89 GM gauge cluster and gears question

[jaywish]

Hi,

My fuel gauge has been defunct for some time. I am getting another cluster. I hope the gauge works. Never having taken these apart I have some questions.

1) Is it fairly easy and straightforward to change the indicated miles? I would like to set the "new" odo to the mileage of the original.

2) I found various discussions about drive gears but they talked about 90 & up. Should I change the 89 gears? Any source?

3) Is the rear end gear ratio relevant? If the "new" unit had a different rear ratio is there any change necessary in the cluster?

4) The new unit has a broken shifter clamp. If I can get mine out without breaking it, can I swap it in?

5) Should I install LEDS or just new incandescent bulbs? If so which ones? They will dim?

6) I guess the various gears are greased. Regular synthetic axle grease or silicone grease or ?

7) What else should I know, consider or expect to deal with?

Thanks,
Jay

[gadget73]

the easier way to do it would be to just swap the fuel gauge part into your cluster if your speedo/odo are correct. Otherwise it is do-able. Its not that hard, but its kind of a pain. If you pull the whole thing apart, you can push the pin out of the odometer that holds the gears that drive the number wheels. Once those are out, you can roll the odometer where you want it. The really fun part is putting the drive wheels back in and keeping the numbers lined up. If the numbers are half off, they will not correct. You have to pull the gears back out and re-position the digits.

[jaywish]

Thanks for posting up on this.

I think I might just swap the whole thing anyway. If I do swap the cluster, anything to consider like any of my questions?

Thanks
Jay

[gadget73]

the 89 gears are probably fine, but if you can find a source for new ones, you may want to consider doing it just for S&G

rear ratio is not relevant. Its all determined by the gear in the transmission.

The shifter indicator cable can be replaced. Its basically one screw once you remove the faceplate, not that big of a deal. I'd suggest a brand new one if possible. Chances are very high your original will break if you try to remove it.

LEDs dim. The 5 way ones seem to work best. For more color options and more light, remove the blue plastic domes inside the cluster to un-block the bulbs. Honestly I'm considering going back to stock lights though. The blue LEDs are getting on my nerves and most of the other colors are just too bright and obnoxious for me. The stock lights are boring, but not obnoxious on a long trip.

No idea on the gears. Probably silicone or lithium grease would work fine though.

[jaywish]

Cool I appreciate the input on the LEDs. I think I will just replace all the bulbs with new. Interesting, I did not even think to try and find a new shift indicator cable, from ford?

[gadget73]

yeah, if they aren't all gone by now. Worth asking though.