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C5 cluster in an Fbody

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Old 11-06-2011, 09:10 PM
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Default C5 cluster in an Fbody

So I have to say that the C5 cluster and speedometer is probably one of my favorite looking ones out there. I know a lot of people put Corvette wheels on their car...has anyone put the C5 cluster gauge display in their car? If so, have any pictures??
Old 11-06-2011, 09:11 PM
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wont work........the cluster wont work on an fbody computer
Old 11-06-2011, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Floorman279
wont work........the cluster wont work on an fbody computer
How about an aftermarket company who makes a gauge for Fbody's that looks like a C5?
Old 11-06-2011, 10:12 PM
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Waiting for 6LE to chime in... lol

You haven't been looking around enough, they're kinda attention ****** about stuff like that =P

Tons of great stuff, 6litereaterdesigns.com I believe.
Old 11-06-2011, 10:30 PM
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Just put the whole dash in if you want the cluster so bad. If a Honda Civic can do it, surely you can put one in your car too.

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Old 11-07-2011, 02:50 PM
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The steering column location and the cluster bezel prevents the use of a C5 cluster in an F-body. A late model C4 cluster (91-92) has a chance of working, but people want stupid amounts of money for even BROKEN ones. Been trying to find one for years and everybody wants an arm and a leg for a god damned gauge cluster.

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Old 11-07-2011, 04:03 PM
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I have seen some pretty sweet ones that people made.honest it would be cheaper to make something than to try and make that idea work
Old 11-07-2011, 07:10 PM
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technically i think if you could make it fit it would work. The pinout may be a little diffrent but thats as simple as some wiring and having the right pigtail and connector. Theoretically if you wanted to take the time to physically fit it and wire it all you could make it work. Just finding one with the right mileage lol.
Old 11-07-2011, 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by maxplusten
technically i think if you could make it fit it would work. The pinout may be a little diffrent but thats as simple as some wiring and having the right pigtail and connector. Theoretically if you wanted to take the time to physically fit it and wire it all you could make it work. Just finding one with the right mileage lol.
As you said, the biggest problem is with fitment. The F-body clusters have a notch in them to allow for the steering column. The C5 clusters (and nearly all other GM clusters) do not have this notch to allow for the steering column. Interestingly enough, the C4 Corvette clusters have this notch, and the overall shape of the 91-92 (ish) C4 clusters is very close to the shape of the F-body clusters.

I've spent multiple days researching OEM cluster swaps into an F-body.
Old 11-10-2011, 03:14 PM
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not worth the trouble
Old 11-10-2011, 09:35 PM
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what he said lol, get the 6le overlays and bezels and youll have the same look for alot less hassle. Source: a satisfied 6le customer
Old 11-10-2011, 09:38 PM
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I started removing the cluster in the z06 to fix it, it got so hard i left it as it is and got ripped of at the dealership! Just advise to everyone out there! But if you can get it out, all you have to do is solder the points to whatever is messed up.
Old 11-10-2011, 10:18 PM
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For years I've been looking at the best and cheapest way. I did get my hands on a C5 cluster, some RX8s and though I tried almost everything. Most important was NOT to look like a hack job. I did spend a few 100 bucks to get it here but overall its one of the best/easy ways....
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Old 11-11-2011, 07:03 AM
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what needles are those Ryan?
Old 11-11-2011, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by RyanSws6
For years I've been looking at the best and cheapest way. I did get my hands on a C5 cluster, some RX8s and though I tried almost everything. Most important was NOT to look like a hack job. I did spend a few 100 bucks to get it here but overall its one of the best/easy ways....
How'd you make the bezel[s]? Autometer gauges?
Old 11-11-2011, 11:14 AM
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The bezel and trim rings are all C5, the needles are RX8. Problem with the C5 is the gauges don't light up like ours, they have a black light set up so they light up from the front. At the time no one had black LEDs and for some reason the C5 black lights wouldn't work for me. I also wanted to use the C5 needles but same problem there, they light from the front and the needles are too short. Also the c5 guages don't have the same ratio as the fbod. The fbod are like 160 degrees and the C5 is about 120 degrees. This means for example the fuel gauge on our fbods read much wider from F-E. So this is really the best way/easy way to get the C5 look with using the OE fbod cluster...My goal was to get a 200mph cluster but had to settle for this.

Zex, as you see it's all OE, no aftermarket gauges...
Old 11-11-2011, 01:38 PM
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looks good Ryan. looks cool
Old 11-11-2011, 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by RyanSws6
Zex, as you see it's all OE, no aftermarket gauges...
Yeah, by Autometer I meant simply the bezels.
Old 11-11-2011, 02:05 PM
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Nope that part IS the C5. I cut out the C5 bezel and cut out the glass on the OE TA cluster and shapped it onto the OE TA bezel. Then shot it all in flat black and added the C5 trim rings to make it pop.

I wish there was a way to cutup the P board behind the cluster and make it fit right into the C5 set up but WAY too much work.

Now that there are black LEDs I may make another version on my SS with the black lights. I have these real nice LED pockets from the RX8 cluster that I can fit in front of the cluster. Still though idea is down on the priority list of mods.



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