DFJ6000

has anyone swapped out gauges, from like an 88 to a 91? or whatever, i noticed a difference in the gauges at the junk yard, and i really liked the newer style. Has anyone done this and how hard is it?

Xophertony

the only thing thit might be dificult is if you don't have guages. do you have idiot lights? if so there would be more work involved,. but since you have an 88 you have an electric speedo, so a newer cluster should be a direct swap.

oldschool

It depends what years are involved. The newer wiring harnesses are different for the gauge cluster cars. This requires repinning the dash cluster connectors. The idiot light swapout can be done as well, but it is more work. The senders have to be installed for the temp, oil gauges, a tach wire has to be run from the coil circuit, and there's an issue with maintaining the battery/charging light. This light is part of a circuit on the waring light cars that tells the alternator to start charging.

kretos

88 still has the mechanical speedo, or atleast mine does

oldschool

Do you have the lights or gauges in your 88'?

kretos

gauges

oldschool

Interesting. I think 1985 was the last Firebird gauge cluster that had a mechanical speedo.

camaro350man

Mine is a 88 and its electric.

Naft

i think firebirds went electric before camaros, or at least thats what ive heard. i heard birds in 87 and maros in 89 i think. i know for a fact that pre-87 firebirds are mechanical speedo though. maybe late 86 had electric, but other than that 87=electric speedo.

Xophertony

my 86 has electric. shipping date 11-14-85.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

86+ Firebirds were electric.
90+ for the camaro.

The entire dash shell is different for a 90-92 camaro you wont be able to just bolt it in, the metal mounts that are part of the body are also different between the 89 and prior vs. 90-92. The wiring would be the easy part.

Naft

86 and 90, wow, didnt think there was that big of a difference! just goes to show you how much better firebirds are.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, an electric speedometer I guess made the dash setup "better" sooner, but the camaro has always looked better. And its easier to update the camaro dash than to make the firebird look better

Project: 85 2.8 bird

but the Firebird dash already looks better, there's nothing to improve upon. the comero dash,.....well,.....is a different story

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Have yet to see a thirdgen firebird dash that looks better than the 90-92 Camaro, Sorry

Naft

maybe so, but i have yet to see a thirdgen camaro that looks better than a firebird, regardless of what you say.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

See previous post before dash discussion, for reference please see sales numbers and compare

Naft

it has always been my opinion that the majority of the world has bad taste, so i rest my case.