Frosted gauge needles, Escalade cluster compatibility

thunderstruck

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So yesterday I changed out the dead SuperBrightLEDs.com bulbs in my gauge cluster with new bulbs from V-LEDs.com. While I was at it, I took off the needles, cleared all the paint off them, and then wetsanded them to give them a frosted look. I like the look much better (pics are following), but I made a careless mistake while sanding. I think I accidentally scuffed up the reflectors (behind the pivoting end of the needle) that direct light through the needles. I didn't intentionally sand them, but I wasn't paying attention if the paper was scuffing them accidentally. Of course, I didn't realize my mistake until I already had everything reinstalled and turned on the lights. The small fuel/oil/temp/batt needles still light up fine, but the speedo and tach needles are faint when compared to the text on the cluster. I can still see them fine at night, but they are MUCH dimmer than they used to be with orange paint.

So I looked on eBay for another cluster I could use or graft the needles from when I thought "why not get a 99-00 Escalade/Denali cluster?" Especially since the trip meter in my cluster is dead. The esky clusters have a 120mph speedo, 6000rpm tach, teal backlighting and thinner, white needles. They are completely plug-and-play for the 96+ GMT400 trucks, besides swapping the odometer. The only problem is that my 95's tach only goes up to 5000rpm, unlike all the gas 96+ clusters which go to 6000.

So now I'm trying to find out whether or not the Escalade tach will work correctly in place of the 95 tach. I found someone who swapped an Escalade cluster into his 95, and said that it was plug-and-play, but didn't mention anything about the tach. I'm trying to contact him, but if anyone here knows, please let me know.
 

thunderstruck

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Here is my current cluster with frosted needles:

picture.php


And here is the Escalade cluster:

picture.php
 

thunderstruck

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Just some subtle differences:
The esky clusters have a 120mph speedo, 6000rpm tach, teal backlighting and thinner, white needles.
Opposed to 100mph speedo, 5000rpm tach, white backlightning and bigger orange needles.

The guy who swapped the cluster into his 95 got back to me. It works, so I'm ordering me a cluster right now. :thumbs:

And if it doesn't, then I guess I'll get some needles and a working trip meter out of it.
 

thunderstruck

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w00t! Everything works perfectly, and looks much better. I actually have a working trip meter again!

garage_attachment.php

garage_attachment.php
 
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ScottyBoy

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Just some subtle differences:
The esky clusters have a 120mph speedo, 6000rpm tach, teal backlighting and thinner, white needles.
Opposed to 100mph speedo, 5000rpm tach, white backlightning and bigger orange needles.

The guy who swapped the cluster into his 95 got back to me. It works, so I'm ordering me a cluster right now. :thumbs:

And if it doesn't, then I guess I'll get some needles and a working trip meter out of it.

I've also heard of some GMT400 owners looking for a 99 "police model" Tahoe cluster. Suppossedly it has a 6000 rpm tach and a 140mph speedo. :dunno:
 
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