Classic Instruments - Fully (En)Gauged

Once the speedometer cable has been freed from the cluster, you can continue disconnecting the wiring pigtails from the gauges themselves.

Here's the original '68 cluster compared to the new Classic Instruments option. The water-temperature and oil-pressure gauges are swapped end for end in the Classic piece, so that might take a little getting used to when scanning the gauges. The fuel level now resides in the center, where the optional clock was located. You might notice that Classic Instruments uses a '67 housing. While functionally the same (and it will install in a '68), the owner of our '68 project preferred the '68 housing. Luckily, his was new. We simply modified it to work with the Classic Instruments hardware. Classic Instruments offers the '68 housing, as well as the brushed-aluminum and woodgrain deluxe interior versions, for a slight upcharge through its custom build program.

The only item you'll need from your original gauge cluster assembly is the wiper-motor switch. Remove the chrome knob via the proper Allen wrench, and detach the switch from the cluster by removing the retaining screws.

Transfer the switch and mounting screws to the new Classic Instruments version, and reinstall the chrome knob on the front.

Don't forget to disconnect the single wiring connector from the wiper-motor switch at the top of the gauge cluster. The cluster is now free to be removed from the car.

One thing we noticed in our inspection of the prototype was that, unlike the OE cluster, the Classic Instruments version was missing any sort of reinforcement or support for the three mounting screws at the top.

After forwarding a few photos to Dave Falther at Classic Instruments, the crew came up with this additional brace that allows the top row of screws to secure the cluster to the dash.

This brace will come preinstalled on all production units.

For our early prototype gauge cluster, the wiring for the dash had to be modified by cutting the cluster plugs off of the harness and crimping the provided terminals onto the original wires. The terminals were placed into the provided plastic connector shells in the proper order, according to the wiring diagram.