I've searched the forums and found some helpful info on this.
But, what all is involved in replacing a standard 72 dash with the dummy lights etc. with an SS dash with the round tach and speedo and clock etc.?

Do I need to find a dash wire harness for the new dash?
I will be replacing the whole engine and trans so I will have a clean slate as far as sending units ands stuff.
Thanks in advance
JZ

Where are you located? It's almost easier to have someone who's done this come over and help you. It's very difficult to talk someone through it over the internet. I've pulled three sweep dashes out, but I haven't installed a round gauge dash.......yet. I have one built up sitting in my garage waiting to be installed. The hardest thing will be the wiring. Some like to replace the entire harness with one made for the round gauge dash. Other people with extensive automotive electrical experience can adapt the sweep dash wiring to work with the round gauge dash, which is what I plan to do.

I plan on doing the same soon. I'v had the dash apart and know a good bit about wiring so it won't be to bad. My advice would be to buy a new harness from these guys: http://wiringharness.com/ They seem to have good feedback and are sapobably easy to install. When you take the existing dash out, mark where each wire came from with some masking tape. Do some research as well. Their are numberous threads on here that discuss this topic. Lastly, take your time. It is alot easir to do it right the first time than go back and fix your mistakes. Good luck!

I did the conversion on my 70. I didn't buy a harness, but that would obviously be the easiest way to go, if you don't mind the money. I ended up just adapting my non ss dash harness with very little problem just using my service manual schematic. Everything was connected and works fine except the amp gauge, which I opted not to connect (I have an autometer volt gauge). One thing I would suggest - get a hold of the connector for teh dash harness to the back of the gauge cluster. I did not and ended up soldering all my wires to the printed circuit board, which caused lots of problems with the PCB coming apart later on. I ended up going to the parts store and buying 14 (I think) side marker bulb sockets (which are the same size as the 194 bulbs in the dash, just need a slit down two of the four sides each with a razor blade to take off an edge), and using these to run all the gauge lighting. Using bullet connectors the gauge cluster is easy to remove from the car if need be and there is no worry about a loose connection. Anyways, I didn't find the conversion all that hard, and at the cost of the ss dash and gauges, I really didn't want to spend the money on the harness if I didn't need to. Just pull the whole harness out at the fuseblock, sit in front of the schematic and solder away for an hour or two and you will be good to go. Just make sure you make nice clean connections and wrap everything back up neat and tidy, the extra time is worth it in the end.

Good luck with the project, I sure thought it was worth it
Brad

Just ordered all the necessary parts for the swap. $1900
Should be here this week and will be doing the swap on a 70 Elky SB w/AC.

I think it's pretty straightforward if you have the right pieces.
We decided to go with the M & H wiring. Bought the lamp harness as well.
I've researched this topic for a few weeks now.
I'll try to find this post and update as I go.


Nate

My `72 which is in the body shop right now switched from the sweep to the SS dash. There is no brake light of any kind, you'll just have a hole there. We're having to make one with some cellophane. Also on the light switch, there was some empty room between the bezel and the back of the switch. We're going to have to get some foam or something to slide back there. Make sure you order all the vents, knobs, switches, glove box door, etc...We ordered the new dash and found the kit came with a lot of missing parts. Callin' OPG helped as they can list what all you'll need...

Thanks for ALL the help!!
And thanks for the tip on getting all the switches and accessories that go with the new dash. I'm sure they would all add up quickly.

I live in Hershey Pa. I'm a better than average mechanic and fair electrician so I'll continue gathering info here and make a note book for when it comes time. I'll pick up a manual and wiring diagram to help out.
Thanks again for all the help.
JZ

When i did mine, everything except the ash tray swapped over from the sweep dash, the vents, headlamp switch, glove box door....

Brad

I did an ebay budget build for my swap. $120 dash I repainted, $150 gauge cluster missing a gauge, used temp gauge $50, used wiring harness $70, new printed circuit $60.

Tach was no good, replaced for $180

Took me a weekend and a schematic (to find where a couple things went since the harness was not labeled and had 2 cut connections) to do. Turned out a lot simpler than I expected, just time consuming. Well worth the effort as it looks a million times better.

Sweep dashes are ugly as sin and I'm not a fan of warning lights unless I have a gauge too.

I'm very familiar with Vettes, the C3's gages can be replaced with AuotMeter 2 1/16" gages and 5" tach and speedo with a near perfect fit.
I'm not familiar with the gage opening sizes of the SS dash. Is it possible to replace the original gages with after market and have a nice fit?

I went from the Idiot light package to the full gauge package on my 70. Really not that hard too do (thanks to the help of the folks on here to get me started). I went the easy but alittle more expensive route and purchased a dash wiring harness from wiringharness.com and also the forward lighting harness. Both worked perfectly and made it extermely easy. I thought about modifying my existing harnesses but wanted the nice new clean look anyway so figured it was worth it. Think I spent $400 for the dash harness and about $130 for the forward harness. The only issue I had is I purchased the new gauge cluster from The Parts Place ($789 on ebay).. VERY nice and quality setup, except the alternator gauge on their earlier sales had the internal wires backwards. So I had to swap the 2 wires on the gauge cluster (no biggie). They also sent me a new circuit board for free since my buddie damaged it during install and the lights for the headlight switch didn't work. I would recommend both companies if you have the cash.

there was a post on here a couple weeks ago about swapping in new gauges in place of the old opennings. I tried it and couldn't make it work without quite a bit of cutting. Look into the covan's classic dash if you want the new gauges, the 70-72 is kind of plain, but the older ones are nice...

Check it out..

Brad

Look into the covan's classic dash if you want the new gauges, the 70-72 is kind of plain, but the older ones are nice...

Check it out..

Brad
I have a 72 SS dash in my original sweep dash Malibu. Nothing works, except the speedometer and it is wrong (just drive by feel). Anyways, I e-mailed Covan's and you can get the SS dash that will plug straight into your sweep dash harness without modification. At least that is what they told me. I am thinking of doing this. I am not sure if Dakota Digital does this as well. My 2 pennies worth.
Frank

I'm in the middle of this swap now and hope to finish up Sunday.
Something tells me it isn't going to happen. I have run into many problems already.
The entire kit came with NO instructions whatsoever.
I only received 10 new bulbs and bulb sockets. I need 15 of each.
I've tried to use the ones from the sweep speedo, but they are different and use a different bulb as well.
The plastic gauge pod had 2 mounting holes that were not drilled. I had to drill them. I mounted everything and then drilled them 1/8". Whew, that went ok.
The little plastic cover for the headlight switch is loose. I put it where it goes, but nothing holds it in.
After I assembled the gauges onto the dash, I turned it over to look at the front and realized that there is a huge gaping hole at the lower left of the speedo. I'm assuming that this is where the brake light is ????? There is no red lense. Nothing. Just a huge hole. If I look down into the hole, I can see the bulb on the back of the gauge pod. This isn't going to work.
The guage pod doesn't line up with the dash mounting holes. There's 7 screws that hold the pod to the dash face. I managed to get all of them in, but it's not right. I know there is some stress on the mounting bosses.
The metal gauge pod is in the way on the lower left hand screw. It rubs against the head and makes it very difficult to install.
I've had to take the pod back off the dash now to figure out what I am going to do about the brake light lense. It looks like I might be able to canibalize the sweep speedo and use the brake light lense in it. I'll have to trim it round and glue it to the back of the dash in the hole.

We ordered a repro ash tray assembly. At this time, I don't see what is going to keep the ash tray door closed. I do not see or feel a detent and there is no spring like the sweep ash tray had. Any ideas, anyone ???

The Muscle Factory will be getting a call Monday morning. And it ain't gonna be pretty.

Nate

I went the easy route and yanked a dash from a monte carlo, picked up the harness too. it was basically plug and play, some wrecking yards will sell a harness from a monte cheaper than a chevelle. Only problem I had to fill the holes that mounted the face plate. Jim

I went the easy route and yanked a dash from a monte carlo, picked up the harness too. it was basically plug and play, some wrecking yards will sell a harness from a monte cheaper than a chevelle. Only problem I had to fill the holes that mounted the face plate. Jim

We know this Jim. You've told us about 25 times. But thanks for letting us all know, again !

I was able to disassemble the sweep speedo and retrieve the "BRAKE" red lense. I cut it down to fit the small hole and glued it in place. The letters barely fit inside the hole.
2 things I'm upset about with this new parts setup.
There were no nuts supplied to attach the printed circuit to the backs of the gauges. There were no instructions, so I assumed that you are not supposed to unscrew the nuts that are already on the backs of the gauges ??? I had to scrounge up all the nuts and they are very small. I think the tach nuts were supposed to be metric, because 4 40 fits very tight.
The other thing that makes me mad is that there were only 10 new bulbs and 10 bulb sockets. 15 are needed.
The bulbs and bulb sockets on the sweep dash are diferent.
I would have had this project done today, but now I will be waiting for the 5 bulb sockets. The 194 bulbs could come out of the sweep dash. (They are used on the indicator lights). I'll be using new bulbs instead.

Maybe I can hunt down some bulb sockets locally.

Nate

That red BRAKE light lens is not reproduced, but when I put out a "Wanted" ad here on TC, I got several responses. They weld on, similar to the gauge lens.

Ask, and ye shall receive...