'71 Barracuda Dash Cluster

[Claudia]

Looking for some more knowledge . . . I currently have a '72 - '74 Rally Gauge cluster that came as extra parts with my '71 Barracuda.  My question is, can I purchase a '71 Speedometer and a '71 Clock both with the offset reset knobs and bolt them directly into the '72 - '74 Rally Gauge housing?  I know that I would need to change out the lens cover and wood-grain face panel with a '71 to accommodate the new location of the reset knobs as well as needing to change out the tachometer.  My main question is basically if the gauge housings are the same from '70-'74? So, since I already have the main housing and bezel, can I just change out the speedometer, tachometer, clock, lens and front face plate to turn it into a '70-'71 or would I have to buy an actual '70-'71 cluster?

[1 Wild R/T]

I think you'd be money ahead to sell what you have & buy what you want.... once you tear the 72^ cluster apart you have nothing to sell.... And buying a 70 Speedo, Clock & tach plus the bezel, lens, cable, knobs etc... Find a complete 70 cluster...

[ragtopdodge]

Complete 70-71 clusters are like $500 for cores.

The housings are the same.  Yes, you can buy brand new speedos and clocks (with quartz movement) and clear gauge plastic cover (PG Classic carries them).

Get a new woodgrain plate for $250 from Performance Graphics (not the PG stuff).

I would go that route if the rest of your gauges are working (tach, oil/temp/fuel/amp).

[anlauto]

The tach is different as well

[Claudia]

Thank you all for the advice!

[ragtopdodge]

The tach is different as well

True, but even though it only shows to 7k, it can still work. 

However, tachs are notoriously inaccurate, so best to get it rebuilt and re-faced anyways.

[70chall440]

I am running a 71 up cluster in my 70 Challenger RT, not correct but unless it is something that really bothers you, use it. BTW my tach is very accurate, if yours isn't you can have them rebuilt (along with the rest of it as needed).

Met John Manush from 2K Inc. out of Iowa at the Nationals, does really nice work, will do only what you need and is a great guy to talk to. If you google the name you will see several "buyer beware" posts all from the same guy on multiple forums with a story of issues. Having read them (they are all the same), it appears that it was a clash of personalities, but then who knows. I do know I looked at his work personally and talked to him face to face and can say both were pleasant. That said, there are plenty of resto shops out there.