So I have been looking through the forum here for gauge information and have become a little confused. Currently in my '80 Malibu I have the sweep speedometer and blank clock space.
1. I know I can swap out the sweep speedo for the more popular round gauges. Will any year (78-87) Elco, Monte, Malibu gauges fit in my dash? Will I need both the gauge cluster and the dash housing that surrounds it? I'll mainly be looking online for parts. There are not many junkyards in my area and the ones that are here have mostly late model stuff.
2. If the Monte SS cluster and plastic surround will fit in my Malibu dash, how do the vents, wiper and headlight switches mount into it?
3. I know one of the forum members (bigblownblock?) makes a blank insert for aftermarket gauges to replace the sweep speedometer. If I go this route and use aftermarket gauges, do you just bypass the factory wiring and run new wires to the new gauges or try to reuse some of the factory harness?
4. How do the factory rally gauges stack up against aftermarket gauges for accuracy, visability, ect... Should I just skip the factory rally gauges and go full aftermarket?
Sorry for all the questions, but my factory sweep speedo works sometime and sometimes it doesn't and it is very annoying. Even when it does work, it is far from accurate. In addition, an aftermarket tach has been screwed into the side of the dash and a cheap set up amp, oil pressure, and temp gauges were screwed under the dash. Everything has different colored lights that are different brightness.........it is quite distracting and confusing at night!
Thanks in advance!
1. I know I can swap out the sweep speedo for the more popular round gauges. Will any year (78-87) Elco, Monte, Malibu gauges fit in my dash? Will I need both the gauge cluster and the dash housing that surrounds it? I'll mainly be looking online for parts. There are not many junkyards in my area and the ones that are here have mostly late model stuff.
2. If the Monte SS cluster and plastic surround will fit in my Malibu dash, how do the vents, wiper and headlight switches mount into it?
3. I know one of the forum members (bigblownblock?) makes a blank insert for aftermarket gauges to replace the sweep speedometer. If I go this route and use aftermarket gauges, do you just bypass the factory wiring and run new wires to the new gauges or try to reuse some of the factory harness?
4. How do the factory rally gauges stack up against aftermarket gauges for accuracy, visability, ect... Should I just skip the factory rally gauges and go full aftermarket?
Sorry for all the questions, but my factory sweep speedo works sometime and sometimes it doesn't and it is very annoying. Even when it does work, it is far from accurate. In addition, an aftermarket tach has been screwed into the side of the dash and a cheap set up amp, oil pressure, and temp gauges were screwed under the dash. Everything has different colored lights that are different brightness.........it is quite distracting and confusing at night!
Thanks in advance!