I have read the conversion documents in the FAQ section on this site. After reading through it a few times, it doesn't seem that bad. I do have a couple of questions though. If aftermarket gauges are already wired and hooked up (oil, temp, ammeter), will I need to go through the wire harness modifications that are discussed in the FAQ section? Can this existing aftermarket wiring be connected to the back of the Rally Gauge cluster? Also, I would assume since the aftermarket gauges are already hooked up, that new oil and temp sending units (the ones needed to convert from idiot lights to the Rally gauges) are not needed (because they are already there)?

Any help would be appreciated. I haven't dove into this yet - just trying to get prepared!

Thanks.

Did you get is figured out? That is a good question about the harness. It seems like the advertismnt you saw for the gauges would tel you if you could use your existing harness without mods. It seems to me that you would have to buy the correct sending units for the gauges. Has anyone installed an aftermarket rally gauge set up???
Jim

Thanks for the reply. I don't think I explained my situation very well. Let me try it again.

My Bird currently has 3 aftermarket gauges hooked up (all in the same housing) - they are attached to the console on the floor. These gauges represent oil, temp and ammeter gauges.

The factory gauges in my car are the standard idiot light ones - NOT the Rally Gauges. I recently purchased a set of rally gauges. I knew there was information on this site about converting the idiot light gauges to Rally gauges, so I started doing some research.

I found some really good info in the "Frequently Asked Questions" section. In there, it stated that if you didn't want to buy all new wire harnesses (which are very expensive), then you can modify the current wire harnesses to work. It stated that the Rally Gauge setup uses 3 more wires than the standard set up, and therefore wires would have to be added and moved around. It also stated that I would have to buy new sending units for Oil and Temp.

My question was really two fold: 1) If the aftermarket gauges on my console are already wired (which they are), can I just use those wires for my Rally Gauge hookup? It seems to me that the wires needed for the Rallys may already be there. 2) Since the aftermarket gauges have been hooked up, wouldn't the sending units already have been replaced to the ones needed for my Rally's? The reason for the change in sending units was that the ones in there originally were only meant to trigger if dangerous levels were reached for Oil & Temp. The new sending units will provide actual pressure and temperature readings. Right? That's what they are doing currently on my aftermarkets, isn't it?

As I explained before, I haven't actually tried to do this yet. My car is still in storage. I was trying to prepare for what I will have to do, and order the necessary parts so they are here in time. I was wondering if someone had experience in this before.

I could be way off base . . . I've been there before!!!

Thanks for your help!

You would be better off using your wiring harness with the conversion instructions. I have done the conversion and it's just a matter of switching wiring connections around. You will have to get the right sending units because the units are not usually interchangeable.
Jim

Fbody69, I guess from your name that you have a '69...it is a TOTALLY different process if the car is a '67 or '68.

Us lucky (smart?) '69 owners have it easy where we just have to change two wires around and get new sending units but our brethren have a very tough process with many different steps and many more issues to deal with.

Firebird400, the sending units are only about $35 total so I think I'd just go ahead and buy exactly what I needed. That way you are sure of what you have. I searched your posts and from what I gather you have a '68. So I can't really be of much help when it comes to the rest of the conversion process.

Dan

Dan,
I've had quite a few 67's and 68's but I have only converted rally gauges in 69's. Seems like every time I assume that they are alike I'm wrong. Sorry if I gave out wrong info. If you try to help enough times it's bound to happen.
Jim

Yea, guys - sorry - I never mentioned what year car I have. It is a 68. It does seem like a pain in the you know where to convert these gauges. I think it will be worth it in the end though. Thanks for the advice. I think I will just get new sending units.

Where do you get them for $35 total? I looked in the Ames catalog and the oil sending unit was $51, and the water $15.

Thanks for your help.

Jim,
I just didn't want firebird400 to get confused.

Firebird400, the research I did was for my car. This is what I found, "You will also have to replace the oil and temperature sending units. These parts can be bought; one place that has them is Performance Years: part numbers GME46 for water temp. and GME43 for oil pressure sender. Total price for the 2 sending units is 33 bucks."

I just checked and it looks like the senders I've listed above will work for your car also...still $33 bucks total.

Dan

Not to confuse anyone further but..........

I replaced the old NON-original gauge cluster that was in my 68 with a standard 3 gauge deck piece for my lower console. I used the existing leads from the old (Oil Press, water temp, Volts) to the new gauge cluster and everything worked fine. A little concerned about the Voltmeter due to its always high reading (13-14 volts), but it all works.

I have no idea what wiring is entailed with the infamous, always mentioned "Rally Gauges". But this is pretty simple math here, only a few ways one can hook up a guage to a sending unit.