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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Instrumentation => Topic started by: fiddler on April 13, 2023, 01:39:43 PM

Title: Voltmeters and Ammeters
Post by: fiddler on April 13, 2023, 01:39:43 PM
What years of square bodies had Voltmeters in the dash and what years had Ammeters?  I suspect my 1974 chevy C10 stepside originally had an ammeter but now has a voltmeter.  The instrument panel plastic is going to need replacement sometime down the road as it is cracking in many places where it mounts to the dasho   I don't know how this is supposed to be, but I got a 1973 instrument panel for parts only to discover it had an ammeter in it.  So getting the right year of used panel is pretty imperative.....  thanks for your help as usual. 
Title: Re: Voltmeters and Ammeters
Post by: Swampyankee74 on April 13, 2023, 02:37:41 PM
My 74 gmc c15 has an ammeter guage. As far as I know the dash is all original.  (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230413/99694488ea23f9239ba85288e1c0ca25.jpg)

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Title: Re: Voltmeters and Ammeters
Post by: Chevygold on April 13, 2023, 04:34:25 PM
My 76 Cheyenne has a voltmeter.
Graham
Title: Re: Voltmeters and Ammeters
Post by: bd on April 13, 2023, 05:25:22 PM
Ammeters were factory installed in the 1967 - 1975 C/K model trucks.

Voltmeters were factory installed in the 1976 - 1991 C/K/R/V model trucks.

A factory voltmeter in a 1973 C/K means that the cluster was replaced with a newer style at some point.
Title: Re: Voltmeters and Ammeters
Post by: fiddler on April 14, 2023, 09:35:21 AM
Thanks much!  Will look for a 76 or newer for replacement. 
Title: Re: Voltmeters and Ammeters
Post by: VileZambonie on April 15, 2023, 08:49:40 PM
It's not plug n play just so you know. Do not swap clusters and think you are all set. You will see smoke  8)
Title: Re: Voltmeters and Ammeters
Post by: fiddler on April 24, 2023, 04:05:29 PM
Yup.. I stuck a 73 dash panel in the truck a few years back that was in better shape plastic wise than the one I had in there.  Ended up pulling the printed circuit off of the one that was installed and putting it on the better plastic.  Had to bore some new holes in the plastic.   Not easiest thing I have ever done.  I did not notice the difference in the meters until I got the smoke signal....   She is wired for a Voltmeter now.  These old trucks have certainly been around the block!!