I just bought an 84 (Choo Choo) Elky SS.
It has no tach, temp, oil pressure, or temp guages.
Just wondering if I was able to get my hands on a guage pod would I have to re-wire the dash, or are the wires already there?
any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated...

THe wires are the same, but you'll need to change the sending units for each gauge. Thier different from lights to gauges.

would I have to re-wire the dash, or are the wires already there?

I looked at the 84 El Camino schematics and it appears that all of the wiring for gauges are there. I say that with a little bit of hesitation because the lines on the schematic for the tachometer, oil pressure, engine temp, and voltmeter are drawn as dotted lines rather than solid lines. I don't think GM would have had two different dash harnesses, one for gauges and one for idiot lights.

Your best bet would be to get a schematic and crawl under the dash. You can see the gauge pod connector from underneath. Compare the wire colors to see if everything you need is there. If you need the schematic I can scan it.

My 87 came with gauges and no tachometer. When I installed a MCSS tachometer I found that the dash harness was already prewired for it. :D

:mrgreen:

A CHOO CHOO without gauges and tach...sure its not a clone?

I looked at the 84 El Camino schematics and it appears that all of the wiring for gauges are there. I say that with a little bit of hesitation because the lines on the schematic for the tachometer, oil pressure, engine temp, and voltmeter are drawn as dotted lines rather than solid lines.

Well, I now have it from a very reliable source that the dash harness is different for a idiot light cluster versus a gauge cluster. You'll have to add the wires for the gauges and tachometer.

:mrgreen:

Actually, the wiring is the same. The circuit boards are different. You can swap a Rally Pack gauge pod from another vehicle in to yours as long as you use the circuit board that comes with it...all you will have left to do is add one wire for your tach signal and change your oil and temperature sending units for gauge type.
Lookie here for diagrams etc. (http://elcaminocentral.com/files/gauges/)

acauth1 Is correct, if your lucky enough to find a complete unmolested pod in a boneyard, make sure you get all that you'll need, including the circuit board, be careful taking it out, you don't want to crack the housing. Surgical precision is necessary here. I found out the hardway, found a wrecked Elky with gauges, I didn't know about the circuit board and just went for the gauges. Destroyed the housing and threw away the circuit board getting those gauges out. When I got it home I realized the mistake I had made by doing that. What a waste. If you can't find one in a boneyard, you can usually find a complete pod on ebay, just make sure it is complete with the circuit board.

OK.... Lemme make sure I got this straight.... I don't need a Wiring harness to put a tach and gage pod in my '82 ? Just the gauges, and Printed Circuit and a couple of splices ? Wow, that would be great ; I thought I needed the donor's wiring harness, and that would be too much a PITA to hassle with... I just bought an AutoMeter 2300 ( 3 3/4 inch) to slip in the dash, but aint got it yet....

If I can swap in a new PCB and factory gauges, and Not ahve to hassle w/the wiring harness, I'll definatley go that route. I've got a pretty good boneyard close, so I'm sure I can find a pod donor.


Oh yea, one more thing... I've got an MSD 6 electronic ignition.... Will the factory tach hook up to that ( anyway) , or am I back to the Autometer?

thanks for All the Help!,
jeff

Although the Autometer tach is much more acurate then the stock tach, your gonna have problems installing the Autometer tach in place of the stock tach, the Autometer needs a deeper space to mount than the stock tach. Consequently using the stock gauges with a aftermarket tach will take extensive modifcations to the gauge pod, it can be done but your kinda forced to either go all factory gauges (with factory tach) or all aftermarket gauges with a modified dash pod, unless of course you install the Autometer tach in another location (the factory tach is more or less for looks anyway). acauth1 has a nice custom set-up in his Elky and I've seen other likewise nice custom gauge setups. There are also some digital dash setups that look good but can run some bucks if someone builds it for you. I chose just to stay with the factory gauge setup, at least for now. My Elky has the factory gauge/tach setup with the clock built into the tach, but I installed a digital radio out of a 95 Trans Am, and now I have a dash with two clocks. Theres alot of possibilites, the deeper you dig the more ideas your gonna come up with. The 5th Gen Elky truly is a fantastic vehicle to customize, your only limited to your ideas and of course your wallet. Until about a year and a half ago, I didn't know jack$#!+ about them and hadn't even considered buying one, now there's two in our family. Even my wife thinks they're nice (she uses it to go looking for those antique pieces) Well I'm rambling. Good Luck and have fun with yours. Keep it, Love it, make it a member of your family and turn it into a tax write off! :lol: Oh yeah the MSD and factory tach will work together.

This is what I Was going for (until I changed directions) : http://jeffd.50megs.com/tach_pictures.htm . But again, if I can get a factory tach to work w/out a new wiring harness ( just tach,PCB and splicing) .... I'm all over that. I'm gald to hear it'll work w/my MSD. thanks.

Another question: What do 'we' mean when we say 'the AutoMeter will be more accurate than the factory"?

and, again, still looking for clarification that I won't need a new a harness ( I NOW don't Think I do, but w/my luck... I hurt myself in the junkyard, tear up my dash again, sell my autometer, Then find out I need a new harness!) :o

thanks again, guys,
jeff
orlando

You don't need the harness.

Looks like one was just listed on Ebay 21Apr03. Looks like it's in very good shape.

It seems that the new pod issue has a great answer for an 82 I believe.. Can anyone speak to whether the same holds true for a 1977? I am about to begin that project and would appreciate any suggestions. Admittedly, I am a clone.... GMC Sprint that is....