Electrical tech help needed

[Grumpa]

I have a 1980 LeMans ,it came with what I call idiot lights for the oil,amp,temp and fuel gauge cluster. A fellow G-body pal gave me a set of factory gauges and said they would plug and play as a easy swap. Has anyone done such a swap and if so have you hard any problems or had to make any alterations?

 

[79 USA 1]

I would recommend finding a wiring diagram to compare. Most changes are contained on the printed circuit board but, If you add a tachometer the lead and filter for it must be added. I'm doing a change on my 79 Monte Carlo at this time, My set up needs the 10 ohm wire to excite the alternator to charge and to remove a ground test from the ignition switch. (Will ground the volt gauge while starting) You also have to change out your sending units for the oil pressure and temperature.

 

[pagrunt]

My set up needs the 10 ohm wire to excite the alternator to charge and to remove a ground test from the ignition switch. (Will ground the volt gauge while starting)

When I converted my '81 Monte I never pulled/removed any wires, did ad for the tach & choke light. The volt gauge works off a key hot circuit that powers all the gauges (#39, pink). I still have the bulb test wire from the cluster to ignition switch & it did what I called a "test sweep" like what they do in most new cars. Even my alternator never had any issues with charging. Keep in mind results will vary depending on who did what before you got the car as not everyone should legally allowed to touch wires.