Re-installing OEM gauge cluster

[jp_waltz]

Ive been looking around and have seen a lot of info about going from OEM to aftermarket gauges but I need to go the other way. I recently bought a 1970 40 and it came with an oem gauge cluster in a box(not sure what year its from). The gauges that are in it work but they look horrible. Im not very savvy with the electrical aspect of these rigs so I am looking for a little guidance. The PO had the rig re-wired(maybe painless?) and it looks like a rats nest behind the gauges that are in it now. The oem cluster that came with it didnt come with one of those circular plugs either. Do I need one? It also has a mechanical oil pressure gauge but it has a new electrical oil pressure sending unit in the box as well. Is this pretty doable for a novice? Thanks a ton for any and all help that you can offer.
Paul

 

[jp_waltz]

A few pictures. As it turns out the brake lights dont work. There is a place in the fuse box for a "stop" fuse but im not sure what kind of fuse goes there.

 

[DSRTRDR]

looks like an older Painless-style fuse block

 

[PixelWrangler]

A few pictures. As it turns out the brake lights dont work. There is a place in the fuse box for a "stop" fuse but im not sure what kind of fuse goes there.

I could be wrong, but isn't the stop light fuse the yellow 20 AMP directly above the label? All of the fuses appear to have their labels below the fuse, with the exception of the coil which has an arrow pointing down. Maybe pull the yellow 20 AMP fuse and see if it's blown.

 

[jp_waltz]

I could be wrong, but isn't the stop light fuse the yellow 20 AMP directly above the label? All of the fuses appear to have their labels below the fuse, with the exception of the coil which has an arrow pointing down. Maybe pull the yellow 20 AMP fuse and see if it's blown.

Yeah I think you're right. I'll check that fuse first.
Thanks

 

[TROOPERIIandFJ]

Next step would be to check your grounds for corrosion or rust. You might also want to hit your connectors and plugs with contact cleaner. There have been many times I thought dash lights were dead only to find that a blast of contact cleaner on the connections revive them.

 

[jp_waltz]

anyone have an install write-up for a factory dash cluster?

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

I'll start a new thread and describe what I did today to rewire an OEM instrument cluster.

 

[jp_waltz]

Perfect....Thanks

 

[jp_waltz]

Next step would be to check your grounds for corrosion or rust. You might also want to hit your connectors and plugs with contact cleaner. There have been many times I thought dash lights were dead only to find that a blast of contact cleaner on the connections revive them.

Actually got the brake lights to work today.(well...one of them) I cased the wires from behind the dash to the back and found that the PO had run two wires then spliced them into one light. The connection was shaky at best so I tightened it up. I then tried to run a jumper over to the other light so I had both working but had some problems. After hooking them up none of my rear lights worked(tail or brake) so I put it back to the way it was with one light. After I did that I realized that there were some loose wires back on the other side that may have been the reason for my lights not working. Anyway, its all good now but with only one brake light, which, i guess is better than none. Maybe Ill try again tomorrow.
Thanks for the help
Paul