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Rallye Gauge Conversion from the idiot lights

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Old May 29, 2014 | 05:17 PM
  #1  
mruders's Avatar
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Rallye Gauge Conversion from the idiot lights

Hi,

I have a 1972 cutlass and bought the Rallye gauges to replace the idiot lights. Does anyone have a link that they could share that will help me to reconfigure the wires in the Harness? The link that i found doesn't work. Also, on the Tach Gauge there is a lug for the gauge lights. Do I need to cut the wire going to the existing gauge wires and reconnect?

Thanks.
Old May 29, 2014 | 05:38 PM
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Sure. This info is also available in the CSM on the electrical section.

Here's a link to a thread that explains it. Rally pac question
Old May 29, 2014 | 05:54 PM
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Thanks Gauge install

Spent 2 hours trying to get this with google and you helped me figure it out in 10 minutes.

Can't wait to have it functional.
Old May 29, 2014 | 06:45 PM
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Thanks mostly to Scot Hardman who wrote up that article and posted it on the other thread. Hope everything works out well for you. If the rallye pac you bought was from Parts Place, you might want to take the back of the gages off and paint them white. Reason being the repros lighting suffers from that lack of attention to detail. One way anyone who sees your gages will know automatically the tach side is repro? The clock won't have a sweep second hand because it's a quartz movement.

I have an OEM adapter that allows me to just plug the harness from idiot lights into it and the wiring to the RP is automatically done. No fuss or splicing. It was sold through the parts counters back in the day.
Old May 29, 2014 | 08:15 PM
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Quartz conversion

I had my OEM clock/tac converted over to quartz. The original stock movement is famous for not keeping correct time. I didn't like the idea of not having the factory movement, but after a while, I preferred having the correct time more. I keep a spare tac with the original movement, as a back up.

Last edited by capstoneclub; May 30, 2014 at 12:34 PM.
Old May 30, 2014 | 04:09 AM
  #6  
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Routing of the Tach Harness

Hi. The last piece of the puzzle of me is how to route the factory tach harness from the neg Side of the coil to the gauge. I want to have it look factory. Thanks
Old May 30, 2014 | 10:34 AM
  #7  
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Goes through the firewall using the same grommet as the speedo and/or cruise. You could also use this accessory location where the rear defog on glass would pierce the firewall. There are so many dimples on the firewall that can be used to create passages through I don't think it really matters all that much.

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Old May 30, 2014 | 11:42 AM
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Allan,

Thanks again for all your help!
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 11:07 AM
  #9  
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Rally Pack Guage Lighting

Hi,

As was mentioned, the gauge lighting is much much dimmer than the factory speedo guage. You mentioned that I would need to paint the inside of the backs of the guage covers. The outside of the backs of the gauge covers are white. Are you saying that the inside of the gauge covers are not white and that is why I have to paint them?

Also, I hooked the gauges up correctly and the temperature gauge shows that it goes to above hot when warming up(even though the car is operating at normal temperature). I replaced the sending unit as well and its still doing the same thing. Is it possible that the gauge itself is damaged? Is there any suggestions?

Thanks.
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 11:13 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by mruders
As was mentioned, the gauge lighting is much much dimmer than the factory speedo guage. You mentioned that I would need to paint the inside of the backs of the guage covers. The outside of the backs of the gauge covers are white. Are you saying that the inside of the gauge covers are not white and that is why I have to paint them?
Yes, that's exactly what the problem is. The inside of the gage is not painted - it's just a metal finish. All the OEM gages were painted inside for brighter illumination.

Originally Posted by mruders
Also, I hooked the gauges up correctly and the temperature gauge shows that it goes to above hot when warming up(even though the car is operating at normal temperature). I replaced the sending unit as well and its still doing the same thing. Is it possible that the gauge itself is damaged? Is there any suggestions?
You might have a bad gage, but did you install the sender using teflon tape? If you did, that could be your problem. That will not let the gage ground out properly.
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 11:27 AM
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Guages-Bad Temperature guage

Hi,

I did use Teflon Tape on the sending Unit. Is that not what I am supposed to do?
Thanks
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 11:36 AM
  #12  
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It shouldn't need it, and insulates the threads from making a good ground. Take it out and reinstall without teflon tape. Bet your gage works properly after that. If you do get any leaking (I doubt you will though) around the sender? Use just a tiny bit of pipe dope at the top end of the threads.
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 11:47 AM
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Thanks Again. If you lived in Long Island, I would buy you some beers....
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 11:53 AM
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Not to hijack but can I do this to my omega
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 12:36 PM
  #15  
Allan R's Avatar
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?? What do you want to do in your Omega? The lighting or the gage install? Your Omega should already have OEM brightness. The gages mruder was talking about were aftermarket rallye pac. The issue with them is well known.

If you want to brighten your dash lights, you can try a brighter bulb but I don't think you will find any issues with the way the back of the displays is painted.
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 02:45 PM
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Is it possible to install the Rallye pac gauges
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 03:14 PM
  #17  
Allan R's Avatar
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Have a look at this image. You'd think that if they could make the gages for Nova, they could also do it for Omega. I think these look cool.


Although with a bit more searching on the NOVA forums, I also came up with this that suggests that those gauges were not for Olds, but a Nova instead.

Old Jun 3, 2014 | 03:18 PM
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I had that first set in the 77 sold them to help fund me the 79 now I guess I'll look for them again lol
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 03:19 PM
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They were for olds it was the sport gauges IFK why I sold them other than I got 100 for them and that helped with my 79
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 03:24 PM
  #20  
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Yeah, hindsight is 20/20 isn't it?
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 03:30 PM
  #21  
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I might be able to but them back cause he said he can't use them
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 05:42 PM
  #22  
Allan R's Avatar
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Good deal. Offer him 50 bucks
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 06:00 PM
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I couldn't he actually had them installed
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