Installing a modern cluster in an old car

[Vimes]

Subject says it all. Looking to see what is required to install a newer cluster in something older. Is there anyone that makes what would amount to a universal adapter that you can bolt to the inside of your dash that the cluster would then fit into like it was going into the factory car or is this something that is done as a one-off? I've not found anyone that does so I think I already know the answer, but it never hurts to ask.

[badbu68]

That's going to be a custom job as more modern stuff also communicates with canbus.

[Vimes]

That's going to be a custom job as more modern stuff also communicates with canbus.

No worries, the entire Challenger drivetrain is coming along for the ride. I was just hoping to save a small bit of effort on installing the cluster when the time comes.

[Hotwire]

Go Dakota digital rtx series. It's expensive, but they really nailed it when it comes to look, functionality, and integrating new with old. I would love to stare at a set of them going down the road any day of the week.

I did what you're thinking and it's not that graceful or seamless looking. I would really love to somehow use the factory gauge stepper motors hidden behind factory gauges. I have remote pcb and stepper motor mounting solutions but I'm dead locked at determining how to extend the stepper motor axle through an extremely thick 60 yr old cluster to interface with the factory needle. Plus after you get done with the time and effort involved, it's factory gauges and no one will know or care about the time and effort involved. This is 06 trailblazer gauges in my 64 Chevelle with red faced gauge inlay and eBay needles.



This exact scenario played out on a 64 Catalina I worked on. No one makes ac kits for it so we bought a vintage builder series and invested a lot of effort getting the vintage air potentiometers to sync with the Catalina air controls. Your never know there's aftermarket AC, but then your just left with factory controls that no one really looks at, so it was an awesome execution but goes completely unnoticed.





And it's not that your efforts needs to be recognized or judged, saying all this to say, save up, get the Dakota digitals, then you can just sit back and get smiles per mile looking at a great system. I'd you still want to integrate your best bet would be to invest in a 3D printer or buddy up with someone that knows what they're doing in CAD.

[Vimes]

That's some impressive work you did, keeping the factory look with the modern innards. I still think you're not understanding my goal, but you did give me the solution. When the time comes I'll visit a local 3D printer shop with my dash and cluster in hand, and have them print me an adapter so the 2018 cluster will bolt to the dash I'm using. Appreciate it, should have thought of it myself.