Converting base Firebird gauges to Trans Am rally gauges

[BlueBaron762x39]

How hard is it to do this swap?  Just replace the printed circuit on the back of the gauge housing and add the Trans Am tachometer and other gauges or does it require substantial rewiring and new sensors (temp, oil pressure, etc.) as well?

[b_hill_86]

Substantial wiring? No. Does require moving wires in the big plug that goes into the back of the cluster. Tach is wired separately. Fuel is in a different location from memory. Yes to swapping sensors to senders. Definitely doable. There used to be a sticky on this very thing that’s gone now but there are active members who could probably chime in with more first hand knowledge than me.

[Jack]

All of the above. And I created the write up and sticky.

I am willing to do it again and I've asked whomever has a print out or a pdf of the write up to forward to me (I have the pictures) but never got a reply. I know few people saved it or printed it as they reached out to me with specific questions and said that they have a printed copy.

[firebirdparts]

Hopefully somebody will respond to Jack.  I looked in the wayback machine today and I don't see anything.

The wiring for the volt and fuel gauge is consistent year to year, I would think.  The wiring on the cluster was revised each time they added a new warning light, so there are probably 4 versions of it.
 I don't recall if 1979, 80, and 81 are three different versions, but I think they are.  The gauges themselves don't care, but you have to have the printed circuit year match the appearance-of-the-plug year.  The early version is pre-seat belt warning.  The mid-70's version is with the seat belt warning.

*IF* you buy a Trans Am instrument panel harness, it's totally plug and play, but it's pretty hard to install that harness.

[firebirdparts]

I'll get us started.  I was just standing here next to an NOS 1978 shop manual so I took legible photos of that part of the manual:  Click to enlarge.



This is a common configuration.  The seat belt light appeared in 73 or 74 and this configuration was used at least until 1979.

[Jur5664]

I did the modification no gauge to Rally gauge on my Formula using jack's post. Works well. I dis a copy of the text and photos.
hopefully you can get the pdf , I put it here:
https://www.casimages.com/f/wXmWio8S4Wb

If not give me any email I will follow it.

 

[Jack]

Thank you very much, I'll send you my email.

[firebirdparts]

I'm going to go ahead and sticky this right now.

[one79firebirdguy]

Hi everyone, I'm one of those dreadful newbies probably asking repeated dumb questions and I apologize in advance if I do lol. I have a 1979 Firebird Esprit with the base dummy lights cluster gauge and doing the Trans Am gauge swap. Oh and I must add it has that lovely running 4.9l 301 V8 (non-turbo) that I know everyone loves lol. It is a side project and going slowly, working on it as I get time and money. I have purchased a used oem speedometer with tach cluster and also fuel and volts gauges.  I was able to download the "No gauge to gauge Firebird.pdf" and have read it. First let me say this is all new to me and I'm no electrical guy. One of my questions I have is, since I purchased the the tachometer wire harness from Firebird Central do I need to do any other wiring for the tach? Here is a link to the harness I purchased: https://www.firebirdcentral.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=WIR-2354 . I have already attached it to the distributor, ran it through the firewall and plugged into the fuse box. My hold up was finding this tutorial. I've been clueless as to how to re-pin the 16 pin cluster connector. I had downloaded the wire diagrams but it's just not that easy to figure out for me. So I'm very grateful for all the time and work put into this tutorial and for any help. I thank you very much!

[Wallington]

The tacho uses its own separate harness and is complete in pic. Black plugs onto tach rear, pink is the jumper cable off fuse box accessories and has offset pin on plastic so it only fits one only, from memory the IGN one, and has jumper plug off it for power windows etc if multiple plugs use it. The white plug clips onto the HEI where it says Tach.

Simple as that, can test with it wired up sitting on top of dash or cowl if wiring long enough prior to full install. Many original tachs no longer work so good to make sure before you get too far.

[one79firebirdguy]

The tacho uses its own separate harness and is complete in pic. Black plugs onto tach rear, pink is the jumper cable off fuse box accessories and has offset pin on plastic so it only fits one only, from memory the IGN one, and has jumper plug off it for power windows etc if multiple plugs use it. The white plug clips onto the HEI where it says Tach.

Simple as that, can test with it wired up sitting on top of dash or cowl if wiring long enough prior to full install. Many original tachs no longer work so good to make sure before you get too far.

Thanks so much!