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Topic: cluster swap (Read 4587 times) previous topic - next topic

cluster swap

so the ol 88 has been retired and i may be getting a 87 from my buddy. the 88 was a sport with the buttstuffog gauges and the 87 is an LX with digital dash and the speedometer doesn't work... i was going to put the cluster out of the 88 sport in the 87 LX and discovered that the 88 cluster only has one plug whereas the 87 cluster has two... is this swap possible without changing the whole wiring harness?
Currently Birdless but never Foxless

86 Mustang GT

cluster swap

Reply #1 –
It's a complicated but doable swap. More complicated if your LX has the full digital cluster. You'll need to repin the connector for the Sport's cluster. You'll be better off cutting some of the harness and plug out of the 88, since your 87's connectors won't plug in (or if it does, you shouldn't, because the wires are all in different slots). If going from full digital to buttstuffogue you'll need to replace the oil, temperature, and fuel senders (yes, that means dropping the tank). If going from a base cluster to the full buttstuffogue you'll need to replace the oil sender and pick up a tach signal from either the coil or the computer.

More info here:
http://www.foxthundercats.net/tech/cluster.htm
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

cluster swap

Reply #2 –
I can get you another speedo. $20.00 shipped. $50.00 if you want me to do the 199mph upgrade to it.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

cluster swap

Reply #3 –
well, i got the cluster swapped in, only wired up the tach, speedometer, fuel gauge. high beam indicator, and turn signal indicators as that's all thats still in my buttstuffog cluster. the other 3 gauges decided to get all screwy on me back when i first got the old sport so i disected the cluster, cut the holes forr them out into actual circles, and put a set of Sunpro gauges in their place...

this brings me to my new problem... the 87 LX is not charging now with my cluster setup in it, the 88 Sport charged just fine. i know it's the light green/red wire that is supposed to go to the amp gauge/light causing the problem, but i didnt have this problem on the 88 Sport... how can i bypass this?
Currently Birdless but never Foxless

86 Mustang GT

cluster swap

Reply #4 –
If I remember right, you have to put a 100 ohm resister in the mix to get the alternator to charge. I did the swap from the base digital to buttstuffog a few years ago in my 3.8L 88 cougar.

cluster swap

Reply #5 –
If I remember right you have to put a 100 ohm resistor into the circuit to get it to charge properly. I did the conversion to my 88 3.8L a few years ago. My "other" 88 has the full digital package. But I am thinking of doing the digital to buttstuffog swap in it. Including dropping the tank.

cluster swap

Reply #6 –
If your current instrument cluster does not have an alternator warning light, you have to tie the two wires that used to go to the light together.
The gray/yellow hot with the ignition in RUN wire and the light green/red wire that goes to the voltage regulator. This is needed to for the voltage regulator to turn on the alternator field current.
I don't believe the 100 ohm resister is needed.

cluster swap

Reply #7 –
Im trying to find an buttstuffog cluster for my car...but every one i find has a turbo gauge on it...IS there a cluster without the turbo gauge on it?  or am i going to have to get one with the turbo...take out the needle, and cover up the turbo markings with new gauge faces?
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 3.8 V6 - Rescue
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 5.0 V8 - Survivor

cluster swap

Reply #8 –
For a Turbo Coupe or 5.0 car or 3.8 car? If it's for a V-8 car, the tach won't work anyway. You would need one from another buttstuffog equipped V-8 car. I myself want all digital, and to get rid of my buttstuffog gauges, but have no desire to do the work.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

cluster swap

Reply #9 –
well right now it has a 3.8, but itll have a 5.0 in the near future
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 3.8 V6 - Rescue
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 5.0 V8 - Survivor

cluster swap

Reply #10 –
so IS there a cluster without a turbo gauge
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 3.8 V6 - Rescue
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 5.0 V8 - Survivor

cluster swap

Reply #11 –
yeah the v8 sport cluster, but they are really hard to find.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

cluster swap

Reply #12 –
how difficult is it/is it possible to swap my standard digital cluster for a premium/full digital cluster?  i know its got a lot more features to it...not sure if it needs a different computer or something to tell it all the new things?
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 3.8 V6 - Rescue
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 5.0 V8 - Survivor

cluster swap

Reply #13 –
I believe you will need to switch out most of the senders, add wires, etc
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

cluster swap

Reply #14 –
I have an buttstuffog cluster out of a TC if you decide you want one.
William