Hey all,
I have a 77 F250 and my instrument cluster doesn't have the oil pressure gauge or a volt gauge I only have the lights. I see that I can buy gauges from companies like LMC but I'm wondering if I can install them in my existing instrument cluster or should I just leave well enough alone.

 

Shop around... some of what LMC offers is waaaay overpriced. Ever compare their listing for an Edelbrock carb versus Summit Racing? Oy.

I suggest some add-on gauges (oil pressure, water temp, and voltage) from the likes of Autometer or VDO... get'em from Summit Racing.

 

I believe the instrument cluster housings and circuit boards to be different between "idiot light" models and "gauge " models. Might be wrong but I dont think you can just add gauges to existing housings. If not restoring to factory, I agree with HIO on the aftermarket gauges. More accurate? Good luck

 

I agree that LMC can be stupid expensive, but yes I was just wondering if it is at all possible.

 

I think you need an all new cluster to add the OEM Oil Pressure and Alt (ammeter) gauges. You'd also need a different sender for the oil pressure gauge vs. the warning lamp.
You probably would be doing better to get an aftermarket Oil, Temp, and Volts combo set, and hang that under your dash, but I will assert that the factory gauges are still quite useful.

 

All the OE gauges yell ya what is normal and not normal (given the conditions). Analog graduated gauges provide more usable information.

I find digital gauges distracting.

 

Going from factory "lights" to factory "gauges" would require significant surgery to alter the panel and associated wiring and sensors. I agree with the others that investment in a quality set of aftermarket gauges would be the most logical way to go from where you are. Then you will have both the values provided by the gauges and the driver awareness provided by the lights.

 

Cool, thanks for the advice guys.

 

1975/79 F100/350; 1975/80 Econoline; 1978/79 Bronco:

These vehicles came with POS instrument cluster backs made of a composition material that can TURN TO DUST before your very eyes!

1981: Ford introduced hard plastic cluster backs for Econolines. These were also the "service part replacements" for the POS composition cluster backs.

Some of the POS cluster backs were replaced under warranty, some were replaced "customer pay" .. but most were never replaced.

Carpenter has both of these hard plastic cluster backs available NOS

E1PZ-10848-A .. Hard Plastic Cluster Back-Use with Oil/Amp GAUGES / Obsolete

1981/91 Econoline; retrofit: 1975/79 F100/350; 1975/80 Econoline; 1978/79 Bronco.
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E1PZ-10848-B .. Hard Plastic Cluster Back-Use with Oil/Amp WARNING LAMPS / Obsolete

1981/86 Econoline; retrofit: 1975/79 F100/350; 1975/80 Econoline; 1978/79 Bronco.

Note: 1975 F100/350 & Econoline use different printed circuit boards than 1976/79 F100/350; 1976/91 Econoline; 1978/79 Bronco with Oil/Amp GAUGES.

And 1976/78 F100/350 & Econoline; 1978 Bronco with Oil/Amp WARNING LAMPS. 1979 F100/350, Bronco & 1979/86 Econoline with Oil/Amp WARNING LAMPS use a different printed circuit.

 

At dead minimum you are going to need a new instrument fascia with spaces for the two gauges where you currently have idiot lights, the added two gauges themselves, a new printer circuit sheet for the back of the cluster, and probably the new white plastic backing for the instrument cluster - and this hasn't even gotten to the wiring harness yet. I seem to remember someone saying on another post that you would have to replace part of the wiring harness too, although maybe you could just add the wiring you are missing using the wiring harness diagram from a 'gauges' model as a comparison. I agree with the other commenters...adding aftermarket gauges, whether in the cluster or mounted elsewhere, would probably be MUCH easier and unless you went nuts on the gauges, cost a fraction as much.