Topic: In-dash guages

[tracker975]

Has anyone ever replaced their factory guages with aftermarket guages and utilized the factory openings.If so which size guages did you use..any pics would be great...thanks Joey

[Jeffy]

You will need five 2 1/16" gauges, and two 3 3/8" gauges.  You will also need to fabricate a bracket so the 2-1/16" gauges sit against the bezel.

[tracker975]

Thanks....I was thinking of buying a junkyard cluster and doing it to that one..If it comes out good I can just do a swap out and if it doesn't I am out a couple bucks...I already have the guages...I was actually thinking of moving my fuel guage and putting a trans temp guage in it's spot...Thanks for the help..Joey

[Jeffy]

You might also consider just replacing the whole dash and instrument panel with a flat piece of metal like a CJ.  This would give you a lot more options BUT you'll either have to keep the HVAC or figure out how to use the CJ style HVAC.  There is a guy who makes a panel that bolts onto where the plastic was but it looks kinda bad as it's surrounded by plastic.

If you have a pre-91 then you could replace the clock with a gauge.  If it's a post-90 then you could replace the 4WD indicator and replace it with a gauge.

[tracker975]

Hey Jeff thanks ....I have a 95 automatic and was gonna put a trans temp guage in the last spot....I did a search and found a direct bolt in dash that incorporates the radio and hvac switches...This was more of a..I have the gauges...I am out of work and bored...the cool factor of doing something no one else around here has was my main motivation...although my volt meter took a crap and I have one under the dash,oil guage sticks at times as does the fuel so I was gonna replace them with aftermarkets if feasible.If not the tapping method has been working fine....so far lol....Thanks Joey

[Jeffy]

Hey Jeff thanks ....I have a 95 automatic and was gonna put a trans temp guage in the last spot....I did a search and found a direct bolt in dash that incorporates the radio and hvac switches...This was more of a..I have the gauges...I am out of work and bored...the cool factor of doing something no one else around here has was my main motivation...although my volt meter took a crap and I have one under the dash,oil guage sticks at times as does the fuel so I was gonna replace them with aftermarkets if feasible.If not the tapping method has been working fine....so far lol....Thanks Joey

If you're fine with the YJ dash then you should keep it.  You just have to make a squarish bracket to mount the gauges so they sit against the bezel.

[TrailsLessTaken]

I replaced mine with Autometer's.  On quadratec they have replacement dash panels that fit the gauges.  These are the ones I bought which are black and it looks like they are now offering a spice color also

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12500_220.htm
http://www.quadratec.com/products/12500_222.htm

[TrailsLessTaken]

Just kidding that spice one is only a factory replacement

[tracker975]

WOW that looks awesome...just incredible...what did you do just swap out the factory sending units for the ones that came with the guages...I don't believe the factory sending units can be used......can they....thanks..joey

[tracker975]

I was reading other threads on this...can the factory wiring be used to run new gauges..if so I will buy the dash from quad and just swap them out...that would be easy enough even for a guy with chimplike skills such as myself....Joey

[TrailsLessTaken]

Autometer gives you new sending units with the guages, they are the same ones the factory uses, nothing special there.  For the power and lights to the gauges, you can see in the second picture how i just ran everything to the first gauge and then just connected it to the next gauge in line instead of having 5 sets of power, ground and light wires.  On wiring up the gauges you can use the wiring for the factory sending units, lights, and I think there was a power and ground in there also.  If this is something you are considering I can pull mine off and take some better pictures of how its all wired up for you

[tracker975]

Yes I definitely am considering it....Thats how I hooked up gauges in the past,ran all power and grounds together...I was wondering if factory wiring was a feasible option...I am glad it is..I hate bundles of useless wires lol....I am gonna order the new dash next week and see what gauges i need..I have some but some are toast..my temp gauge is cracked so that is gonna be new and I need the fuel gauge....I have oil..volts and trans temp...pics would definitely help....most of the work I have done has been on older cars..I have a 31 plymouth and a 51 ford...they aren't great but they run and look good..I never really got into anything past 1990....so as you can tell I am a question asker lol......thanks Joey

[Torch_Ind]

where did you get this jeffy or do you have to make it?

[TrailsLessTaken]

Yes I definitely am considering it....Thats how I hooked up gauges in the past,ran all power and grounds together...I was wondering if factory wiring was a feasible option...I am glad it is..I hate bundles of useless wires lol....I am gonna order the new dash next week and see what gauges i need..I have some but some are toast..my temp gauge is cracked so that is gonna be new and I need the fuel gauge....I have oil..volts and trans temp...pics would definitely help....most of the work I have done has been on older cars..I have a 31 plymouth and a 51 ford...they aren't great but they run and look good..I never really got into anything past 1990....so as you can tell I am a question asker lol......thanks Joey

Just let me know what questions or pictures you need and I will try to help you out

[sharpxmen]

i used a reclaimed connector off a damaged gauge cluster to connect these, the only 2 extra wires were the ones for the O2 sensor (sensor ground and signal)