Changing from Junior to senior gauges

Posted by Robert Freeman On 2011/3/10 17:24:27

Has anyone changed their junior instrument cluster to one from a senior model? There are some good benefits to be gained such as oil and generator gauges vice warning lights. They also appear to be more pleasing to the eye.

To do the change, I noticed that I can't just swap out the individual instruments, I need to replace the entire instrument cluster. This is because the 'junior' cluster doesn't have gauge openings for the oil and generator gauges. I also noticed that the oil sending units are different as well. Does the wiring need to be altered as well? How about the voltage regulators both instrument and under the hood?

I have purchased an instrument cluster and working clock from a '56 senior Packard on ebay. My current junior speedometer has gone TU and if I'm going to fix it, I may as well go the distance and install the whole instrument cluster.