Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Misc Tech => Topic started by: 32VFoxBird on August 30, 2005, 09:36:21 PM

Title: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on August 30, 2005, 09:36:21 PM
is it a bolt-in, or is ther work required.

going in a 88 t-bird from a 88 turbo coupe
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: MasterBlaster on August 31, 2005, 09:59:06 AM
Quote
is it a bolt-in
Of course not, you silly boy. It's a screw-in.  :tg:
Quote
or is ther work required.
Well, you have to take the old one out and put the new one in. I guess you could call that work.  :dunno:  You also need to move the wiring in the plug(s), add some wires, ignore some wires, jump some wires with a resistor...  :welder:

Start here:
http://www.coolcats.net/media/ (http://www.coolcats.net/media/)

Specifically, one of these should help:
1985-88 Standard-to-buttstuffog Cluster Guide (http://www.coolcats.net/media/base2tc.pdf)
1985-88 Electronic-to-buttstuffog Cluster Guide (http://www.coolcats.net/media/elec2tc.pdf)
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on August 31, 2005, 11:37:22 AM
Quote from: MasterBlaster
Of course not, you silly boy. It's a screw-in.  :tg:
Well, you have to take the old one out and put the new one in. I guess you could call that work.  :dunno:  You also need to move the wiring in the plug(s), add some wires, ignore some wires, jump some wires with a resistor...  :welder:

, i just got pwned! :crazy:

thanks for the help!
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 09, 2005, 11:05:31 PM
has anyone recalibrated the tach, for use on a v8? is it just a resistor that needs changing?
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: cougarman on September 10, 2005, 08:34:41 AM
http://www.coolcats.net/tech/advanced/4to8tach.html  :D
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 10, 2005, 09:17:20 AM
Quote from: cougarman
http://www.coolcats.net/tech/advanced/4to8tach.html  :D

thanks!
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: cougarman on September 10, 2005, 09:49:10 AM
you're welcome! :D
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 11, 2005, 10:16:48 AM
alright, i went to a near by electronics store, and they had all different types of resistors. there were 1/8w, 1/4w, 1w, 2w, etc.

which one would be the right one? also, i couldnt find a 51k resistor. would a 47k work?
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: Thunder Chicken on September 11, 2005, 10:22:59 AM
1/4 will be fine. 47k will work but it will make the tach inaccurate. Can you get 100k? If so, use two of them in parallel (NOT in series). You could also use a small 50k trimpot and adjust it to 50k ohms...
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 11, 2005, 10:29:34 AM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken
1/4 will be fine. 47k will work but it will make the tach inaccurate. Can you get 100k? If so, use two of them in parallel (NOT in series). You could also use a small 50k trimpot and adjust it to 50k ohms...

trimpot? adjust to 50k ohms? ...........im screwed!

they did have 100k resistors. you're saying i need two of the 100k resistors?
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 11, 2005, 05:43:09 PM
F'N SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!

it worked :headbang:

i bought a pack of the 1/4w 51k 2% resistors. de-soldered the old one, then soldered in the new one. i had to test it before i put it all back together.

im so glad i found this site. thanks for all the help. :bowdown:


P.S. standby for cluster swap rage :rolleyes:
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on September 11, 2005, 05:45:49 PM
Yes you need 2 100s in PARALELL.. Would be easier to buy new ones and twist the leads together then solder them in. Or you could get a 33K and a 18K and connect them in SERIES to get 51K, which would be fine... In both instances the original resistor needs to be removed..
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 28, 2005, 10:52:15 PM
i did do a little researching and found that on the back of the digi speedo, position R7 is a 50k ohm resistor. so if anybody doing this swap is having problems finding a 50k ohm resistor for the buttstuffog tach, they can use this one. since your ditching the digi speedo anyways, LOL!

also, when doing the swap, be sure NOT to go ahead and pull all the wires from the grey and brown connector. i found out the hard way. i had problems with wiring the amp gauge correctly. on the coolcats site, it shows a yellow and a red wire you will transfer over. on my bird, it didnt have these two wires. i had to use the green w/ red stripe, and the grey w/ yellow stripe for the gauge to work properly. it took me another day of junkyardin', to find another car like mine, cut the plugs off, and note their orginal positions.

ill try to get pics and pin locations for the base clusters later.
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 29, 2005, 12:26:53 AM
another problem i have yet to find a solution for, is the check engine light. i have no idea on how to get it to work. :dunno:
Title: Re: swapping to buttstuffog gauge cluster
Post by: Beau on September 29, 2005, 10:56:30 PM
I have a full electronic cluster with tach from an 85 or 86 Tbird, is there a way I could put in my 88 V6 car, and have everything work fine?