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[T229]

Florida - 77 degrees and sunny. Couldn't ask for anything better.

Spent an hour at a junk yard today. Found some mint parts from an 88 Fifth Ave.

My dash is cracked terrible. I picked up a new dash pad and gauge surround for $22 total. I just gotta fit the oil pressure gauge into this somehow.

My radio doesn't work. I changed it out and still nothing. I'm not real worried about it.

The speedo doesn't work either. It didn't look stripped or anything but I suppose I should change the cable I assume? I've been searching for a thread on that with pictures and not having a whole lot of luck just yet.

I found some 194 LED bulbs that I think I'm gonna put into the dash since it's all taken apart.

Here's some pics.

[Dippy.org]

[T229]

You can see how bad the old dash was.

Old and new.

[T229]

And my new crate 318 getting ready to go in.

[lsm360]

That's the first time I've seen a cracked M body dash. They used a much more pliable material than the 70's stuff. Good find.

I think the 168 bulbs are a little brighter than the 194's.

The O/P gauge should go in no problem. It's the air bag cars from mid '88 and '89 with the knee bolster that make it more difficult to fit the gauge in, but it still goes because they came with it from factory. Maybe by "fit" you mean wire it up?


I'd drive the car with speedo out and see if the cable is spinning so you know if that part is working ok.

[MarkM]

Why in the hell am I living in Michigan?!  lol.

Great to see forward progress on a project here.  It's 25 degrees here right now.

For the bulbs you might want to consider going LED while you have it all apart.  I converted my entire interior over a couple years ago.  Bought them all from superbrightled.com.

[doomedgame]

Good to see a roller cam motor going back in and mark only had snow once in GA this year

[lsm360]

The LED's were too bright for my taste, and changed the hue of the greenish blue caps to a grey, so I just went with the 168 bulbs, but to each his own.

This looks like it's going to sell cheap, and it would look good in your dash since your needles have faded (which is common).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-NOS-1977-1978-LeBaron-Dodge-Diplomat-ammeter-gauge-4051083-1979-1980-/252750400807?hash=item3ad9190d27:g:mX8AAOSw2xRYgoZW&vxp=mtr

[T229]

I do plan on putting LEDs in there. The oil pressure gauge works, but after 10 seconds or so, it shoots way over past 100 and stays there. I'm thinking the spring may be broken the way it flings over. I've been looking for a replacement gauge on ebay and haven't had much luck yet.

[Prospect62]

Why in the hell am I living in Michigan?!  lol.

Great to see forward progress on a project here.  It's 25 degrees here right now.

X2. I've had my garage pellet stove going since 8am and it's still only 56 out there. Doesn't exactly make you want to go tear into the car...

Great job with the dash. Can't wait to see further updates...

[lsm360]

There are a few NOS ones on ebay right now but pricey. There was one with starting bid of $9.99 for long time that kept getting re-listed. Maybe it'll come back. I don't think there was a reserve either. I have several nice used ones that I may eventually put up on ebay (I'm no longer a seller here...you may have read my whiney rant). I'm kind of done selling for awhile. It's just not profitable, in fact I lose money a lot of the time.

You didn't like the NOS temp gauge I posted? It would look nice on your dash.

[T229]

I did like it, in fact, I may buy it. I like the water temp over the amp meter too.


Right now, it'll crank but won't start. I'm sure it's an electronic issue or coil so I can't drive it and see if the speedo works or not. I'm not putting any money into this motor because the new one is going in shortly. I'm just trying to get the interior cleaned up in the meantime.

[Darth-Car]

You are really tackling all fronts at one time.  Go Man, Go!

[lsm360]

Just curious how you know the oil pressure gauge works for ten seconds or so, then doesn't work right, if engine won't start.

[doomedgame]

Could have tested it using a drill and a prime rod or using the motor that was in it

[lsm360]

Could have tested it using a drill and a prime rod or using the motor that was in it

Drill and prime rod for the AHB electric oil pressure gauges? The motor that was in it won't start, according to him.