Ditching Factory Gauges And Installing Aftermarket???
09-03-2008, 01:46 PM
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Ditching Factory Gauges And Installing Aftermarket??? Well to say the least I'm getting a little fed up with the stock gauges that read way off, especially the tach which is off by 1000 rpms sometimes. So I have been debating about ordering a gauge cluster off of ebay and modifying it to hold some good Autometer gauges.
I have done a job like this already, but it was on a carberauted vehicle so it was alot less to worry about. I'd like to keep the SES light, but have it on just a yellow warning light so something of the sort.
I guess my main question is can it really be done without hacking the wiring harness completely apart or screwing with the computer. Also if you have done this already please post some pics.
BTW I'm thinking of going with the Cobalt or C2 gauges, but I have always been a fan of the Carbon series and Ultralite too
Thanks in advance
I have done a job like this already, but it was on a carberauted vehicle so it was alot less to worry about. I'd like to keep the SES light, but have it on just a yellow warning light so something of the sort.
I guess my main question is can it really be done without hacking the wiring harness completely apart or screwing with the computer. Also if you have done this already please post some pics.
BTW I'm thinking of going with the Cobalt or C2 gauges, but I have always been a fan of the Carbon series and Ultralite too
Thanks in advance
09-03-2008, 09:41 PM
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theres a guy that sells a premade cluster ls1 cars(without gauges). and your going to have to tap into the factory wiring harness but it could be done without screwing up the ecu.
09-03-2008, 10:19 PM
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It was fairly easy to wire up once I figured out the fuel level sender problem. Everything went smoothly then. Wiring them won't mess with the ECU. I used all Autometer Cobalts.
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09-04-2008, 02:44 AM
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Yeah I know it can get expensive fast, but I don't want to add and aftermarket tack, oil pressure, and water tem gauge and still have the stockers there too with other gauges throughout the interior when I could buy a fuel gauge and speedo and have the whole set in the stock location like the pic above.
The thing that really pisses me off is when I do a pull and my car goes off the rev limiter at 7K and my tach is reading between 5500 and 6000 RPMs. That and the water temp gauge isn't exactly right either and neither is the oil pressure LOL.
So is there a way to keep the SES light and still use all aftermarket gauges? And Hamrhead do you have any pics of the cobalts at night? I'm really leaning towards the C2s, but those things are F'in bright at night. My buddy has them in his civic and you can deffinately see them LOL
The thing that really pisses me off is when I do a pull and my car goes off the rev limiter at 7K and my tach is reading between 5500 and 6000 RPMs. That and the water temp gauge isn't exactly right either and neither is the oil pressure LOL.
So is there a way to keep the SES light and still use all aftermarket gauges? And Hamrhead do you have any pics of the cobalts at night? I'm really leaning towards the C2s, but those things are F'in bright at night. My buddy has them in his civic and you can deffinately see them LOL
09-04-2008, 09:19 AM
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most ls1 cars have a dummy gage for the water temp. They'll tell you the car is warm or if it's over heating. Who hasn't had a 4th gen f-body that has a retarded fuel gauge that never reads correctly? All three that I have owned have had this problem. Only with the LS1 have I had the "mentally challenged tach."
Those who are worried aboot your odometer, you ecu still clocks all thsoe miles, you throw your cluster back in there and there is a way to flash it so that it shows the correct mileage.
Those who are worried aboot your odometer, you ecu still clocks all thsoe miles, you throw your cluster back in there and there is a way to flash it so that it shows the correct mileage.
09-04-2008, 01:32 PM
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I believe it is that guy that posted above that had many pics of it, including some with the gauges lit up at night with red leds....it looks killer!
09-04-2008, 07:23 PM
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Here is some more pics. Just use an ABS sheet to make the backing. Use the old gauges as a template and a little creativity. Wiring in any warning lights with an LED shouldn't be to hard either. Not sure on what to tap into for that though as I ditched the factory ECU for BS3. Wiring the gauges directly is still the same though.
Not the best pics but you get the idea.
Not the best pics but you get the idea.
09-04-2008, 08:31 PM
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Check this one out,,,,,,all digital, just scroll down the thread...
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...ght=gauges+red
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...ght=gauges+red