Figured it might be year based. My '89 K5 has orange needles but the early 80's had yellow or white IIRC..... Same kind of song and dance. If I find a set of white needles I will just paint the needles orange. I restored the gauge cluster in my K5... Fun fun.
Hood Tach - Anyone?
- Thread starter FL85GrandPrix
- Start date
- Status
My '83 GP had these exact white on white gauges, except I had an analog clock instead of a tach. That's how it came from GM when I factory ordered the car in August 1982. (Yes, I've had the car since then! 🙂 ) I still have both clusters if anyone is interested. They are in very good shape -- the odometer reads around 170K km. I can send pictures if interested -- PM me).
I have customized my dash and inserted Autometer gauges in place of the originals and also added a small pod for additional gauges.
I have the silver faced gauges installed in my Lemans and they really look nice. I find they match well with the rest of the chrome trim in the dash facia. I have the clock instead of the tach and i plan to buy a hood tach over the winter. There are 2 styles of factory hood tach. mid to late sixties was kind of a rounded shape like the Dixco but the early 70's model was a little lower and more square. That's the style I want since the Lemans is quite boxy and I like the details which show the Pontiac heritage.
Learning something everyday on this forum. Now there were two versions of the Pontiac hood tach...
IF i do a hood tach, the 2nd low-profile version is the ticket. I will keep my eye out for a instrument panel with a tach.... but when all else fails by next year when the motor is in.... hood tach it.
I have a friend with the hood tach on his '85 GP. He has a 455 and the tach works with the HEI. I think it is an aftermarket or modified unit because the points fired originals used on GTO's and Firebirds will not work with HEI. I believe restoration companies like Classic Industries offer the hood tachs that work with HEI. He painted the tach and hood together and it really does look cool. But as cool as that is, the dash tach/gauge package is super easy to come across and is the least amount of work. Plus you get oil, volts, temps, and rpm's right in front of you. I liked having the stock gauge package but after getting the silver faced '78 only models I would not go back unless I really had to. I combined them with the also rare silver dash bezel used on some '79-'80 GP's for a different look. Both are rare and expensive but are worth searching for. The outside tach is also an invitation for vandals.
Last edited:
- Status
Similar threads
