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digital dash

does anyone have any info on the digital dashes on the 1983-84 t-bird/cougars? i had one in my 1985, but have never seen one in a 1983-84 car. are they a kinda of rare thing for those years? and if i would want to put one in place of the buttstuffog i now have, would it be able to be done? anyone have pics of their car if they have the digial?

thanks
eddie
eddie

my rides well some of them work:hick:

1995 towncar in black 246 K non running
1989 continental 110K waiting for a part
1984 cougar head gaskets done almost ready!
Yikes the daily ride ...1998 chevy lumina:hick:

digital dash

Reply #1 –
Quote from: blackcat85;307608
does anyone have any info on the digital dashes on the 1983-84 t-bird/cougars? i had one in my 1985, but have never seen one in a 1983-84 car. are they a kinda of rare thing for those years? and if i would want to put one in place of the buttstuffog i now have, would it be able to be done? anyone have pics of their car if they have the digial?

thanks
eddie


The 83-84 cars did have a digital dash option. I am not sure how common they were but they are defnitely harder to find now since the exact cluster was used for only two years. It had that option since 1980.  I am sure the conversion can be done but you do have to have an electronic speed sensor installed at the transmission end of the speedo cable and figure out how to supply the voltage to the sensor. Then there is the issue of the fuel gauge. It may not work without possibly changing the sending unit in the fuel tank.

I am sitting on a 1980 Tbird digital cluster that I considered using. The cluster itself is a direct drop into the 83-84 dash but the 1980 dash located the turn signal indicators and some other warning lamps in the upper tier of the dash pad.

digital dash

Reply #2 –
My sons 83 Bird has the digital dash option, I have a spare cluster assy here also. My 80 also has the digital dash. They are all stored for winter now but if you want pics I can probably get them for you

digital dash

Reply #3 –
I swapped a digital into my 83 for a short while. I did have to re-pin a few pins to make the indicators function properly. The speedometer is a drop-in, no speed sensor needed (it is integrated, the cluster has the speedo cable connector just like an buttstuffog).

The fuel sender is different though, and I didn't feel like dropping my tank for the swap, so I eventually dropped the buttstuffog back in.
CoogarXR : 1985 Cougar XR-7

digital dash

Reply #4 –
Quote from: CoogarXR;307687
I swapped a digital into my 83 for a short while. I did have to re-pin a few pins to make the indicators function properly. The speedometer is a drop-in, no speed sensor needed (it is integrated, the cluster has the speedo cable connector just like an buttstuffog).

The fuel sender is different though, and I didn't feel like dropping my tank for the swap, so I eventually dropped the buttstuffog back in.


So the 83-84 models with the buttstuffog cluster does have the speed signal already in the harness? That's interesting to know. I have not been up under my Bird enough to see if the speed sensor is already in the speedo cable. I assume if it is there it would be there because of cruise control or part of the function the ECM needs.

digital dash

Reply #5 –
The mileage readout is also buttstuffog on the 83-84 digi cluster.
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

digital dash

Reply #6 –
this should be everything you ever wanted to know..........

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=21843


this is the only documented resource of information I can ever remember about these clusters.

digital dash

Reply #7 –
My 84 has the digital dash. It was an Elan model, so that may explain why. If you want any pics, I'd be happy to help.
2002 Honda Civic EX

1984 Ford Thunderbird Elan
5.0 CFI, T5, Dual Exhaust

digital dash

Reply #8 –
wow jcassity
that was a great write up. im thinking of doing it in the spring . thanks guys for all the info and stuff.
i have a 2 clusters from a 1985 one is the regular digital and one has the full digital gas and temp etc....  too bad the 1985 wont work, but it wouldnt be orig to that year.
thanks
eddie
eddie

my rides well some of them work:hick:

1995 towncar in black 246 K non running
1989 continental 110K waiting for a part
1984 cougar head gaskets done almost ready!
Yikes the daily ride ...1998 chevy lumina:hick:
 

digital dash

Reply #9 –
Dang this is tempting me to drop in that 1980 Tbird digital cluster I snagged some time ago for next to nothing. It's basically the same cluster as the 1983-84 with some small differences. The 1980 cluster does not contain the turn signal indicators and a few idiot lights which were located in the upper tier strip in the dash. That's stuff I am sure I could work out for this crazy restomod I am doing which includes a Mustang dash.