SW gauges

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fossilrider

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Hey guys, Steve (Fossil) here. Newbie but have a question someone here can probably answer. I have just bought a '78 Power Wagon and there are a few small issues I want to address before putting it on the road. The truck is a one owner (before me) with 74k miles and is a really nice truck. The issues are: gas gauge doesn't work, and the wipers don't work. The gas gauge that is in the dash is a SW/ Stewart-Warner gauge. Did this come as stock in these trucks? As an old hot rod guy, we used SW gauges as replacements but I don't recall ever seeing them as stock items. Thanks for any help.
 

1979PowerWagon360

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No s/w. This is what your stock gauge should look like. Do you have dual tanks, or frame mounted or in cab?

Your wipers probably don't work because the linkage grommets are broken. Do you hear motor run when you turn them on?
 

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fossilrider

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Nope, my gauge isn't in a cluster. It is on the left hand side of the dash panel, the dash being divided into 3 parts. The gas, temp, amp, and oil gauges are in the small triangular left portion of the dash. They are all individual round gauges like the aftermarket ones that people mount under the dash. ( I will try to post a pic in a bit). I want to clean and paint the underside of the truck and replace the wood in the bed so I think I will pull the bed and have the frame and everything under the bed blasted and paint it all while the bed is off. Then I will do the rest , under the cab, later. While the bed is off, I would be crazy to not just replace the sending unit, since this is probably the original, (and look inside the tank). The tank is plastic so don't expect any issues, other than maybe some debris to clean out. As far as the wipers go, I bought a new motor and bushings and I am replacing them this week which should fix that. Thanks for the reply. Foss
 
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fossilrider

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Well, I was mistaken: the gauges aren't in the small extreme left (hate to use that term!
n20220919_112853.jpgot to get political.) But they are in the middle section with the speedo. I will try to attach a pic. Anyway, I might end up having to go with the same setup I installed on the Jeep Commando I just restored, a programable gas gauge since I don't know yet how well this SW gauge will work (how accurate it will be) with the new stock sending unit I have ordered. I have a hunch that none of these gauges in my dash are what came in it, but haven't been able to see a pic of the stock dash on my model. Anyway, thanks for any help. Foss
 

1979PowerWagon360

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Lol extreme left. Only your speedometer is factory. Those gauges you have are probably good quality but if you prefer factory appearance as I do the OEM one's can be found at reasonable prices on Ebay. The speedometers; different story. Pretty pricey. Most bypass the factory amp gauge because they are fire hazard. Here's factory gauges on my '79. Only difference is the 85mph speedometer.
 

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fossilrider

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Thanks 360, that's what I thought. I just received the sending unit I ordered (though I'm not even sure mine is the problem, but figured I would just go ahead and put a new one in so I don't have to worry about that later.?). The thing is, since the SW gauges are complete units with their own case and lens I'm not sure the originals were like that. From the pics I've found it looks like they are just the works that mount behind a lens which is separate and in the dash cover.? Someone posted a pic of a gauge like that (just the working part with no case or lens) and asked if mine looked like that. So I assume the one he posted is the stock item. If they are like that, I would have to rig them up with a case and lens. I am thinking my best answer is a programable gas gauge, but they are kinda pricey. Sorry for the delay in responding, been busy. Well I will dig a little more. Thanks again
 

1979PowerWagon360

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Correct on the stock gauge. I posted one above that's the stock gauge New Old Stock I saw for sale on ebay. The stock one plugs into the printed circuit board and then gauge cover goes over it with face plate. Looks like you might be able to still use the one you have IF you went back to stock gauges. I'm just into the stock appearance, but if you're not those are probably good gauges and you may need tank sending unit or check the voltage and connections to the current one.
 
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