LMC Dash Gauges

[kramttocs]

https://www.lmctruck.com/1980-96-ford/new-products/gauge-clusters-new-vintage-usa

Just saw these today

[Rembrant]

Cool. I just got the new LMC catalog too and didn't see these in it. I usually work from the catalog and only visit the website to place my order(s).

Looks like a decent kit...I wish they had an adapter plug to connect to the original cluster harness, but I know these clusters are for trucks that are probably getting a full rehab with all new wiring...restomod stuff.

[kramttocs]

I agree - using the same wiring would be nice.

I also wonder about the speedometer since it's going to digital. It would impact cruise control.

[Gary Lewis]

Also doesn't say anything about what fuel level sender it expects.  Hopefully it is the Bullnose sender, but it doesn't say.

And, they change out the oil pressure and water temp senders, so the only thing with the 12 - 72 ohm range would be the fuel sender.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Also doesn't say anything about what fuel level sender it expects.  Hopefully it is the Bullnose sender, but it doesn't say.

And, they change out the oil pressure and water temp senders, so the only thing with the 12 - 72 ohm range would be the fuel sender.

It says that it works with the stock fuel sender.

[Gary Lewis]

You are right, Cory, and I'm wrong.  

[Angelo Voltura]

Yuck imo. The reasons I love these trucks is for the stock interior stuff lol.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

You are right, Cory, and I'm wrong.  

Ha...after I read your comment I realized that you were probably talking about what sender works between 1980-1996?...there are probably several different versions eh? I wonder if it has a calibration of some sort?...

I actually put a little thought into making an adapter back when the Dakota Digital gauge cluster came out. It would involve sacrificing an old Bullnose cluster to make the socket, but I think it would be possible for those of us that wanted an aftermarket dash but wanted to retain factory wiring.

Still...as much as I like these gauges, they're a very mild want and so far down my priority list I'd likely never get to them anyway. And besides...my factory gauges not only look good, they work good too, ha!
(Seems somebody around here did a really nice write up on painting needles...and for $2 bucks worth of Testors orange, my gauges look like a million bucks!)

[Danny G]

Not sure how I feel about these, especially at $750. It looks like they just got some old clusters, added ABS and stuck in and a couple hundred bucks worth of auto-meter gauges. I would rather use the intellitronix ones which are only $350 and match the original guage layout, or even the dakota digital's which are also around $700.

It actually looks like they were trying to copy this ($310) but still use the plastic lense:
https://classicdash.com/product/ford-truck-1980-1986-dash-panel/

[kramttocs]

Every time I see that one, the bubbly, plastic look of it just makes me shudder. I've never seen it in person though.

[Danny G]

kramttocs wrote

Every time I see that one, the bubbly, plastic look of it just makes me shudder. I've never seen it in person though.

You want to see bad look at the "brushed aluminum" one. Looks like cheap spray paint.

[Rembrant]

TheScatch wrote

So what happens to all of the indicator lights if you install one of these dashes? I guess you have to install new ones?

[Danny G]

kramttocs wrote

Every time I see that one, the bubbly, plastic look of it just makes me shudder. I've never seen it in person though.

It is nice there is growing options, especially with how expensive used or NOS gauges can get.

I think I am going with one of these options.

$400 or less


or at $800ish

[kramttocs]

Agreed, it's nice seeing options available.
The bottom one is my favorite of the aftermarket dashes since it retains the square 80's look.

With either you go with though, looking forward to seeing a review.

[kramttocs]

Oh! I didn't even notice that. Good question.

[Frank Wyatt]

There's just not enough options since most of us would never need a 8,000 RPM tach or a 140 or 160 MPH speedometer in their Bullnose. I certainly wouldn't want to be in one at that speed.