Digital dash and tripminder install

Topic: Digital dash and tripminder install (Read 1594 times) previous topic - next topic

Digital dash and tripminder install

July 29, 2006, 06:18:16 PM

I was poking around PicknPull today and stumbled accross a Thunderbird Elan. I didn't notice the year but it had to be 83 or 84 because it had the same interior style as my car. Even the same color :D It had the first digital dash I've ever seen and since I have the py 2 gauge version I jumped on it as my salvation. I'm including some comparison pictures. I'm sure it will bolt right in but the wiring is something else entirely. Anyone do this before? My car is carbureted so it may not even have what this thing needs to be fully functional. I also pulled what I thought was a tripminder but compared to the picture on coolcats it's probably just a clock. Then again I don't know what this dash has in it so the tripminder might be redundant. Can I light this thing up to test it?

Digital dash and tripminder install

Reply #1 – July 29, 2006, 07:33:43 PM

do ya have a pic of the tripminder?

Digital dash and tripminder install

Reply #2 – July 29, 2006, 08:31:02 PM

Here we go. Like I said probably just a digital clock. I didn't think there was a difference at the time.

Digital dash and tripminder install

Reply #3 – July 29, 2006, 09:03:47 PM

Yeah, just a standard clock.

I think the old style digital clusters had your oil pressure, water temp, and fuel gauge on 'em. But I don't think they had the advanced economy info.

Digital dash and tripminder install

Reply #4 – July 29, 2006, 10:20:36 PM

Either way, killer find.

I am planing on going to the old car shop and look at what they have. And I am taking my camera. (So I can make a parts list)

Daniel

Digital dash and tripminder install

Reply #5 – July 29, 2006, 10:22:06 PM

I just used a flashlight to see under the surface of the display. All I can find is a fuel gauge and speedometer. So actually this thing isn't any better than my current setup. Dang it.

Digital dash and tripminder install

Reply #6 – July 29, 2006, 10:30:06 PM

You know what else I just thought of? At least in '85+, the digital cluster cars used an entirely different gas tank and sending unit. It might not be worth it for all that work. Meh, I dunno.

Digital dash and tripminder install

Reply #7 – July 30, 2006, 12:09:40 AM

I'm gonna play for an actual tripminder tomorrow but one point bugs me. The how-to page on Coolcats sounds pretty straightforward but being that my car came carbureted does it have the same main computer as other Tbirds? The EEC-IV? If not I'm a bit lost.

Digital dash and tripminder install

Reply #8 – July 30, 2006, 08:49:37 AM

No. If your car is carbureted it doesn't have a computer at all. The tripminder won't work because you need the "fuel flow" input from the computer.

Apparently '83 and earlier models with carburetors could still get the tripminder, but it required an underhood, inline fuel flow meter that basically measured the amount of fuel passing through it. Good like finding one of those...