My current instrument panel has lights for the alternator and oil. While at the pull-a-part last winter I picked up a instrument panel with all gauges. Has any one swapped out a dash like this?
Would the harness be wired for either/or, or would I need a new harness, or just do some rewiring?
What is a “shunt type ammmeter”?

<a href="http://s472.photobucket.com/user/Annaleigh_123/media/charging2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88/Annaleigh_123/charging2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo charging2.jpg"/></a>

 

oops
it is a 1985 e150, 302 engine

 

I just swapped the instrument cluster in a later model van a couple of months ago. What I would recommend is to get the wiring diagram for your van and a copy of the wiring diagram for the year model panel, if different, that you just bought. Compare all of the plugs since some of the pins may have to swap locations. Many times all of the wiring is there but you may need to add a circuit or 2. There may even already be a thread on this that could help.

 

There are indeed a few threads here in the vans forums about swapping IC's but no one to date has posted a full how-to, step-by-step detailed thread. Tons of discussion why it won't work or the pitfalls thereof but that's kinda BS, depending on a few factors.

I'm working on this for myself however it will be a 98-01 F250 cluster into a 2003 E250----not directly relateable to Annaleigh's era

As KC says you need the original wiring schematic for your van and the van from which the new cluster came from. IF the daily driver van's wiring connectors into the cluster can be re-configured its simply a matter of putting circuits and signals from the working van to the donor cluster.

Making one huge WAG I'd think a fuller featured cluster from the same or close year would be a plug-n-play deal---the one with more gauges etc being an option and nothing special.

As I say though I don't know much about wiring on the pre-97 E-Series.

 

Thanks, I did find a couple of threads about this on the f150 board. One was for a 77 and the other for an 80 truck. In there case it was quite involved.
One person had an appealing idea thought to just add the aftermarket gauges, leaving the lights, that way a light is more apt to call your attention look at the gauges if there is a problem..
I have a set of after market gauges if I can find all the parts. I bought them for the temp gauge when I was having over heating problems. I only installed the temp gauge and lord knows where they rest of the kit is!

I pulled out the instrument panel out on mine when I first got it and there is a loose copper piece on the female plug as well as one broken off from the PO's work, so I will need to replace the printed circuit board anyway or try to fix it.

Maybe I could mount the AM gauges something like they did here..
1991FordTripleERegencyDieselinteriorcab.jpg Photo by IDIDieselJohn | Photobucket

 

I fully agree monitoring temp and oil pressure is vital, warning lights or buzzers always a great way to keep the eyes on the road. Naturally its handy when all indications are in the cluster itself but on your era van Annaleigh replacing or repairing those can be a bit of a problem.

Sometimes its easier to just go the easier route---cheaper too.

There's plenty of real estate in the dash for aftermarket gauges---many companies are now offering a wide range in the 2 1/16" or 52mm sizes. I like Auto Meter but they're a bit crazy price-wise.

 

Just saw your post JWA, yes I need to get a EATC? anyway..
Problem being I dont remember what year the donor van was ind its not there any more. I also got the intermittent wiper switch out of it but think it will work fine..

I guess I need to get the tank back in first though! It has been rainy down south here and for a week and so was just checking into what else I could do..

BTW since for now I just want clean the rust from the frame area under the fuel tank, and since its not very bad, I picked up a small bottle of the Ospho and am going to try that with some rustoleum primer and black paint. If I was doing it all I would use the POR 15

 

I have the small sunpro 3 gauge set that was on clearance at AZ for less then a single gauge but they are white, may use them anyway for now. They do make a oil pressure adapter fitting so you can keep the stock sending unit and light while adding the oil gauge.
The coolant temp unit is different though as it, it is one or the other.. Since I did the DSII swap I do have an extra vacuum tree on the back of the intake manifold I might be able to try using for the sunpro temp gauge.
Thinking though, maybe the sunpro would more accurate where the factory temp unit is. Put the factory sending unit at the back so the gauge will still register..

 

I did it, following Fox Fader's great write-up, mine was on a '95 so I won't directly apply, but you'll get an idea of what is possible. It was a little bit of a puzzle, certainly easier to add an aftermarket tach in my case, but I enjoyed the challenge, and it is cool to have the factory stuff working, where it didn't live originally.


My comments at the end...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ap-w-tach.html


Wiring diagrams back to ~ '92
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...e-diagram.html


I support the comments above, it should be a reasonable swap, with good diagrams and patience, but you may need to move some wires, or possibly add on for a tach feed, etc.


Good Luck

 

Here's another discussion of putting a gauge cluster into a "light only" cluster. Looks like the pictures are gone, but the discussion is for trucks, it may apply to the vans of the same era.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...e-cluster.html