Posted: 10/16/2010 1:37:05 AM EDT
| I've been looking at picking up a 4x4 either Toyota like an early to mid 80's model or a early 90's Dodge Ramcharger. I am finding that the gauges, and interiors are pretty atrocious on them. Just curious as to what options I would have and how hard it would be to switch out the stock gauges with something more appropriate. |
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You're talking about a modern vehicle, right?
you can't just pull out a gauge cluster and put something else in. At most, you can get some different gauge faces, which of course will require you to disassemble the cluster and install them. I've done that on a car a couple times. Not really that easy. |
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You're talking about a modern vehicle, right? you can't just pull out a gauge cluster and put something else in. At most, you can get some different gauge faces, which of course will require you to disassemble the cluster and install them. I've done that on a car a couple times. Not really that easy. Say year range 82-92 Dodge and Toyota. I was under the impression I could pick up some auto meter or the like gauges and wire them up and they would work? |
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You're talking about a modern vehicle, right? you can't just pull out a gauge cluster and put something else in. At most, you can get some different gauge faces, which of course will require you to disassemble the cluster and install them. I've done that on a car a couple times. Not really that easy. Say year range 82-92 Dodge and Toyota. I was under the impression I could pick up some auto meter or the like gauges and wire them up and they would work? You can ADD gauges for various things, sure. |
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Quoted: Quoted: You're talking about a modern vehicle, right? you can't just pull out a gauge cluster and put something else in. At most, you can get some different gauge faces, which of course will require you to disassemble the cluster and install them. I've done that on a car a couple times. Not really that easy. Say year range 82-92 Dodge and Toyota. I was under the impression I could pick up some auto meter or the like gauges and wire them up and they would work? With vehicles that old it's quite easy to completely remove the stock gauge cluster and replace it with aftermarket gauges. There are plenty of manufacturers out there that make them, and fabricating a dash to mount them in is quite easy. You can make it from aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, whatever floats your boat. |
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With vehicles that old it's quite easy to completely remove the stock gauge cluster and replace it with aftermarket gauges. There are plenty of manufacturers out there that make them, and fabricating a dash to mount them in is quite easy. You can make it from aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, whatever floats your boat. What he said. I just picked up an 87 Ramcharger as a BOV project and intend on replacing the critical water temp , oil press , and installing a trans temp and ammeter and a decent middle-of-the-road ( $$$) tach . I'll keep the original speedo. I've done it before and will do it again . Last time was all Stewart Warner stuff in a 70 Blazer and it worked out nice . I used a hole saw to cut the stock bezels and rewired/plumbed all the SW stuff in. 'Just drive it' wasnt good enough after I had spent a few grand on the motor , I want to be able to trust the info I'm getting and not gamble on a crummy OEM gauge and or sketchy sending unit . At the very least , I'd strongly suggest to anyone with anything beyond a cheapo beater , to install one of those little two guage add-on thingys that have oil pressure and water temp . |
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What is your definition of "easy"? Currently working on swapping a 93 toyota truck dash into an 86 toyota 4x4 (to go along with the 93 efi motor). It is a fabrication project, that is for sure. Possible, yes. I have seen later model pickup, tacoma and full custom interiors in early toyota trucks, so it has been done. |
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With vehicles that old it's quite easy to completely remove the stock gauge cluster and replace it with aftermarket gauges. There are plenty of manufacturers out there that make them, and fabricating a dash to mount them in is quite easy. You can make it from aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, whatever floats your boat. What he said. I just picked up an 87 Ramcharger as a BOV project and intend on replacing the critical water temp , oil press , and installing a trans temp and ammeter and a decent middle-of-the-road ( $$$) tach . I'll keep the original speedo. I've done it before and will do it again . Last time was all Stewart Warner stuff in a 70 Blazer and it worked out nice . I used a hole saw to cut the stock bezels and rewired/plumbed all the SW stuff in. 'Just drive it' wasnt good enough after I had spent a few grand on the motor , I want to be able to trust the info I'm getting and not gamble on a crummy OEM gauge and or sketchy sending unit . At the very least , I'd strongly suggest to anyone with anything beyond a cheapo beater , to install one of those little two guage add-on thingys that have oil pressure and water temp . I like the look of aftermarket, and also I like having vital intel on my trucks issues. Every older truck I've had had squirrely gauges and something I take way way way out in the sticks, better not break down on me. Great post! |