65/66 GT gauge cluster question

65nProgress · Sep 27, 2005

How hard is it to retro fit a 65/66 GT gauge cluster into a car with the sweeping style cluster? I know you have to notch the dash but what about the connections to the instruments? Are they the same? Im not worried about having to cut the dash because the previous owner at some point put a junky 8 track in it and cut the dash already.

Thanks for any info!

4MuscleMachines · Sep 27, 2005

I too would like to know. I bought a GT gauge cluster from Ebay with instructions on how to connect from Mustang Masters. Problem is, they never sent it so I never got the instructions. I was told it was a simple hookup but no details.

Tim65GT · Sep 27, 2005

The temperature and oil pressure sending units would have to be swapped out also.

The indicator lights just require a switch to turn them on. Gauges require Variable resistor sending units to move the gauge needles.

If you want the Amp gauge to work (hard to imagine finding a working one) there is some wire harness hacking involved with one of the main power wires under the dash and in the engine compartment.

I swapped my GT panel out for a custom VDO setup with Tach. My amp gauge was toast and the speedo was also broken.

There may be other issues involved...anyone else care to input?

4MuscleMachines · Sep 28, 2005

Who makes the custom panel? JME?

HistoricMustang · Sep 28, 2005

Do not want to side track the thread but has anyone put in the Dakota Digital set up and if so what are the goods and bads of this cluster?

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

steel1212 · Sep 28, 2005

I got the 66 gauge cluster and it ended up being more pain that it was worth for me. I kept blowing the constant voltage regulator. So I bought one of the gauge supports thats bolts up behind it and put autometers in...everything is fine now...except that darn fuel gauge!

65nProgress · Sep 28, 2005

Steel1212: Which gauge support did you buy that supports the autometers?

red65 · Sep 28, 2005

HistoricMustang said:
Do not want to side track the thread but has anyone put in the Dakota Digital set up and if so what are the goods and bads of this cluster?

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

Hi Historic -- I put the Dakota Digital dash in my '65. I wasn't sure initially if I'd like it - kind of futuristic looking for a not-futuristic interior. It turns out that I really like it - both for style and function. It works well, all of the senders were included in the kit and were of reasonably high quality, and the digital dash itself fits and functions well. I like it because I was able to package all of the conventional gauges into the limited space afforded by the '65's dash - tach, speedo, oil pres, engine temp, fuel level and voltage - in addition to a 'check engine' light for my EFI computer (not an issue with you, I know...). In addition, I chucked the clumsy speedo cable and went electronic with a speed sensor plugged into my T-5. The only problem I've had is that the tach's bar-graph display doesn't quite line up with the numbers - it reads a little high due to slight misalignment between the led bars and the numbers printed on the glass. However, simply pushing a button gives a numerical tach display in place of the odometer, which works better anyway. It gets my endorsement, fwiw...

steel1212 · Sep 28, 2005

I'm pretty sure I got it out of NPD's cataloge. It just goes right behind the plastic besel and you put the gauge in it. It works really well and was only like 30 bucks I think. The gauges cost about 300 though.

65nProgress · Sep 28, 2005

I just looked up all of the Autometer Phantom gauges and through summit they would be $243 plus shipping. This includes the mechanical speedometer, fuel, voltage, water temp, and oil pressure. The electric speedo would increase it to $419 with the sender for the speedo. I'll probably stick to mechanical.

steel1212 · Sep 28, 2005

Yeah, I got the electrical speedo and auto lite gauges.

HistoricMustang · Sep 28, 2005

red65 said:
Hi Historic -- I put the Dakota Digital dash in my '65. I wasn't sure initially if I'd like it - kind of futuristic looking for a not-futuristic interior. It turns out that I really like it - both for style and function. It works well, all of the senders were included in the kit and were of reasonably high quality, and the digital dash itself fits and functions well. I like it because I was able to package all of the conventional gauges into the limited space afforded by the '65's dash - tach, speedo, oil pres, engine temp, fuel level and voltage - in addition to a 'check engine' light for my EFI computer (not an issue with you, I know...). In addition, I chucked the clumsy speedo cable and went electronic with a speed sensor plugged into my T-5. The only problem I've had is that the tach's bar-graph display doesn't quite line up with the numbers - it reads a little high due to slight misalignment between the led bars and the numbers printed on the glass. However, simply pushing a button gives a numerical tach display in place of the odometer, which works better anyway. It gets my endorsement, fwiw...

Thanks!

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

Tim65GT · Sep 28, 2005

Here is a panel I like:

View attachment 502559

Here is a thread that discusses panels:

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=554308

4MuscleMachines · Sep 28, 2005

I purchased one of those off eBay. I returned it . It is not a very good choice. It is very thin and flimsy plastic. Buy the repro GT gauge bezel and one of those vac formed supports and your gauge kit and it will look nice.

Tim65GT · Sep 28, 2005

Yeah, but the idea was to have a tach...

65/66 GT gauge cluster question

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