can I start my truck without the gauge cluster plugged in?

[Gman73]

Guy's I'm finishing up my resto on my 73 dropped the engine in this weekend and hooked everything up, waiting on an HEI distributor and wires from Summit. I don't have an instrument cluster do you need that hooked up in to start the truck? I know stupid question but I'm new to Squares. I don't want to put the gauge cluster back and hook that stuff up as i'm probably going the Dakota gauge cluster route.

 

[Originalthor]

Your good to go. I start mine all the time and I have a tbi. Just make sure the connector isn't touching any bare metal.

 

[idahovette]

If it's all 73 make sure you don't have an open oil pressure line, or you will be cleaning up a mess!! 73 has a mechanical gage???

 

[Matt69olds]

Only issue I can think of (besides the oil pressure gauge mentioned before) is the alternator won’t charge with the cluster out. Probably not a big deal for your purposes.

 

[Randy and Easton]

Works and drives fine. Only way he stays motivated to finish his project! And yes on oil pressure gauge and cluster connections from above! He learned both the hard way!

Randy and E

 

[Gman73]

Awesome looks like a great kid