Please Gauge My Progress

[Subarumor]

Hello:

 

I'm a Subie Newbie here. I've owned 3 Subs for the past 15yrs.

My last was a 'perfect' 86 GL Wagon - it had all the features I liked about the Sub. My favorite feature was the instrument panel with the speedo and tacho neatly placed in the center and the 4 other gauges clustered around them (temp, oil pressure, voltemeter, fuel). That car finally saw the end of its days a few months ago so I bought a 93 Loyale of that lineage (couldn't find anymore suitable GLs). Unfortunately, I found they terminated that wonderful GL instrument panel and left out the oil pressure and voltmeter gauges. Now there are only 2 empty spaces there like missing teeth in a mouth that bug me no end. I don't understand why Subaru eliminated such a great ergonomic feature that made it unlike any other Japanese car - it's a real disappointment.

 

My question is this: Can I replace the instrument panel with one from an older Sub without much difficulty? The gauges appear to be integrated with the panel itself so can't be installed separately (ie: it appears I have to replace the entire panel?). I'm wondering if the wiring plugs would be the same or I would have to analyze every wire and rewire the whole panel. I've wondered the wrecking yards in my area and seen many variations of old Sub panels depending upon year, manual/auto, turbo/non, etc. Aftermarket gauges with their wiring are awkward and unsightly to install anywhere outside the panel anywhere near the dash so seem untenable to me. Any suggestions?

[one eye]

.

 

My question is this:............................. Any suggestions?

 

I'm not 100% sure if Loyals and DL's are the same but I thought I would try this with an 87DL Wagon, and Put the GL style dash in it. I found right off the bat the the plugs are totally different, the only way to do it would to be, rewire a ton of stuff. Dont get me wrong I'm sure it could be done but it looks to be a huge can of worms...................

 

Jeff

[Subarumor]

Thanks for the response.

 

I believe the GL is substantially different in features than the DL so explains why you encountered such different wiring. The GL is closer in species to the the Loyale so I'll be searching for a panel from a GL or Loyale that has the 4 gauges. I found some in the junk yard this week but they were either automatics or 4wd so had different displays so I couldn't use them.

 

So did you actually get the GL panel to work in your DL?

How bad was the wiring change?

[wysei82]

if you are really missin the oil and volt gauges that bad you coul get some after market gauges if you didnt care about them being right next to your speedo and tach

[JWS_Seattle]

I have a spare 1988 gl cluster, dual range 4x4, had power windows and locks. If you're in the Seattle area you try it.

[MilesFox]

the 4wd and automatic displays in the center of the cluster are removable and interchangeable

[Subarumor]

Thanks for the responses.

I tried an aftermarket oil gauge but I don't wanto use the ones that have direct oil feed (too risky). The electronic ones don't coordinate with the original Sub sender in voltage and the sender that comes with it doesn't fit the unusual thread size in the oil pump.

 

I'm in the Los Angeles area so I'll just peruse the local junk yards once-in-a-while to find a gauge panel. If the center panel is interchangeable then I guess I can use any of them? I'm just worried about the wiring - what a pain to have to trace every wire to see where it goes.