Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Electrical Tech => Topic started by: Ifixyawata on August 02, 2006, 02:46:28 AM

Title: Base -> TC -> Base -> TC...
Post by: Ifixyawata on August 02, 2006, 02:46:28 AM
Well, here's how it happened.  A few years ago I switched from my standard Base Digital cluster to an '85 TC cluster.  (You know, the one with the 24lb boost gauge?)  Well, like a moron, when I hooked it up, I hooked up the stock oil switch wire to where the sending unit was supposed to go and basically I ended up ruining that part of the cluster.  That's besides the fact that tha odometer wasn't working.

Anyway, after a couple months I switched back to a base cluster, thinking the color change mod would work, but alas, it eventually faded back to the stock green color.  Now I'm in posession of another '85-'86 TC cluster.  I'm about to switch it in (leaving the incompatible oil pressure wire disconnected.)

So, what I'm wondering is if there have been any developments in the whole 4cyl-to-8cyl tach modification for the older ('85-'86) clusters.  Joe? (Bondocougar)  Have you been messing with the electronics at all lately?  I know you can use a resistor to make the newer TC clusters work, but I didn't know if anything similar could be done to change the pulse rate for the tach to read correctly on this one.  Any ideas?
Title: Base -> TC -> Base -> TC...
Post by: bondocougar on August 02, 2006, 09:24:31 PM
I would think you could do a similar thing, but I don't have any buttstuffog clusters around here to play with; I've only messed with the digital clusters.
Title: Base -> TC -> Base -> TC...
Post by: Ifixyawata on August 02, 2006, 10:09:20 PM
It seems to me that there must be a way to modify the early buttstuffog clusters.  I mean, don't they all operate the tach on the same system of pulses?  It would seem like there must be a place somewhere inside to stick a resistor on.
Title: Base -> TC -> Base -> TC...
Post by: CougarSE on August 02, 2006, 10:21:57 PM
Well B I do recall Chuck mentioning that the clusters had pots on the back?  Or was that for the 83 84?
Title: Base -> TC -> Base -> TC...
Post by: Ifixyawata on August 02, 2006, 10:27:28 PM
Pots?  Meh.  What meanest thou by pots?
Title: Base -> TC -> Base -> TC...
Post by: bondocougar on August 02, 2006, 10:30:19 PM
Pots = potentiometers, aka variable resistors you tweak with a screw driver.
Title: Base -> TC -> Base -> TC...
Post by: Ifixyawata on August 02, 2006, 10:41:23 PM
Ahhh, I remember seeing those years ago when I used to, as a boy, tear apart old VCR's, stereo's and whatnot.