Gauge confusion

Macrisel

Weekend Racer
Nov 11, 2016
52
0
0
Southeast Missouri
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!
 

TURNA

MalibuRacing Junkie
Jul 6, 2003
6,028
1
38
Socialist NY
82 and up the wiper switch is on the column so you would have to cut a hole in the dash panel.
The only factory/rally gauge I trust is the Fuel level. And that is after you get to know the car.

Here is some info that will help you.. Gauge Conversion
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Macrisel

Weekend Racer
Thread starter
Nov 11, 2016
52
0
0
Southeast Missouri
So in your opinion you would go straight to aftermarket gauges and not bother with the factory rally gauges? Are the factory gauges not very accurate, hard to read, or just known to have problems?
 

TURNA

MalibuRacing Junkie
Jul 6, 2003
6,028
1
38
Socialist NY
Depends on what you are building. If your building a hot rod I would go aftermarket.
If you building a sleeper type all original looking car then I would go with the stock gauges.

I wish I would have did all aftermarket gauges when I put mine together. But I wanted it to look as stock as possible.
Wound up putting in a pillar gauge setup.


 

Macrisel

Weekend Racer
Thread starter
Nov 11, 2016
52
0
0
Southeast Missouri
I'm basically just building a nice driver for the family. I'm not too concerned with appearing stock. I just want to keep an eye on things under the hood without going broke. The Custom Dash insert with Autometer gauges are nice, but I'm not forking over $1000. I like the Dakota Digital VFX dash, but it is still a little high for my tastes and I read on their website that it would not fit in a sweep speedometer cluster.....

Nice setup in your car!
 

TURNA

MalibuRacing Junkie
Jul 6, 2003
6,028
1
38
Socialist NY
fix what u have and use the gauge pillar you will be happy with it and it will keep the cost down

thanks
 

Likearock3

Member
Jan 1, 2017
9
0
0
I am in the process of doing the same thing as Macrisel. TURNA, I'm hoping you can give me some advise also. I have a 78 Malibu, it is in excellent condition, came from Florida and is completely rust free. It has the original sweep speedo and I want to put the round gauges in it. I see I will need the entire housing along with all of the guages. I have some from a Monte SS but it had a column wiper switch and mine has a dash switch. TURNA, do you know if there is enough room behind the dash bezel to house the wiper switch if I cut a hole in it to still be able to get the wiring attached to the switch? It looks like it will be very tight. Would you recommend I get gauges out of another chevy g body instead of trying to modify this? I'm wanting to keep it as stock appearing as possible, I'm pretty fussy about this type of thing. TURNA your car is incredible, very nice job on everything you've done with it! I'd love to see your engine bay. I'm in western new york, where are you?
 

HP JUNKEY

Dragway Regular
Oct 30, 2008
1,093
1
36
Buffalo.NY
Likearock3 said:
I am in the process of doing the same thing as Macrisel. TURNA, I'm hoping you can give me some advise also. I have a 78 Malibu, it is in excellent condition, came from Florida and is completely rust free. It has the original sweep speedo and I want to put the round gauges in it. I see I will need the entire housing along with all of the guages. I have some from a Monte SS but it had a column wiper switch and mine has a dash switch. TURNA, do you know if there is enough room behind the dash bezel to house the wiper switch if I cut a hole in it to still be able to get the wiring attached to the switch? It looks like it will be very tight. Would you recommend I get gauges out of another chevy g body instead of trying to modify this? I'm wanting to keep it as stock appearing as possible, I'm pretty fussy about this type of thing. TURNA your car is incredible, very nice job on everything you've done with it! I'd love to see your engine bay. I'm in western new york, where are you?

Not to highjack, I see its your 1st post welcome_sign.gif :lol: ,,Where in Western New York are you? Im by the Airport...
 

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