With nowhere to turn I ask this question: I need to replace a 1969 dash housing. The guys at OPG have a 1970-72 dash housing which looks very similar in size dimension, and mounting points. Is it possible o interchange these parts. I realize the gauges/control components in said dash would need changed will need changed, I can deal with that. What Ineed to know is will the dimensions and mounts work?
The short answer is, yes, it will physically fit in the dash. I did this same swap many years ago to a '68 Skylark. Bad news is that every single wire end connector is different (though almost every color wire stays the same) , so you will need to change all of them for the 70-72 cluster.
Thank you for the information. I'm excited to get started. Am I to assume a wire harness swap would be the easiest fix to the connector issues?
If the connector stays the same but the wire position in the connector is different, you will be able to use a small pick and remove the wire terminal and place it in the right position
As Eldon said; the housing will physically fit. If you want to use the 70 -72 you will need all gauges from those years and an interior wiring harness for the same years. I guess it may be possible to splice or change terminals but will be very tedious. The connectors and gauges are different between 1968-69 and 1970-72. Dash pad is also different. If you can use a good used 69 housing and/or instrument cluster, maybe post here in wanted section or search ebay.
The connectors are different. Changing the harness may be the faster solution. I probably have a '69 housing, but I'd have to look. They are one year only. '68 is different due to the steering column notch in the bottom. Let me know if you're interested.
man, that's ALOT of work and a lot of money to basically put the wrong parts in your 69. Last time I checked, just the 70-72 housing from the parts place and OPG is $350. Then you have to locate at least all the gauges and whatever other specific 70-72 parts. Plus at best all the pigtails. At worst a new instrument harness. Plus a 70-72 dash pad which is around a 100-125. Chances are your not going to get the right color so your have to dye it to boot. and most people will just comment that you have the wrong dash. I guess it would be a different story if your dash was demolished and you just happen to have all the 70-72 parts laying around. But geez, talk about reinventing the wheel.... Arent you just better off taking the 69 housing out and painting it? If memory serves me correctly, its black plastic with silver/ gray inserts. I don't believe theres really any chrome plating on it is there? Its a lot of masking and taping, but it would be a minimal cost (the cost of the paint and some masking tape). While your there you can take some Mothers metal polish and a microfiber towel and polish the lenses on both sides. Also replace all the dash bulbs. And the best part is you can probably do it all inside a weekend. Once your done, it will look like a new car from the drivers seat! I would recommend Sem "trim black". The satin finish matches the black plastic pretty well.
http://www.dakotadigital.com/index....t_id=998/category_id=411/mode=prod/prd998.htm I wanna see someone try one of these...
Pretty cool but that digital clock in the middle of all those analog gauges seems out of place to me. I mean it's cool and reliable and easy to read, but just way out of place. Maybe it it was a little more subtle that blaring red on the understated black background.
PM sent your way, regarding the need for changing out the dash pad. Big thanks to everybody for responses to my project.
