I have be nuts more than ever

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

I decided today to remove the instrument cluster from my 1984 El Camino . I took pictures of each step for your view pleasure . I am not sure they are in order  since I am still trying to figure Windows 10 . The goal of the removal was to find the item number of the printed circuit , so a new one could be ordered . Don't laugh to hard Skunky @squonk  and @DougC . It a long 2 hour battle with metric and standard screws. Has anyone used a plastic welding do hickey from HF ? Yes there are breaks and cracks in the 36 year plastic.

[squonk 41,020]

Ahh yes. Those old gauge spring contact whoobie-doobies!

Edited March 31, 2020 by squonk

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

And the question is how do you remove the doobies ???? Pry  them out carefully ??? I pulled a cluster from an 85 Monte Carlo  SS which was a lot easier and there is a big difference between the two. Both the 84 and 85 use the same printed circuit . 

[squonk 41,020]

Yup get a crowbar and go to town!  Trying to remember 40 years back but I think you work them so the flat parts are against the plastic and then sort of rock them out. 

 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

Have you used one of those  Plastic welders from HF , I am sure I need one or something like it.

Edited March 31, 2020 by elcamino/wheelhorse

[Stepney 2,325]

Depending what your trying to do, the way I was taught to do plastic welding on antique snowmobiles, was to use a pointed solder gun. Something real hot but controllable. We would use a 'sacrificial' piece of the same plastic that couldnt be seen easily. V notch it out with a file, and remelt and add in the plastic .. like TIG welding, almost a little easier on the eyes..

Sounds nuts, but it has never failed ..

And I own an '85 F150 with a plastic fantastic dash .. i can speak to that.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

@elcamino/wheelhorse try these guys... https://www.dixierestorationdepot.com/Product/Detail.aspx?s=DM00043 25016702.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

@WVHillbilly520H That is where some of the parts came from . Can't find NOS  or good used stock .  Took about  a month and 1/2  to gather parts mainly due to costs.  The 4  small gauges over $50.00 each with shipping. The new circuit for the TACH was $50.00 , plus new wire with condenser  to TACH  was $55.00 , bulbs was $65.00  and 14 bulb holders was about $40.00 . Going to use same old speedo. The printed circuit  for the cluster was about $140.00   Hope the wife does not read this.Ha Ha 

 

You think  520 wiring is a pain,  the El Camino is a whole worst.

[ZXT 2,401]

56 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

@WVHillbilly520H That is where some of the parts came from . Can't find NOS  or good used stock .  Took about  a month and 1/2  to gather parts mainly due to costs.  The 4  small gauges over $50.00 each with shipping. The new circuit for the TACH was $50.00 , plus new wire with condenser  to TACH  was $55.00 , bulbs was $65.00  and 14 bulb holders was about $40.00 . Going to use same old speedo. The printed circuit  for the cluster was about $140.00   Hope the wife does not read this.Ha Ha 

 

You think  520 wiring is a pain,  the El Camino is a whole worst.

Man, that adds up quick! Were they all bad or are you just changing them since you're in there?

 

Before I put $560+ into a stock instrument cover, as ugly as they are, I'd have to go for this $20 fix 

[Pullstart 62,784]

Jim.  46990 miles, or has it rolled over?  

[squonk 41,020]

5 hours ago, pullstart said:

Jim.  46990 miles, or has it rolled over?  

Jim has rolled over 6 times. Once just trying to find a place to eat! 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

6 hours ago, ZXT said:

 

, as ugly as they are, 

 

Easy there I have a G body as well .

 

7 hours ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

 

You think  520 wiring is a pain,  the El Camino is a whole worst.

I never really complained about the 520 wiring unless some other buffoon was in there before... Funny thing is my car is older (1978) and been spliced on a few times before I bought it plus sits way more and the all my gauge still work must be that southern exposure. This may have been easier https://www.dixierestorationdepot.com/Product/Detail.aspx?s=DM01534 SILBLUE ...

[ZXT 2,401]

3 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

Easy there I have a G body as well .

I was talking about the 3 accessory gauges that I posted a picture to.

 

I've owned one of them as well.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

My ugly...

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

13 hours ago, ZXT said:

Man, that adds up quick! Were they all bad or are you just changing them since you're in there?

 

Before I put $560+ into a stock instrument cover, as ugly as they are, I'd have to go for this $20 fix 

The gas gauge was iffy and the tach was acting crazy , some of the bulbs were blown. Figured if I was going to tear apart to replace bulb might as well replace all of them. 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

13 hours ago, pullstart said:

Jim.  46990 miles, or has it rolled over?  

146990 on the speedo

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

6 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

Easy there I have a G body as well .

 

I never really complained about the 520 wiring unless some other buffoon was in there before... Funny thing is my car is older (1978) and been spliced on a few times before I bought it plus sits way more and the all my gauge still work must be that southern exposure. This may have been easier https://www.dixierestorationdepot.com/Product/Detail.aspx?s=DM01534 SILBLUE ...

I thought about the replacement cluster , but I want to keep El stinko as close to original as possible. There were only 1389 of this model produced in 1984.  Got a small fortune in it already . Was thinking about selling it and get a pickup , but the price of used trucks is way over my budget , then the transmission committed suicide in June 2019 . Had it rebuild to the tune on of $1980.00 . Then in October the power steering gear box started leaking bad. Another $500.00 .   

[ACman 7,618]

Hey Jim @elcamino/wheelhorse sorry didn’t see this earlier but this is the best guy I know of . You just take out your cluster and mail it to them and shows back up better than knew . A 2003 Silverado instrument cluster was 120 bucks with all new motors and fix any broken circuits. All bench tested before it leaves. I think it was 20 bucks to change all the lights to led’s . They can fix about any gage you can think of even gauges for horses .

 

https://www.bobsspeedometer.com/1/120/index.asp

 

I’d also check out these guys. 
 

https://www.gbodyparts.com

Edited April 1, 2020 by ACman

[Pullstart 62,784]

58 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

I thought about the replacement cluster , but I want to keep El stinko as close to original as possible. There were only 1389 of this model produced in 1984.  Got a small fortune in it already . Was thinking about selling it and get a pickup , but the price of used trucks is way over my budget , then the transmission committed suicide in June 2019 . Had it rebuild to the tune on of $1980.00 . Then in October the power steering gear box started leaking bad. Another $500.00 .   

 

@elcamino/wheelhorse is way more catchy than ElCamino/pickuptruck...

[bottjernat1 2,190]

Might try this site i found! https://www.elcaminostore.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv8yFrOrH6AIVCJ-fCh2K3QH_EAAYASAAEgL2C_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Pullstart 62,784]

42 minutes ago, pullstart said:

 

@elcamino/wheelhorse is way more catchy than ElCamino/pickuptruck...

 

I botched my own joke...  pickuptruck/wheelhorse.  

[ZXT 2,401]

Just now, pullstart said:

 

I botched my own joke...  pickuptruck/wheelhorse.  

I was about to call you out on that 

[Tractorhead 9,064]

1 hour ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

I thought about the replacement cluster , but I want to keep El stinko as close to original as possible. There were only 1389 of this model produced in 1984.  Got a small fortune in it already . Was thinking about selling it and get a pickup , but the price of used trucks is way over my budget , then the transmission committed suicide in June 2019 . Had it rebuild to the tune on of $1980.00 . Then in October the power steering gear box started leaking bad. Another $500.00 .   

Ouch, that hurts,

 

I hope you find quick a good and cheap Source to fixup your „El stinko“ 😂

oh Boy, what a name...

 

independently if another Pickup was reachable, i like the uniquness of the El Camino‘s.

They become more and more rare, but they had a great shape, i found.

Sadly that they don‘t build actually such a Car further

 

In the last Years i still lurking for an usable One,

but if they being sold in usable conditions, the price ranges started at 15.000$,

better covered exemplars is up to 25.000-30.000$.

I found here only extremely high priced or absolute out of question Status.

[squonk 41,020]

3 hours ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

146990 on the speedo

EEEEWWWW!!!  BETTER GET THAT CHANGED PRONTO! 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

2 hours ago, ACman said:

Hey Jim @elcamino/wheelhorse sorry didn’t see this earlier but this is the best guy I know of . You just take out your cluster and mail it to them and shows back up better than knew . A 2003 Silverado instrument cluster was 120 bucks with all new motors and fix any broken circuits. All bench tested before it leaves. I think it was 20 bucks to change all the lights to led’s . They can fix about any gage you can think of even gauges for horses .

 

https://www.bobsspeedometer.com/1/120/index.asp

 

I’d also check out these guys. 
 

https://www.gbodyparts.com

Then I would not be having all this fun, I looked at some of those sites , but I did all the work to pull it out.