1970 Charger, rallye dash, all gauges pegged at max?

[Beach Goat]

So I drove my 1970 Charger in to work yesterday (fireman) and it spent the night in the parking lot. All was well when I parked it.

When I started it this morning, all the dash instruments were pegged all the way to the right and stayed there. Fuel, oil pressure, water temperature gauges all pegged past max and stayed there, even after the car warmed up, after driving a bit. Alternator gauge functioned normally, as did the speedo. I have seperate autometer gauges for oil and water temp, and they were in their normal ranges, so I knew I was good.

Day before yesterday, I was thumbing the dash dimmer rheostat up and down, trying to get the gauge lights to work as they haven't been lighting either. I thought maybe the rheostat was corroded and needed some cycling to function again. It didn't work.

Could my messing with the dimmer have messed up something else on the dash? The gauges worked for the last few years, they've been refreshed by the precious owner, my dad (Old School here).

[Bronzedodge]

Uh oh.  Not good.  Sounds like your voltage limiter is going bad. 

[Nacho-RT74]

It seems ( by the two described fails )  more like the cluster ground got missed. That will make to the limiter send full 12 volts and not work the bulbs on cluster ( except tne brake light pilot light )

If you got luck, your gauges are not burnt.... yet.

[Yada]

  Check out http://rt-eng.com/rte/index.php/Main_Page really great limiters with protection for gauges

[Beach Goat]

Thanks guys, yeah my pops agrees with everything you've said. Ground issue, a loose wire somewhere, and/or failing regulator.

I've got an electronic regulator coming, as well as a new rheostat, and a new tic toc tach and harness+msd tach signal converter. That should fix up the dash issues. Nothing quite like the shotgun approach to car problems....just fire away with every replacement part that could fix the problem.

This is my first old car, and my first encounter with old wiring and electricals.

Has anyone switched to LED interior replacement bulbs to reduce the electrical load on these old wires? I don't want to over tax the system, I'll be driving this car a lot.

[Nacho-RT74]

Not regulator but the  CLUSTER LIMITER!

My car used to be a driver with all the stock system. Just need propper mantenience and charging upgrades. Stocks alt are definitelly not enough, not even when the car was new! Fail from MaMopar!

[Beach Goat]

Thanks nacho, yes you're right. I got guidance on what to look for, and this is what I orderedLook at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/380917322935

[Nacho-RT74]

Yes, that's the one Yada told. I really hope you didn't get burnt the gauges! When ground or voltage limiter is gone, gauges get the firts hit! If a voltage limiter misses the ground, points inside don't make the pulse and allow the full 12 volts instead the 5 volts gauges must work

Check the stickied thread about charging system upgrade based on stock system.

I'm not a fan of led tail lights. They are not designed for a propper light refraction on our stock housing systems. Too much directional. Except those made as boards to fill all the lense surface on tail lights. But still likes more the stock incandescent look.

Actually being behind a car with leds on rear is killer on my eyes when they press brakes on nights. I really hate them, same as I hate HID headlights

And I think not dimmable on cluster as far I recall.