hi. 1986 5.0. my cluster has digital speedo and no tach. i'd like buttstuffog cluster. However, all i'm finding are clusters from 4 cyl cars. there are a whole bunch of 1987 / 88 clusters from 4 cyl turbo coupes available. but i can't find any 8cyl clusters. will 4 cyl cluster swap in? would i need different sending units? since i have no tach, would i wire it in as if i were wiring an aftermarket tach (assuming i do mod to get 4 cyl tach to read properly). thanks
do some reading on cool cats you should find what your looking for there. http://www.coolcats.net
I believe I have a full digital cluster in the garage.
I think i might have one too, I'll look tomorow, if your interested.
hmmm. the full dgital does look pretty cool compared to my base unit, vin. i was originally thinking buttstuffog. I was reading up on the clusters at coolcats and it seems that NO cluster is going to be plug and play. i'll need to re route wires on the plug(s) no matter what. I guess my only question now is, will my sending units work with the other cluster choices? I was thinking this might be something i would slap on in a half hour. no such luck.
vin and jpc647- i will figure out if i'm actually going to go thru with it and let you know. thanks!!
I think your sneders are the same for the buttstuffog cluster if I remember correctly. I looked into this same thing before, I think its easier going to the buttstuffog cluster than it is to go to the full digital one.
found buttstuffog on evil bay - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-Ford-Thunderbird-Turbo-Coupe-Instrument-Cluster_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4a9d8e1b7aQQitemZ320470915962QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_500wt_956
dave D- i saw that one too. only thing is, according to coolcats info, the turbo coupe tach from 1986 can't be altered to work with a v8. the RPM's would be double. i did find a couple 87 / 88 TC clusters on ebay (tach can be modified to work with v8).
The only difference between 4, 6 and 8 cylinder engine is one small resistor on the tachometer. Look here http://www.coolcats.net/tech/advanced/4to8tach.html
the first sentence of the second paragraph says that you must have an 87 / 88 tach for that mod (resistor) and not 86 because no tech solution so far exists for converting the 86 tach. the ebay auction above is for 86 tach (cluster).
Yes, I know, but ebay is full of 87/88 TC clusters and I think he will read that paragraph before modding.
Digital and buttstuffog gas gauges use different senders in the tank.
far be it from me to give up, but i think i'll let this upgrade go for now and learn to be happy with my base cluster.
im pretty sure ive read here somewhere that the full digital cluster fuel sender is discontinued.
You can mod the digital speedo to read up to 199 mph easily by soldering in two little wires.EASY stuff.
The Base digital cluster's fuel sender WILL work with an '87-'88 buttstuffog.....it did in mine with no issues.
The full digital cluster uses it's own unique fuel sender.
If you have the base digital, you can swap in the buttstuffog from either a Sport ('88....-what mine is from) or '87-'88 TC or XR7, which is the same thing as Sport.
You'll need to repin a few wires, but that part is rather easy.
Another option is to use the '85 cluster, but swap in the '87-'88 style tach, and then mod it. (tachs are not integral to the cluster itself)
I put the buttstuffog in my previous Tbird ('88, base digital, cluster from an '88 Sport.)
I repinned 5 or 6 wires, ran a wire from coil to the pin position on connector, no issues whatsoever.
That cluster is now in my Sport, while it's original cluster was sold to a member here.
Base digital will interchange with buttstuffog, and vice-versa, whereas the Full digital to buttstuffog will require new fuel sender, and possibly oil sender (memory is hazy on that)
Pretty much, base digital to buttstuffog is relatively painless, if you have the chart from coolcats...I just printed mine out and took it to the car, and did it...took about 15 minutes, and I ran a wire from the coil through the firewall for the tach. This was on a V6 car, but the tach was pretty close, so I didn't mess with the resistor.
If your car has the full digital cluster, that's when you'll have issues with the fuel sender, and perhaps the oil sender.
True enough, as Vinnie said, to change the digi-speedo to read up to 199..I did that as well before I swapped to the buttstuffog.
Very easy, if you're slightly more than adequate with a soldering iron. ;)
I used a small gauge of speaker wire...never had an issue.
Amooset bought that cluster, I haven't heard from him on any issues, I guess it still works...
If you need a base digital/buttstuffog type fuel sender...well, I have one I won't need. Bad thing is, I'm not gonna drop the tank until it's as least 40 degrees...and at this rate, that may happen by August. Ughh...winter...anyway, to the topic:
As long as you have the base digital, the buttstuffog is doable.
I'd hold out for the '87-'88 cluster though, since as you know, those older tachs aren't modifiable.
I know this is a lot of info, and probably confusing...but it's my real world experiences.
Let us know how it pans out.
By the way, my buttstuffog cluster...I pulled it apart, yanked the green filters out, and put red bulbs in the illumination bulb's places...and red lighting. Better than the green, imo. It's more like a reddish orange glow, though. If I could get into my shop, I'd go take a few pics...
ford truck freek, great post. thanks