Project: 85 2.8 bird

This is what I've researched as far as teh pinouts go for the 85 & 88 gauge clusters. PLease review & let know of any thing that might be wrong. I'm swapping in the 88 cluster to make use of the 120 speedo (better than 85) and the full VSS readout.

The 85 cluster:



The 88 cluster:



edit: these are looking at the back of the gauge cluster, w/speedo i your right hand.

Xophertony

well i don't know if your right or wrong, but thanx for posting this! i am going to be undertaking a custom gauge project after the first and this info will realy help

Xophertony

forottom connector 14 (1-14) i had "s" connector on speedo
you put "VSS" what does "VSS" mean?

any help would be apriciated

also if anyone else could conferm what the question marks are that would help out both of us

my thread on the same issue is HERE and talks about an 86 cluster (same so far)

Project: 85 2.8 bird

VSS= Vehicle Speed Sensor. It replaced the Speedo cable.

I'm also pretty sure that where I ws putting 12v+, it was also for the lights.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

silly double post deleted

KED85

The 85 diagram is like mine? The idiot light dash or is your illustration the converted to tach dash wiring block plug?
I keep forgetting to obtain a idiot light 85 dash wiring block plug, so I can compare these two (outta car) side by side.
Every time I installed my 85 gauge dash (& plugged in the idiot light dash bwiring block plug), I kept blowing fuses.
I need not "add a wire" for using the factory tach in dash, just swap a wire here & there.
And by swapping wires my in original factory isssued idiot light dash block plug, I will operate all gagues, correct?

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Yes, swap wires. That's what I'm going to have to do to get hte 88 cluster good to go.

I have the rally gauge cluster, old school for full gauges, for some of you "younger" peeps out there

KED85

YA GOT MAIL!

Project: 85 2.8 bird

AS soon as everything is rewired for the new gauge cluster, or I take a sheesh load more pics. Plus teh extra(s)

edit: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=216503

very good diagram of the 86 cluster, basically the same as the 88 I'm using. Props to Trickster for the link

Project: 85 2.8 bird

OK, got the cluster "wired" for now, here's what I got:

Volts- work, but I didn't have that wire from the alt hooked up, hrmmmmm

Oil- Pegs when key in "on: position. Not sure if this is because it's not acytually hooked to anything or not.

Water- Pegs when key "cranked". See above for question on it

Gas- Didin't move, but it may be accurate. Will check level w/lighter after post

Seat Belts- good

Brake- Light stayed on, not sure about this.

Turn signals- Worked, didn't screw that up.

Hi Beam Indicator- see above.

Gonna have to wait for Speedo & Tach for when the engine is ready to run & I figure out which wires from the 3800 harness they actually are (I haven't rechecked that yet )

KED85

Oil- Pegs when key in "on: position. Not sure if this is because it's not acytually hooked to anything or not.

This is correct.
On my 1974 Corvette, the oil pressure gauge sender has leaked. I replaced sender & plugged it (as I just installed a Melling Hi Performance Oil pump with tack welded pick up screen that was test meaused 1/4" inch off pan floor).
My guage swings all way to right due to "no resistance" of sender. Grounding or in engine operation.

Gas- Didin't move, but it may be accurate. Will check level w/lighter after post

Project: 85 2.8 bird

dammit Karl, it was suppposed to ride a couple responses

For those w/gauges, what does the water temp gauge do when cranking?

KED85

Upon key activation, gauge should go to zero reading.
Happy New Years, too!

Petes 84Z28

It should peg while cranking, then return to the proper reading when the key is released back to RUN.
You did swap out the sending units on the engine for the correct ones to work with gauges, right? Both oil and coolant.

Pete

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Am waiting on my homies over @ firebirdV6.com for an answer on if any 4th gen cars came w/idiot lights or not.

FWIW: Oil, water, tach leads are coming in from engine bay from driverside wire block. I have the leads from teh 3800 coming in where the 2.8 harness used to be on the pass side.

Joy

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Well, erl & wata gauges do not peg when hooked up to the senders, brake indicater fixed, vss & tach wires tracked down & marked, and,
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Dash Lights work now. Will be on all the time, but better than never on (lead from headlight switch FUBAR'd)

Xophertony

using the info in this post i was able to make a custom light on my gaug bezle. i took out one of the light blockers with words on em. and scrached the back of it with an exacto knife. i made it into an oh darn light. i had to cut open the light hole in the back of the ribbon wire and scratch the contacts clean. then i hooked up my twelve volt power conerter to some bare wires goingto those contacts and look. spiffy light.