Step-by-Step '67 Rallye Gauge Cluster Overhaul/Audio System Upgrade

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67fish383S

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67fish383S updated Step-by-Step '67 Rallye Gauge Cluster Overhaul/Audio System Upgrade

I added very important detail to two of the pictures/steps indicating that the replacement ammeter from Charger Specialties has the posts reversed from the factory gauge and that this detail may not be included in the instructions supplied with the gauge. It is imperative to make sure to connect the new ammeter reversed from the factory install (swap red and black wires), or your new ammeter will read backward and you will have to remove the bezel again to correct it. Just like I have to do now.

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67fish383S updated Step-by-Step '67 Rallye Gauge Cluster Overhaul/Audio System Upgrade

This is a minor update to add a few disassembly pics that I missed the first time. The new pics were taken upon my fourth (or fortieth, I can't keep track) run-through of the procedure. I had to pull the cluster again because the replacement speedometer is acting up (sending them both in for repair/refurb) and the ammeter needle needed a little correction to rest at dead center. The good news is that I've done this enough times now that I can do the removal fairly quickly and without removing the seats. The buckets allow just enough room to move around under the dash when you know exactly what you're doing, but I would still remove a bench seat. Trying to do this with a bench in place would be nearly impossible.

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Wow, cant believe Charger Specialties reversed the neg and pos?? And they are still being made this way? Frustrating. Thanks for the update.
FYI those schematics you posted are not factory. I discovered with the help of members on here when I started a "rally dash redo" thread. Mymopar should be pulling them from their website!
There is a factory 67 "supplement " that was released after the 67 FSM was printed. I think 30 some pages??
Has a good bit of missing info, as well as 67 barracuda specific electrical schematics. I printed and laminated them. Hopefully get my harness done shortly.
Well done Dennis!
Edit ** i have pdfs of the supplement if you like**
 
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Wow, cant believe Charger Specialties reversed the neg and pos?? And they are still being made this way? Frustrating. Thanks for the update.
FYI those schematics you posted are not factory. I discovered with the help of members on here when I started a "rally dash redo" thread. Mymopar should be pulling them from their website!
There is a factory 67 "supplement " that was released after the 67 FSM was printed. I think 30 some pages??
Has a good bit of missing info, as well as 67 barracuda specific electrical schematics. I printed and laminated them. Hopefully get my harness done shortly.
Well done Dennis!
Edit ** i have pdfs of the supplement if you like**
Wow thanks for the info. Yes I would really like the PDFs if you wouldn't mind sharing. I suspected that what I had wasn't completely accurate, but it was good enough for what I was trying to do, and much easier than trying to read the diagrams in the '67 Plymouth Service Manual. I've found that manual particularly frustrating because almost none of it is specific to Barracudas. They are just lumped in with the Valiant info and in most, if not all cases it's not completely accurate. Just close enough to be dangerous lol. If you know of a good service manual that is specific to the 2nd gen Barracudas, please let me know. I've looked at the Haynes manual that is available through some online booksellers, but that one doesn't seem specific enough either.

As for Charger Specialties, they had no good reason for why the posts are reversed, and it took them a while to even verify that was the case. Apparently they bought another smaller company that manufactured (hand-built) the gauges and PCBs, but did not get all the needed info from the company they bought. The instructions that came with the gauges are sorely in need of updating. Nice units, but you can't go selling something that doesn't match what is being replaced and just not tell the end user. I have not seen your dash thread yet, but I will check it out. Thanks.
 
I agree with you, the 67 FSM definitely lacks the barracuda specific info. The supplement was obviously supposed to be in there.
I was using the same schematics you were from mymopar....i thought they were factory, but with fabo help I learned they aren't. Maybe they are from a Motors Manual? Good stuff but not factory.
Also Dad n I discovered there was a mid year change in the ac circuit. Del/67dart273 pointed that out to us. So 2 factory schematics for that.
I'll email you the supplement and try to find ac schematics also.
Great write up, sorry for the sidetrack.
Wow thanks for the info. Yes I would really like the PDFs if you wouldn't mind sharing. I suspected that what I had wasn't completely accurate, but it was good enough for what I was trying to do, and much easier than trying to read the diagrams in the '67 Plymouth Service Manual. I've found that manual particularly frustrating because almost none of it is specific to Barracudas. They are just lumped in with the Valiant info and in most, if not all cases it's not completely accurate. Just close enough to be dangerous lol. If you know of a good service manual that is specific to the 2nd gen Barracudas, please let me know. I've looked at the Haynes manual that is available through some online booksellers, but that one doesn't seem specific enough either.

As for Charger Specialties, they had no good reason for why the posts are reversed, and it took them a while to even verify that was the case. Apparently they bought another smaller company that manufactured (hand-built) the gauges and PCBs, but did not get all the needed info from the company they bought. The instructions that came with the gauges are sorely in need of updating. Nice units, but you can't go selling something that doesn't match what is being replaced and just not tell the end user. I have not seen your dash thread yet, but I will check it out. Thanks.
 
Do the LED lights seem to dim and brighten fairly well with the turning of the switch knob?
Unfortunately dimming is something I had to give up with this swap out. At least with the bulbs I used. They are either full on or off when you use the dimmer. It wasn't a big deal for me because I tend to keep them full bright anyway. I'm sure you could find dimmable LED bulb replacements, it just wasn't something I thought about before I bought mine.
 
I think that the LED bulbs do not dim because they do not pull enough current compared to the old bulbs. If you leave at least one regular bulb in they will dim. I kept incandescent bulbs in my aftermarket gauges for this reason. A bulb in your radio, or ac controls ( if you have an ac car) will do it too.
 
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