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View Full Version : missed opportunites


RichP
July 23rd, 2005, 10:16
Just watching spike and power block, the 4x4 show is building that rock crawler and installing gauges, showing all kind of autometer gauges on the commercials, etc. The whole gauge thing just pretty much falls short when it comes to jeeps, don't know how many 97+ XJ's and 97+ TJ's they have built over the years that use the same cluster but it kind of suprises me that they have all kinds of stuff for ricers, muscle cars, trucks, etc that have panels and such that change year to year wherein the gauge panel for the TJ and XJ has been the same for almost 9 years. Backing up a bit I had a 75 dodge van that was built in 76, Stewart-Warner had a complete replacement gauge pod that replaced the two big circles that the stock dodges came with, had directionals, high beam indicators, etc that took changing some senders but that was pre-emissions days.
What suprises me is that they, stewart-warner, autometer, etc have not come out with a tricked up panel replacment that would drop right in and use stock senders. Seems to me that with the million or so out there there would be a market. Seems to me they are missing out on a good market.

Beej
July 23rd, 2005, 11:11
Agreed. I'd buy one in a flash to get rid of my idiot lights...

bjoehandley
July 23rd, 2005, 20:44
Ditto

Eagle
July 23rd, 2005, 22:18
Agreed. I'd buy one in a flash to get rid of my idiot lights...
So why don't you do like RichP did and just replace the gauge cluster with one that has gauges? The 97 and newer cluster takes all its data from the data bus so you don't even have to replace any senders, unlike on the earlier models. I think Rich did a write-up on his cluster swap awhile ago.

You don't even have to use an XJ panel. You can use a panel from a Wrangler, too. That's what Rich did.

Beej
July 23rd, 2005, 22:34
I've thought about that recently. My only concern is that my mileage will then change. This is a consideration with this swap, right? My mileage will then show whatever the cluster had on it before the swap? I need to research the legality of it up here a bit more before undertaking it. Thanks for the reminder Eagle...
:wave: