Instrument cluster issues

[Met454]

Hello. Brand new member. Trying to get a 1989 4x4 Silverado 3500 back on road after 11 years. Almost ready but when I turn on headlights or turn signals, various gauges either peg out or drop to zero. Figuring it’s a grounding issue and wanted some insight before I take the cluster out and clean it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Frank Enstein]

Take the cluster out and clean the connections carefully. They are fragile. That is where the issues are. Then clean/replace the ground straps. The one behind the passenger cylinder head and the firewall is commonly bad.