PY Online Forums - Bringing the Pontiac Hobby Together

I am ready to pull the trigger on modern gauges for my car. When they did the LS swap, they just ‘rigged’ everything to work with the factory gauges. The gauges ‘work’ but the do not work ‘well.’

For example, the install manual mentions the need for a ‘pull-up’ resistor to make a factory tach recognize the low-voltage RPM signal from the LS bulkhead. If you roll on the throttle gradually, the tach keeps up fairly well. But if you really get on it, the tach drops to 0 and then comes back to life when you let off the throttle.

Also, the fuel gauge reads 1/2 when the tank is empty (ask me how I know…)

Anyway - I am really digging the newer Dakota gauges that mimic the factory OE look. But they are back ordered til January and are close to $1,500.00.

I have found a set of Dakotas on the shelf for about 1/2 that - but they are the set that does not have that OE TA ‘look.’

I am attaching photos of both. The new OE style set is only pictured with the wood grain bezel - of course, I’ve got a nice engine turned Bezel. The set thats on the shelf today is pictured in an engine turned bezel, so that’s exactly what it would look like in May car.

If the OE one was the same cost and on the shelf - you bet I’d go with it. But at almost double the cost and back ordered til January, I’m wondering if the other set would look just fine in my car?

Any thoughts welcome