Need a little help with a possible future change related to the instrument cluster. I just purchased a 1981 El Camino Conquesta that has a simple Speedometer, Clock and Fuel Gauge.. I would like to change this setup out for the Speedometer, Tachometer, and 4 gauge panel that seems to be common to the SS models as well as the similar years of Monte Carlo... It seems like an easy enough change my concerns is the electrical connection and sensors that may or may not be involved in this conversion... It appears that the instrument cluster is a simple plug in. Assuming that GM used the same harnesses for all of these vehicles could I assume that it is a simple conversion...

Thanks
Rich King

(Topic moved to Electrical Systems)

Welcome to ECC/NECOA Rich.

Let me introduce you to the ECC SEARCH (http://www.elcaminocentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=search) engine. If you type in "gauge swap" or "gauges" you'll find a plethora of information that's been previously discussed about what is needed to do the swap.

I would recommend getting a set of schematics for your 81. Here are some generic schematics for an 87.

indicators_cluster_1 (http://elcaminocentral.com/users/elcamino/schematics/indicators_cluster_1.jpg)

indicators_cluster_2. (http://elcaminocentral.com/users/elcamino/schematics/indicators_cluster_2.jpg)

gauges_cluster_1 (http://elcaminocentral.com/users/elcamino/schematics/gauges_cluster_1.jpg)

gauges_cluster_2 (http://elcaminocentral.com/users/elcamino/schematics/gauges_cluster_2.jpg)

gauges_cluster_3 (http://elcaminocentral.com/users/elcamino/schematics/gauges_cluster_3.jpg)

WELCOME Rich!

You've found the best Camino site and club - period! I've always wanted to know a rich king. :D

One of the great things about this Forum is the broad views, experiences, and opinions you can get - sometimes admittedly, whether you asked for them or not. Like mine for instance.

In my case, I found that after I added up the cost of all the components I would need to do the swap, it was in the range of other options. TPI has some attractive Quad guages that fit my application perfectly, and there are other digital options, etc.

Not trying to sway you, but you might as well be aware of your options. Again, welcome.

Take care.

Hey there, was in the same boat as you, and after picking up 2 different guage clusters and getting frustrated with the crappy connector / flexible wiring circuit on the back of the pods, I have decided to go with something like the TPI or dolphin guages, haven't decided which yet. Temporarily, I have yanked my pod and built my own temporary harness to attach the essential guages in the mean time....

Cut the existing crap connector off the harness, wired all those into 2 molex connectors.

I have 2 bus bars, one for 12 volts ignition controlled, one for ground tied into the respective wires on the molex.

Volt guage spliced into 1 on each side of that bar, remainder of guages attached one lead to 12 one lead to ground and the sender wire from the harness attached to their appropriate guage.

Right now that 4 guage plastic holder sits in my kragen special drink holder on the hump of my car...

A little redneckish, but it works until I get my real gauges and bezel done, and I no longer have to fight with flakey guages losing poser getting power ever time I hit a bump.

Of course other things I don't currently have are inside turn signals, brake light, seat belt, but who really needs those anyways...

I actually ran with no guages for a while till I ran out of gas, that was a bummer...

I sent you an email with some documents another ecc member sent to me that helped if nothing else for better understanding.