Part 1 Intellitronix LED 6 Gauge Cluster install in a El Camino / GBody

This will be a 3 part video series on installing LED gauges in a GBody.
Part 1 will be taking the cluster out, cleaning and prepping for paint.
Part 2 will be painting and fabrication to get the gauges installed.
Part 3 will be installation.

[@CornellEdmon]

Do you have the wiring diagram?

[@MrTestertester]

I do not. You can go to elcaminocentral.com and do a search for wiring diagrams and look for your year.

[@loafofbeans9126]

Did the go's come with the Guages and if not what gps is it? Also do the wires just connect or solder on

[@MrTestertester]

The GPS sending unit is made by Intellitronix also, I bought it separate from their website. The set does come with a speedometer sending unit you can install on the transmission.

[@DaRealArtist]

Did you use the factory wiring to install the new digital gauges?!

[@MrTestertester]

I had to jump from the factory wiring harness. If you watch part 3, at around 4:04, you will see the factory pin/harness and to the left you will see a bundle of wires ~ they are jumped onto the wiring harness cables.

[@DaRealArtist]

@@MrTestertester Also, did you swap out your fuel sending unit?!

[@MrTestertester]

@@DaRealArtist I did not. In the instructions it will show you how to set the fuel switches to match your vehicle (chevy, ford, etc...) so you can keep your factory fuel sending unit. I jumped the wires this way in case I ever wanted to go back to factory gauges, I still have my harness intact. I can just snip the jumped wires, put a cap on them and tuck them in behind the gauges.

[@DaRealArtist]

@@MrTestertesterOk, just curious. I’m going to install some aftermarket mechanical gauges in my 82 El Co!

[@DaRealArtist]

@@MrTestertester One more question, did you remove the factory circuit board?!

[@geralejuarez]

I cant seem to fund that style of gauge any where. Do you know what you searched for to find yours?

[@MrTestertester]

www.intellitronix.com/product-page/6-gauge-led-digital-dash-panel-kit

[@russellnentwich8745]

Thanks for the tip. It light switch was broken when I bought the car. I was wondering what would be the best adhesive to fix it.

[@MrTestertester]

Depends on what part is broken. On mine the headlight/wiper switch broke due to just being old. I cut some plastic off a old remote control I had, cut it to the shape I wanted and used some JB Weld. Held up fine. I have also used JB Weld on the inside of cluster housing to fix cracks/keep them from getting worse. I used the regular JB Weld but there is a plastic JB Weld you could use also.

[@russellnentwich8745]

Wayne Woodley mine is broke in the same place. I have a 79 Monte Carlo. Body is very nice. However it belonged to a kid so the maintenance was not kept up and it has been setting for 10 years in a garage on top of that.

[@MrTestertester]

@@russellnentwich8745 Any hard plastic will work, just as long as it's not brittle.

[@dayonvify]

which one do u use if you have newer dash in elcamino

[@MrTestertester]

Not sure what you mean by newer dash? The only 2 dash's that I know of the G Body El Caminos having are the long speedo and the round gauges. Do you have a different one? the long speedo is like the one I had. The round gauges/SS gauges you would probably need to get the Intellitronix Create a Dash kit, if that is what you have I suggest checking out Eugene Mitchell's video he had the SS/round gauges. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j56Uq6mcr52bnpY

[@MisterAdam-jj5jv]

Have you had any issues with the fuel sender not working properly?

[@MrTestertester]

Not on mine, it worked fine. I set the switches to GM, no issues.

[@MrTestertester]

Was your sending unit working properly before? If so did you check the switches under the LEDs to ensure they are in the correct position?

[@johnandlisa5wood548]

Do you install these for a living? If so where are you located. I am just north of Boston, Ma

[@MrTestertester]

Thanks for watching the video! I'm in the Houston TX area. Sorry I do not install them.

[@sirsylk]

Would it be possible to use the Elco style where the idiot lights are on the side, even if i have the long sweep?

[@MrTestertester]

Are you asking if you can switch from the sweep style cluster to the round/ss cluster?

[@MrTestertester]

If this is what you are asking then yes you can. From 1978-1987 both instrument cluster mount the same. If you want to keep the factory gauges you will have to change the pins around in the harness, there are a couple of videos on youtube where people show how to do that.

[@nazydre]

I have an 80 el Camino and currently installing the digital gauges. Just curious where did you connect your dimmer wire? I've looked in my chilton book and cannot find where the dimmer wire is on the printed circuit? Thanks, any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Nazydre

[@MrTestertester]

I hooked it up directly to the light switch, can not remember the wire color but it was not on the printed circuit.

[@nazydre]

Wayne Woodley thanks

[@MrTestertester]

Anytime. The dimmer for the gauges just needs a power source saying the headlights or parking lights are on. I think I just used a jumper connector for the headlight that is hot when they are on. Some jump off the parking lights.

[@joshwilcox3647]

How does the gps work when it’s in the dash and not direct view to the sky?

[@MrTestertester]

Mine works fine. I have it mounted to the left behind the gauges. It does have a second or two delay, if I take off quickly from a stop sign or stop light it will take a second to read the proper MPH. Same if I am going a steady speed and slam on my brakes. Also I checked it against a GPS app on my phone and it is accurate, on mine anyway. I am in the process of doing a custom display in my 81 K5 blazer and I am going to install a GPS unit in it because I like how this one is working for me.

[@joshwilcox3647]

Okay great that was the only question I had. Your Tutorial videos are great I just ordered the gauges for my 79 elco i chose the blue can’t wait to see what it looks like with an all black interior

[@calaveracountycustoms2994]

What do u do for indicator lights like check engine?

[@MrTestertester]

I am not using the lights anymore. I am sure there is a way to keep them hooked up but with having the water temp, oil pressure and tach I figured I did not need them. I also do not have a gear indicator (Park, Reverse, N, Drive, 2, 1).

[@fabo5679]

yes I think I didnt either on back of the panel n what bout the speed function hw do u hook dat up I have a 86 cutlass

[@MrTestertester]

Just install in the speedo sending unit on the transmission, run the wires to the gauges and hook up the corresponding wires. I am not sure how to set it, you will have to read the instructions for that.

[@fabo5679]

Ok thxs

[@oknighty1]

Did u have to run a wire for the power

[@marvinjones5622]

Are you still looking for another elco for racing

[@MrTestertester]

I am not. I am pretty happy with my Elco right now. I think I would look for a late 60s GM car when I start looking at building a car for speed.

[@rodolfotorres2950]

Where did you get the digital gages? I would like to get one for my el camino.

[@MrTestertester]

I bought them off eBay. Intellitronix 6 Gauge Universal Digital Panel.

[@watsonlow22]

Let me ask you a question did you have to change the the flash relay

[@MrTestertester]

watsonlow22 nope, didn't change out any relays. Just with it up.

[@watsonlow22]

Wayne Woodley THANKS

[@fabo5679]

Thanks

[@MrTestertester]

No problem. I think the first time I hooked mine up I did not set the switches correctly for my car.

[@jasminebarnes3414]

where did you get tinted dust cover from?

[@MrTestertester]

I took the factory dust cover and had it tinted with tail light tint.

[@watsonlow22]

did you have to get a new circuit board cuz I see yours is pretty clean or is that the original one

[@MrTestertester]

watsonlow22 I sent in a set of gauges to get fixed and they came back like new. One of the things that sold me on intellitronix gauges is the lifetime warranty.

[@watsonlow22]

Wayne Woodley ok Thanks

[@fabo5679]

hey what u do 2 connect your fuel gague

[@MrTestertester]

The fuel gauge connects directly to your current fuel wire/sending unit. On the instructions it will show how to set the gauges to work on your vehicle, just align the switches the way described and hook up the fuel wire from the gauges to the fuel wire on your car/truck.

[@corneliusburns5807]

is a 79 regal going to be the same

[@MrTestertester]

Does not look the same, I googled some interior pictures of a 1979 Buick Regal and from I saw it looks like there are 3 individual windows for your gauges. Looks like your layout is different and the instrument cluster is not the same. Intellitronix makes a create your dash kit that you can fabricate to work in yours, to get the long speedo like mine to work in yours is going to be a lot of fab work. Can be done but more work than I did on mine. I would recommend trying to find a used instrument cluster housing on eBay or a junk yard and do all the fab work on that one before removing your factory gauges. If your gauge layout is different than the 3 individual windowed gauges post a picture and let me look at it.

[@bonziboi9127]

Do you sell the clusters I have a 84 el camino I want to make this swap!?!?!?

[@MrTestertester]

Typically I do not. I have a extra cluster I am making now with green gauges. I will post if I decide to sell.

[@bonziboi9127]

Wayne Woodley....Ok I like your setup if you decide to do one with white gauges please let me know I will defiantly buy

[@flysociety205]

Where u get them from

[@MrTestertester]

I bought mine off eBay for about $180 plus $10 shipping.

[@flysociety205]

yeah I looked them up thanks. I'm doing a ls swap on my 87 mc ss and I wonder if it works the same

[@MrTestertester]

+flysociety205 I believe I saw some post when I googled them on ls swaps and it does work, you will want to double check that.

[@miguelverdin7840]

Wer you located at how much would you charge me for my 86 cutlass

[@miguelverdin7840]

Ok yeah send me some picks im in dallas tx i was gona buy a set at summit since we have one but idk i was looking for someone who can install one for me since im dropping a 6.0 ls in it

[@oknighty1]

Did u have to run a wire for the power

[@MrTestertester]

oknighty1 I connected/jumped the power wire to my ignition wire