1970 vs. 1971-1972 Instrument Cluster Identification

 

General Information

 

The 1970 'Instrument Panel Gauges' option for 1970-1972 Chevelle Malibus (RPO U14) varied very little - but there are some differences. Lets begin by dispelling the myth of "SS gauges." While the 1970-1972 SS-optioned Chevelles have a 3-round pod dash carrier, they did NOT come with any engine monitoring gauges, only a fuel gauge and speedometer/odometer whereas a non-SS optioned Malibus were outfitted with a 'linier' dash carrier with a fuel gauge and speedometer/odometer.

 

Much of the information here can also be found in the 1970, 1971, and 1972 section via their respective SS-optioned links.

 

Any V8-optioned Malibu sport coupe, convertible, or El Camino could order RPO U14 Special Instrumentation and get the same round-pod dash carrier as any SS-optioned Malibu sport coupe, convertible, or El Camino. The ONLY difference being the reline of the tachometer in most cases.

 

1970-1972 SS Dash

 

The SS, SS396,  SS454 optioned V8 Malibu sport coupe, convertible, and El Camino dash cluster consisted of 3 large round gauge pods with a fuel level gauge in the left-most pod, the speedometer in the center-most pod, and a blank plate in the right-most pod and three smaller pod for various warning lamps.

 

Three smaller round pods were used for warning lamps for the generator, water temperature, and oil pressure as indicated. In the example above the speedometer pod also has a column-shift transmission gear indicator; a floor-shifted transmission will not have this in the speedometer pod. If the optional clock (RPO U35) is ordered, it would occupy the right-most large pod.

 

Note the three large pods and the three smaller pods are outlined in silver. The four smaller circular pods for left and right turn lamps, brake lamp, and high beam lamp are NOT. Many aftermarket dash carriers have these either outlined in silver as well or a 'chrome' outline. Also note the raised lettering for the Windshield Wiper and Lighter will be missing its white lettering.

 

RPO U14 Special Instrumentation included a tachometer, an ammeter gauge, a water temperature gauge a relocated oil pressure warning lamp and electric clock. The oil pressure warning lamp is in the bottom center of the tachometer. The ammeter replaced the warning lamp in the top left-most pod, the water temperature gauge replaced the warning lamp in the top right-most pod, the tachometer replaced the fuel level gauge in the large left-most pod and moved the fuel level gauge to the lower right-most pod. The image above is a non-SS optioned V8 Malibu sport coupe with the U14 option, hence the saddle steering wheel and saddle dash pad.

 

 

Note the oil pressure warning lamp incorporated into the tachometer face. Also note the two mounting screws above RPM and 100, on aftermarket tachometers these two screws are inside the 10 and 60 tic marks making aftermarket tachometers easy to spot.

 

All 1970-1970 tachometers show a 0-7000 RPM range. The difference the three are the yellow and redline ranges.
>> All small block engines have a 5000 RPM redline.
>> All LS3, L34, and LS5 engines have a 5500 RPM reline although some 1970 Atlanta and Baltimore LS5 engines were equipped with a 5000 redline tachometer.
>> All L78 and LS6 engines have a 6500 ROM redline.
My 1970 Build Sheet Decode Program for 1970 Atlanta, Baltimore, Kansas City, and Van Nuys SS396/SS454 Chevelles has more details.

 

If your Chevelle was ordered with RPO U14 Special Instrumentation, box #72 on your build sheet will have a 3-digit number indicating the redline RPM of the tachometer to be installed.
>> 938 indicates a 5000 RPM redline tachometer.
>> 985 indicates a 5500 RPM redline tachometer.
>> 983 indicates a 6500 RPM redline tachometer.
If the option was nor ordered the box will have three dash characters (- - -).

 

The 1970 and 1971 SS dash carriers are, for all intents and purposes the same save for one distinguishing characteristic, the 1970 has green instrument lettering and tic marks where the 1971 and 1972 have green lettering and tic marks.

 

1971 Dash Characteristics

 

Aside from the lettering and tic mark color changes any 1971 U14-optioned V8 Malibu sport coupe, convertible, or El Camino dash was essentially the same as the 1970 U14-optioned dash. What set any SS-optioned dash apart from a non-SS optioned dash is the headlamp switch, the radio control knobs, and the cigarette lighter knob has international symbols on them. A non-SS optioned Malibu with the U14 option will NOT have the international symbols on these controls.

 

1972 Dash Characteristics

 

The 1972 dash carrier (after January 1, 1972) will also have a seat belt warning lamp just to the left of the cigarette lighter. Early 1972 dash carriers did not have this provision and it's been reported that early production models with the warning lamp provision did not have the newer wiring harness to accommodate the lamp.

Unlike the 1971 model year, all 1972 Chevelles have international symbols on the various controls.

 

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