k5 instrument cluster broke
 

can just the left 4 gauges/panel be replaced on a k5 or does the entire cluster have to be replaced. heres a pic of what i mean. just the left side. the k5 i got has the left side cracked. thanks
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/86-Ch...Q5fAccessories

Do you mean the cluster of gauges on the left after the angle in the panel? Is yours also an '86?

Check this link out. As long as you're pre-1991 maybe?

the one that has the broken cluster is an 82. and idk i dont see any for 82. any advice on getting the gauges on the far left. 4 of them. the guy that had this before cut that left side apart and replaced with really crappy aftermarket gauges and didn't wire anything right.

Just get a replacement cluster if its all hacked up.

And I thought I told you to keep it all in one thread... That would keep the questions about what you are looking at down...

where can i get one. all i've found is ebay and it isn't complete. just pricing stuff out it looks like its going to be around 500 for replacement panels and 500 in parts plus whatever a cluster costs.

junkyard perhaps?

i'll check around but so far i haven't seen any k5 in the junkyards

Trey the internet junkyard searches as well. They'll come boack with stupid high prices but sometimes you can talk 'em down.

If it's going to be rediculously expensive, and you are keeping the k5, just invest in some didgital gauges, as I am. I just got mine {86 4wd 305 4bbl} from the original owner with 93k, and all but 1 dash light is out. I just found out you have to drop the column to get the cluster out. I'll try it tomorrow.

Holy old thread! I didn't have to drop the column to get the cluster out of my '74 nor out of the '90 Suburban I have for parts... I've replaced the lights in the cluster from my '74 and polished the lens while it was all apart. Cost me only a few dollars.

I read it somewhere online. I never took the gauge cluster out of a k5 before. It looked straight forward. Now it seems it's stuck in the dash, so before I have a coniption and get the sawsall, I'll try dropping the column. My temp and oil pressure gauges don't work either. I'll try and clean up the contacts,and change all the bulbs. I had to do that to other older cars I've had awhile back. This is the 1st car in 16 years I bought that has a carburetor. Mine is an 86 aswell.

You don't need to drop the steering column to get to the instrument cluster. You may need to remove the whole dash pad, but I never had to drop the steering column. Make sure you find all the screws too. In a lot of junkyards I've been to it looks like someone has started to take the dash pad or cluster off but didn't find all the screws and just ended up destroying it.

For the original poster of the thread look at pickups and suburbans too, these trucks have a lot of interchangeable parts, especially in the dash. Although you probably already know that.

gauge cluster removal
 

I took the dash pad off already. It was the 1st thing I did because I need a new one. I had to drop the column to get more room. I got the gauge cluster out with a little more tugging. Nope, didnt break anything either. Now after I replace all the bulbs and clean up the printed circuit, I'll figure out why the temp and oil pressure gauges dont work. If it looks like its going to be difficult, I'll just get didgital gauges from dakota didgital and be done with it.