backup than a duplicate gauge.

 

I thoughgt the AMC logo on the bottom left of my stock cluster was an idiot light of sone sort. If it isn't, what  is its  purpose?

Post a photo so we can see what you're talking about.

[Eagle]

Pardon my ignorance, but how does one go about swapping the speedo head?

Remove the speedometers from both clusters. Install speedometer 'A' in cluster 'B,', install speedometer 'B' in cluster 'A.'

 

The speedometers in the clusters with gauges have a trip odemeter. The speedo in the idiot light cluster doesn't have a trip odometer. So you would lose the opportunity to gain a trip odometer, but you'll keep your original speedometer so no need to change the cable.

[benjy_26]

 

I tend to install aftermarket gauges in EVERYTHING, so the stock clusters are mostly ancillary for me.

Then why bother swapping clusters? IMHO, a light that pops on is a better (more visible) backup than a duplicate gauge.

 

I thoughgt the AMC logo on the bottom left of my stock cluster was an idiot light of sone sort. If it isn't, what  is its  purpose?

Post a photo so we can see what you're talking about.

 

Because I like my junk to look semi-original at first glance. 

 

I'll post a pic ASAP. 

[benjy_26]

 

 

No.

 

And your stock cluster has three idiot lights -- one for temperature, one for oil pressure, and one for voltage/alternator. Which one did you want to keep, and WHY would you want an idiot light instead of knowing what your vehicle is doing?

I tend to install aftermarket gauges in EVERYTHING, so the stock clusters are mostly ancillary for me. I thoughgt the AMC logo on the bottom left of my stock cluster was an idiot light of sone sort. If it isn't, what  is its  purpose? 

 

Low fuel light? 

 

I thought so too... but I've run the MJ to empty once when calculating mileage and it didn't do anything. 

 

[Eagle]

 

 

I tend to install aftermarket gauges in EVERYTHING, so the stock clusters are mostly ancillary for me.

Then why bother swapping clusters? IMHO, a light that pops on is a better (more visible) backup than a duplicate gauge.

 

I thoughgt the AMC logo on the bottom left of my stock cluster was an idiot light of sone sort. If it isn't, what  is its  purpose?

Post a photo so we can see what you're talking about.

 

Because I like my junk to look semi-original at first glance. 

 

I'll post a pic ASAP.

 

What's more "semi-original" than an original factory instrument cluster? If you like your vehicles to look "semi-original," why install aftermarket gauges instead of factory equipment?

 

Respectfully, you're not making any sense.

[benjy_26]

 

 

 

I tend to install aftermarket gauges in EVERYTHING, so the stock clusters are mostly ancillary for me.

Then why bother swapping clusters? IMHO, a light that pops on is a better (more visible) backup than a duplicate gauge.

 

I thoughgt the AMC logo on the bottom left of my stock cluster was an idiot light of sone sort. If it isn't, what  is its  purpose?

Post a photo so we can see what you're talking about.

 

Because I like my junk to look semi-original at first glance. 

 

I'll post a pic ASAP.

 

What's more "semi-original" than an original factory instrument cluster? If you like your vehicles to look "semi-original," why install aftermarket gauges instead of factory equipment?

 

Respectfully, you're not making any sense.

 

No worries, I hardly make sense to anyone. As far as looking semi original, some of the gauges in my other cars are carves into the original clusters, or hidden in center consoles. They make sense to me ...