Hey all

As a small winter project to keep me busy I decided to finally do the sat/nav to three gauge conversion. Have been researching the components for doing the job: used gauges, dash panels, Jagwrangler harness and options. I'm just going with the basic setup of oil pressure, clock and volt meter.

Would like to know how you went about sourcing the different components and would you do it differently if you had to do it again. As always, thanks in advance and I hope you're all doing well.

Cheers!

Andrew

 

Lots of info about some of the finer details are in my article here: https://www.jcna.com/sites/default/f...Jun%202017.pdf (page 27):

 

I did the conversion on my '06 from maple/Nav to walnut /3 gauge. The hardest part was locating a complete dash. Also use care pulling the panel covering the passenger air bag. I opted to cut the straps and reconnect using tie wraps. Likely not the best idea, but hopefully workable.
The three gauge conversion is very complete. Be careful routing the wiring. When replacing the dash panel over the instrument gauges, I inadvertently pulled a connector loose, and had to pull the panel off and trace the wires to find the loose one. When completed, all looks good, and works great.

 

Thanks. Believe it or not I had that article saved in my favorites for a long time. I read it yesterday before posting my thread. A lot of good information but, I guess what I'm wondering is did folks purchase the refurb gauges from Jagwrangler or purchase from another source (Ebay). As far as the dash panel needed.. Where did you source it from? Did the three gauge wood dash panel match your existing dash panels? Should you just consider buying/changing all of them?

 

Andrew, it's a little more effort to also do the Real Gauge temperature part and you would be good to go.
Steve's instruction are very clear, finding the wires was a little problem, not now that I had my cataracts done. Very easy and finding the 3 gauge will be the most problem to find.

 

Thanks Sam. This is the kind of info I was looking for. The stuff you usually find out the hard way or after the fact. Think I should have called this thread "If I had to do it over again".

 

I got the gauges from Jag Wrangler. Did I mention that they give excellent support for any questions when you are doing the conversion. I found a dash on eBay. Recommend you get all the pieces, as there is a 'design continuity' on the wood patterns. You might get lucky with a similar pattern, but not likely. I didn't find any 3 gauge panels that would work on my dash. Besides, I was going from maple to walnut. The end result is worth it.

 

Hey Wayne. As always I'm probably over thinking things as usual. Jagwrangler has the gauges for $150 and I'm seeing some on Ebay for like half of that. Might be worth giving them a try.

One question I have for everyone with this style/type of clock. Does it actually work? Back in the day most in dash car clocks never lasted very long. How bout these?

 

You know the ones from JagWrangler will work, and well. I am not sure if regular used gauges will display full range. Others here on the forum can tell you for sure. My clock works great and well.
Keep "********' (Myrtle Beach style, not necessarily UK style?)..

 

Thanks Sam. Was thinking of approaching it pretty much the same way as you did. Have had my center console and dash apart a few times but never the speedo side of the dash. Just remembering how many threads I've read of folks removing that panel to change bulbs or do something simple and a wire gets pulled out or pinched which of course causes another unrelated problem. Never thought about the passenger air bag side guess I need to start doing some reading on how to do it. If someone has a link that would be much appreciated.

 

Sam as you can see I have the ******** covered. hahahaa

 

One more hint: If you get used gauges instead of TheJagWrangler refurbished ones is to replace the backlighting bulbs. Usually the fragile old filaments on used clusters fail after shipping. Likewise replace the main speedo cluster backlighting bulbs also while you have it out...the act of removing the cluster often causes the filament contact inside the bulb to go intermittent.

These clocks are very reliable and typically last for decades.

 

Good heads up on the bulbs. Thanks that makes total sense to make that part of the job.