We first spotted Classic Instruments’ new direct-fit cluster for 1973-1987 square body GM trucks at the NSRA Louisville show, where the company picked up a best new product award. Not to be outdone, the judging committee at the 2017 SEMA show also selected the Classic Instruments cluster for their Best New Street Rod or Custom Car Product award.

“The biggest problem with the instrument clusters in these years is the number of gauge lenses in the cluster,” said John McLeod, owner of Classic Instruments. “Each lens has its own angle so the driver can get a better view.” He went on to point out the difficulty in creating an instrument cluster with six different lens angles. Classic Instruments took on the challenge and has come up with a stellar “Direct-Fit Cluster” for the 1973-1987 Sqauare Body trucks. Currently they offer seven different series for the 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks, Suburbans, and Blazers.

McLeod began by showing us the single connection wire harness. “This makes the installation much easier,” he said. These clusters also feature LED illumination for gear indicator and in some cases, four-wheel drive mode. The turn signal indicators are in the stock location on these easy to install direct-fit instrument clusters. We were impressed that all of the necessary sending units are included. The fuel sending unit selector switch allows the fuel gage to work with almost any existing fuel sending unit which means a replacement fuel sending unit won’t be needed and is not included.

Weak areas of the original OE instrument clusters have been identified and corrected by the Classic Instruments design. The original units were held together with plastic hardware that gets brittle with age. Pulling these units from a wrecking yard almost always results in these plastic pieces breaking, no matter how gently the removal is. Classic Instruments has replaced that plastic hardware with machined metal hardware pieces designed to outlast the truck.

Now that the square-body truck owners have some style options in their instrument clusters, we can hardly wait to see more of these trucks showing up at the local and national events. For more information on Classic Instruments’ direct-ft Square-Body clusters or any of their other fine products, visit them online at www.classicinstruments.com.