88 gasser gauges in an 83 diesel?

[iamtherealJayy]

The circuit board on the back of my gauges were rusted out and junk. I’ve got a set of 88 suburban gauges I put in the blazer and voltage seemed to work, can I use the temp sensor from the 88 and the oil pressure from an 83? The blazer currently has a 5.3L ls. Originally a 6.2, had a 350 when I got it. I’ve checked out the gauges and the only difference I could find is one says PED3 on the back and one says PED2. Every other number was the same. There are some slight differences such as the suburban has the service engine light and the blazer didn’t? Or something along those lines. I plan on using a different light and wiring for the check engine on the LS. I just need to make sure the temp, oil, and fuel gauge will work. I plan on using the gauges from the suburban, I’ll lose the clock, but gain a trip meter. Also, I’ll soon make a write up for everything I’ve gotten for the ls swap and make a post similar to my k10 swap.

 

[SquareRoot]

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Well, @SquareRoot, that comment was very helpful. Thank you. Not sure how, but that answered every single question I needed answered.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Rather not, but if I’ve got to I can take the entire bulkhead from the suburban and put it in the blazer. Regardless I can’t use the blazer gauges and I’d prefer factory gauges over some universal gauges.

 

[SquareRoot]

Well, @SquareRoot, that comment was very helpful. Thank you. Not sure how, but that answered every single question I needed answered.

Sorry, I don't have an answer on this one. However, I'm subscribed to see how it turns out and maybe learn something on the sidelines.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Well I’m gonna make something happen regardless. So far all I’ve done was plug the gauges in and the lights worked and the voltage gauge. Speedo should work, all the other gauges pegged out for being open? If my wiring in the engine bay is correct I should be able to throw some sensors in and figure something out. It may or may not plug and play but I just need gauges regardless.

 

[bucket]

'83 and '88 are in the same pinout family. The senders need to match the gauges though, for example the oil pressure gauge. Some were 60psi and some were 80psi. There may also be a difference in the VSS plug, I don't recall.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

@bucket the speedos are both cable driven other than the little box for cruise? Little greenish blue box. I did debate on Frankensteining the two clusters to maintain a 80psi oil pressure gauge, but there wasn’t much point.

 

[bucket]

@bucket the speedos are both cable driven other than the little box for cruise? Little greenish blue box. I did debate on Frankensteining the two clusters to maintain a 80psi oil pressure gauge, but there wasn’t much point.

Yeah but the '88 used a VSS sensor on the back of the speedo for the TBI injection. I don't recall if it's the same sensor that was used earlier for cruise control. If your rig doesn't have cruise then it doesn't even matter.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Blazer had cruise but it had been wacked off at the firewall so I pulled all the interior stuff out.

 

[87chevy_com]

double check the wiring, when i swapped 87 to 88+ to get the electric speedo, a few wires needed to be switched around. Easy to trace the wires from the printed circuit.

 

[bucket]

double check the wiring, when i swapped 87 to 88+ to get the electric speedo, a few wires needed to be switched around. Easy to trace the wires from the printed circuit.

That's for the '89-91 electric speedo. '88 was still the old cable drive speedo.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

I’ll have to sit down and figure where each wire goes, I’m not as much concerned about blinker lights, 4x4 light, ses etc. I need gauges, surely I can tell if I’m in 4x4 or not, and I’ll have a separate light for a check engine light.

 

[rcnutt]

I'm running a 87 cluster in my 83 6.2 blazer and everything is working well

 

[RetroC10Sport]

That's for the '89-91 electric speedo. '88 was still the old cable drive speedo.

1990-91. 1989 was still cable as well.