1955 chevy truck amp meter

I am trying to hook up a new gauge cluster for a 1955 chevy truck second series and I cant figure out how to hook up the wires to make it work any help would be appreciated.

Thanks David

 

Do you have a shop manual for your truck? If not, get a FACTORY Chevrolet shop manual, not a Chilton's, not a Haynes, not a Motor Manual. The factory Chevy manual is available in reprints, and is very well written and illustrated. It is also MUCH easier to read and follow than shop manuals for new cars and trucks. In addition to the wiring, it will help you out with any other part of your truck that you may have to work on...engine... suspension... sheetmetal...etc.

 

Stock type cluster ? After market gauge cluster ?

 

Here's the wiring diagram from the factory shop manual. I can take a look at mine tomorrow if you need more help.

 

It is a stock gauge. The shop manuel I was looking at showed the 12 ga. red hooked to the top screw on the regulator, and a 12 ga. black ran to the ground on the starter. I tried this hook up and I think it was a dead short, the coating on the wire instantly got so hot you could'nt touch it.

 

Black wire should go to battery cable terminal on starter...........

 

That is where I hooked the black wire, where should the red wire hook up and does it only need two wires, there are four terminals on the amp meter.

 

I hooked the black wire to the ground on the starter should I change it to the positive on the starter.