Be aware that the years differ in size for the connector. I have two that both have guages and neither look similar. One is a 74 and the other is (supposedly) a 77. It is frustrating since I have them and the wiring is for a 77 with lights.

 

All,
Let me give you some general guidelines.
It seems that Instrument Panels (IPs) went through some changes over the years but nothing to drastic, mind you.
There are two major differences: Gages and idiot lights. But wait! It's not that easy. It seems that some IPs are convertable. You can pull the idiot light and swap in a gage. These appear to be from pre 77's.
Then there are IPs that are not convertable. They appear to be the short plug versions and come out of 78-79 models. That is a general statement from emperical evidence only.
Good luck,
KingFisher

 

I would prefer to find something from a later model van...I would guess something from a late 70's van would be "crumbling" much as my original IP, No? Is there a particular late 80's van that would work best?

 

eaz,
Your assumption makes total sense, but alas, it is not true. I cannot expalin but, some vehicles have crumbling IP boxes and others appear to have shiny brand new ones. I do not know why but, it brings hope to all Ford truck owners everywhere.
KingFisher

 

Fellows,
Based on information I picked up from this forum, I replaced my crumbling instrument panel out of my '77 F150 with an I/P from an '87 E-350 Econoline. After removing the front nacelle ( which allowed the panel to interface with the '87 dash), the panel bolted right into my '77. All of the lights and guages work perfectly. The part # on the PWB even said "D6xx-xx, etc. No more crumbling, falling apart guage panel !! Best 40$ I ever spent!! Thanks for the tip!

 

I have two gauge clusters sitting on the shelf here, Both are 18 pin with full gauges.

One flex circuit (#D6TF-10C956) has a high beam indicator at the top of the speedometer. It also has an unused position for another indicator bulb at the base of the speedometer. There is no hole in the plastic back (#E1UF-10848-AA) for the extra bulb holder at the base of the speedometer. This unit came out of a 8x van.

The other flex circuit (#D3TF10C956-AA) has no provision for any extra bulbs above or below the speedometer. The plastic back (#D3TF-10848) has a blank area where a bulb above the speedometer could go but no hole is cut. This unit also has a 100MPH speedo head. I do not know what this unit came out of.

Both units have the standard bulb for dash illumination on each side of the speedo, the L/R turn signal indicators, and another indicator bulb on the outside edge on both sides. The functions or legends for the outside indicator bulbs vary.

I intend to use one outside indicator for a brake fault indicator and the other indicator for a general temp/pressure/voltage fault light.

I have two more full gauge clusters with 85MPH speedometers but they are both in vehicles (85 van & 78 Truck).

 

so if the cluster out of an 80's van will work in a 77' will one work in my 76 F250?

 

It should.
75 was the change up year .

 

I've got a cluster out of an 85 van in my 76. plugged right in, fits perfect.

 

I have a cluster from a 84 van in my 73 highboy but i wired the vans plug into my harness to make it work

 

Just check and trace the circuits. You can pull the individual wires out of the connector using a thin steel probe to release them. The wires can then be interchanged as required.

Make sure you disassemble the entire flex circuit and clean all of the connections. Use a thin coating of silicone dielectric compound (spark plug grease) on all of the connections before putting it back together.

I also like to clean, re-crimp, and solder all of the wire connections.

 

I have a 77 F250 with full instruments and a 18 pin plug. The panel was crumbling so I went to Ford and bought a new plastic shell and remounted my guages and PC board on the new plastic. I now have a like new original dash and didn't have to scrounge around wrecking yards all day. The total cost for the plastic was around $40.00.

 

Not much to add except that the U in the third position indicates that the Van division paid for the tooling. T is truck A is fullsize car Z is mustang line o is torino etc.... A D6U part is a part designed for use in a Van. That does not mean that is the only place it was used only that when parts were being developed the money was budgeted from the Van line for development and tooling. Notice that most engine parts have an A in the 3rd spot as most engines are developed from car lines and only componentes that were redesigned got a T letter, 72-76 360/390 are a good example as the cars did not use them any more so the truck division had to pay for new tooling. Hawkrod

 

I'm having trouble with the local ford parts dept. finding a match for the D5TZ-10848 that crumbled into a million pieces on my '76 f100. It also looks like someone decided to solder all the bulb connections on the flex circuit and that needs replaced also. Is there any one source that could supply these items new? I've tried Ford, Dennis Carpenter and LMC and they weren't much help. Thanks.

 

Bronco Graveyard has the plastic back plate for the cluster and may have the printed circuit board, though I haven't looked for it specifically. They are one of the site sponsors. Ford, as of about two years ago, no longer handles the back plate.