More questions about my Hi-Lo tranny swap into loyale

[Fish-N-Fool]

I'm putting a older Hi-Lo tranny out of a 87 GL into my 93 Loyale and I have some questions for anyone that has ever done this. Both were 5 speeds so it all bolts up fine, but I want to also swap the gauges out so it has the Hi -Lo lights on the dash and the oil pressure gauge and amp gauges that mine does not have.  What would be the best  and easiest way to go about wiring this? and what all would I need to get the gauges to work.

Edited January 25, 2015 by Fish-N-Fool

[TomRhere]

So, your's is a DL with 4 headlights vs. a GL with 2 composite headlights?

 

The "no oil, amp gauges" is why I ask. No tach either I suppose?

 

Big wiring changes are in your future otherwise.

Edited January 25, 2015 by TomRhere

[Fish-N-Fool]

So, your's is a DL with 4 headlights vs. a GL with 2 composite headlights?

 

The "no oil, amp gauges" is why I ask. No tach either I suppose?

 

Big wiring changes are in your future otherwise.

No mine is a 93 loyale,  the tranny came from a 87 GL. My dash only has a fuel gauge and a temp gauge and idiot lights for oil and amps, yes it has a tach also.

Edited January 25, 2015 by Fish-N-Fool

[987687]

Yea, later loyales have the same gauge cluster as the GL except it's missing the oil pressure and the volt meter. Volt meter is easy to add, you just hook it to the 12v supply and it tells you how many volts are there. The oil pressure probably isn't hard, either. You do, however, probably have to swap the oil pressure sender. It's likely your car has an "idiot light sender" meaning it sets the light on if it's less than 5psi or whatever. So you'd have to change that out to the GL sender.

 

Honestly, I don't see the point. The oil pressure gauge almost never gives any useful readings, the stock setup is all over the place and somewhat useless.

 

Check to see if your gauge cluster already has the lights for low range. It'll be in the center section that has the little icon of the car, if you look at it closely you'll see lights in there that may not be used in your application. It may have the low range light. To wire it up you probably have to find the low range signal wire on the transmission and run a wire to the gauge for it.

 

I've never bothered hooking those up on my GL, which was converted from an automatic. If I'm in 4x4 I know it because I'm driving in snow or something, and if I'm using low range I DEFINITELY know it. I'm driving on a loose surface AND going offroad, over curbs, through the woods or something...

 

I think of it like know what gear you're in driving down the road, there's no light on the dash to tell you you're in 3rd gear, if you drive a stick you should just know what gear you're in. If you drive a 4x4 you should know that, part of being in tune with the car.

 

My $0.02...

[Fish-N-Fool]

Yea, later loyales have the same gauge cluster as the GL except it's missing the oil pressure and the volt meter. Volt meter is easy to add, you just hook it to the 12v supply and it tells you how many volts are there. The oil pressure probably isn't hard, either. You do, however, probably have to swap the oil pressure sender. It's likely your car has an "idiot light sender" meaning it sets the light on if it's less than 5psi or whatever. So you'd have to change that out to the GL sender.

 

Honestly, I don't see the point. The oil pressure gauge almost never gives any useful readings, the stock setup is all over the place and somewhat useless.

 

Check to see if your gauge cluster already has the lights for low range. It'll be in the center section that has the little icon of the car, if you look at it closely you'll see lights in there that may not be used in your application. It may have the low range light. To wire it up you probably have to find the low range signal wire on the transmission and run a wire to the gauge for it.

 

I've never bothered hooking those up on my GL, which was converted from an automatic. If I'm in 4x4 I know it because I'm driving in snow or something, and if I'm using low range I DEFINITELY know it. I'm driving on a loose surface AND going offroad, over curbs, through the woods or something...

 

I think of it like know what gear you're in driving down the road, there's no light on the dash to tell you you're in 3rd gear, if you drive a stick you should just know what gear you're in. If you drive a 4x4 you should know that, part of being in tune with the car.

 

My $0.02...

I know all that but my wife drives this also, need I say more?

Edited January 26, 2015 by Fish-N-Fool

[TomRhere]

I know all that but my wife drives this also, need I say more?

 

 

Umm, no. I definetly know where you're coming from.

 

The '92 Loyale GL Wagon I bought for parts had full gauge cluster in it, that's what I was going off of when I posted before. Maybe it was swapped in, don't know.

 

You do have to swap the oil pressure switch on the pump to the oil pressure sending unit. May have to swap a wire around in the connector for the dash also. Not sure on that one.

[bratman18]

Weird. I wonder when that actually changed. My 90 Loyale has those, except for the hi lo lights. And even my 92 had the other gauges as well.

[l75eya]

93 Loyale I have built in late 92 has simple cluster. 3at. No amps, no oil pressure. Just FYI.

[wagonist]

If you already have a tacho cluster, then that part is easy. The plugs should be identical. The centre part will already have a "Lo" light, it's just never been used. Need to trace the wire & hook it up to the tranny.

The volts gauge will work straight away, no wiring change necessary.

For the oil pressure gauge to work, move the wiring connector from the idiot light on the engine to the sender, then reroute the wire from the light on the dash to the cluster instead.

 

If you don't have a tacho cluster already, then it'd be easier to buy aftermarket gauges, cos while the plugs in the back of the cluster are the same shape, none of the pins are the same, nor are most on the correct side plug.