88-92 conversion
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88-92 conversion
Hey guys, I'm looking at converting an 88 F250 7.3 diesel into a 92. All i want to do is put the 92 cab on the 88 chassis? Just wondering if anyone has done something similar, I really want to know how the wiring went, tha 92 has a gasser in it, so i'm wondering if it will work if i get a 92 7.3 harness, will it plug and play? any info would be great thanks alot.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Ladner, British Columbia
Because of the difference in body styles between the 88 and the 92 you are looking at some significant differences.
The 92 is the first year with the fully electronic speedo and odometer. Electrically the two trucks are a poor match, and the fact that the 92 was a gasseer makes it even worse.
You will probably discover a number of things as you start to dig into it. Could get complicated.
Lastly, if you got emissions testing in your area you may end up getting tested for the more stringent emissions test that came in around 91', your 88' 7.3l may not be up to the challenge.
The 92 is the first year with the fully electronic speedo and odometer. Electrically the two trucks are a poor match, and the fact that the 92 was a gasseer makes it even worse.
You will probably discover a number of things as you start to dig into it. Could get complicated.
Lastly, if you got emissions testing in your area you may end up getting tested for the more stringent emissions test that came in around 91', your 88' 7.3l may not be up to the challenge.
Last edited by Hamberger; Jul 17, 2006 at 04:14 PM.
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Thanks for the reply. I think me best bet is to use the old wiring harness and make up a fuse block to control the extra stuff because the 92 is fully loaded. My one question is, would it be worth looking into getting a harness from a 92 diesel? maybe stuff would match up a little better?
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
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From: Marengo, Iowa
It depends on what you are willing to deal with, I switched a 92 crew cab over to diesel, so the wiring can be adapted, but the automatic control of the glow plugs can be a pain, but could be wired, otherwise, it isn't much of an issue, the guage senders will work, the fuel solenoid can be run by the coil + wire, things like that. What you would be better to do is get a wiring diagram and figure out how to hook it all up. The speedo may be able to be switched to the one in the trans, but I can't validate that.
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Ok, so the tach and speedo on the 92 are both electrical? and they are mechanical on the 88? Anyone have any thoughts about using a 92 diesel wiring harness to go with 88 motor? I think it will be just as easy to use the 88 and patch in some of the things that will not work. Cut out the plug and stuff from the 88 and put in the 92? any help would be awsome thanks guys.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Marengo, Iowa
I believe the speedo is also electric on the 88, just that the sender is in the trans instead of the rear axle. Fuel injection requires a speedo sensor to be able to figure load, so it has one, just not at the same location. The diesel tach on both years is electrical, uses a pulse generator on the timing cover.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Ladner, British Columbia
The speedometer on the 88 may be electric but the odometer is still shaft driven.
The problem is that you have no way to drive the odometer in the 92 chassis dash unless you replace the entire dash with the dash of your 88 which probably won't fit as the two trucks have different body styles.
It would be difficult to get the electric odometer in the 92 to work as you need a signal from the ABS sensor that was used in the rear axle starting in 90' (and used also for the speedometer/odometer starting in 92'). The rear axle on the 88' won't have a sensor connection in the axle so you are up the creek.
I doubt you can use the signal from the dual sensor/odometer drive in the 88's transfer case tail. It is a different signal and may not drive the 92' speedo or odometer properly.
Also the 92 gasser tachometer is different from the diesel tachometer and the sending unit on the diesel won't drive the gasser tachometer
As you can see it will get complicated when it gets to the wiring.
To run the 7.3l all you would need is 12V power from the ignition to the fuel solenoid and stater that is the easy part.
Hope this help more than it confuses
Seb.....
The problem is that you have no way to drive the odometer in the 92 chassis dash unless you replace the entire dash with the dash of your 88 which probably won't fit as the two trucks have different body styles.
It would be difficult to get the electric odometer in the 92 to work as you need a signal from the ABS sensor that was used in the rear axle starting in 90' (and used also for the speedometer/odometer starting in 92'). The rear axle on the 88' won't have a sensor connection in the axle so you are up the creek.
I doubt you can use the signal from the dual sensor/odometer drive in the 88's transfer case tail. It is a different signal and may not drive the 92' speedo or odometer properly.
Also the 92 gasser tachometer is different from the diesel tachometer and the sending unit on the diesel won't drive the gasser tachometer
As you can see it will get complicated when it gets to the wiring.
To run the 7.3l all you would need is 12V power from the ignition to the fuel solenoid and stater that is the easy part.
Hope this help more than it confuses
Seb.....
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thanks alot, that answerd alot of the questions i had, but there are still many more. I think the thing to do now is to start taring apart and see what i have to deal with, Any other inputs would be great. Thanks. Do you guys know of anyone else doing something similar to what i'm trying to do?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,509
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From: Ladner, British Columbia
If you got your heart set on doing this then just post your questions when you get to the specifics.
I do not have any solutions for you right now on the TACH/SPEEDO/ODOMETER issues. The 92' gasser is just not compatible with the 88' diesel when it comes to these systems.
Good luck....
Seb.....
I do not have any solutions for you right now on the TACH/SPEEDO/ODOMETER issues. The 92' gasser is just not compatible with the 88' diesel when it comes to these systems.
Good luck....
Seb.....
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
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From: Marengo, Iowa
The way to beat the speedo problm would be to get the rear axle from a chassis that has the sensor if there isn't any way to get it. If the odometer is cable drive, then the speedo is as well, I haven't been in there enough to know that, and get caught on that kind of stuff, when I think that things are consistent, they aren't... there is a speed sensor, but I wouldn't know if the signal would be right, and wondered about that, considering the rear axle has a lot more teeth on the trigger wheel than there could be on the speedo drive. Some systems have the sensor at the trans, some have it in the speedo head. The Tach issue I know has been stated won't work on gas to diesel without issues...
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Delta B.C.
My buddy builds all kinds of crazy F350 diesels using writen off trucks... I was under the impression that 80-97 cabs were all interchangeable... this would mean if you were willing to look at your '88 dash, you could transplant it into the 92 cab along with all your 88 wiring and so on.... May make it a simple swap that way....
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
I can see a couple ways to go here.
Swap the entire dash from the 88 to the 92, when I say entire I mean everything like all the brackets, heater, controls, everything.
Or you could also find a diesel 92 and just swap out the insturment cluster.
If you went that route, you will also have to find a rear axle housing from a 92 or newer truck to swap under the 88.
You are in a place a lot like me.
I have a ZF 6 to install in my 86, but the speedo in the ZF 6 equiped trucks was driven off the rear axle. There is no provision to drive a speedo off the transmission or transfer case in the ZF 6 setup.
So to make it work, I have to swap rear axles and the dash.
Swap the entire dash from the 88 to the 92, when I say entire I mean everything like all the brackets, heater, controls, everything.
Or you could also find a diesel 92 and just swap out the insturment cluster.
If you went that route, you will also have to find a rear axle housing from a 92 or newer truck to swap under the 88.
You are in a place a lot like me.
I have a ZF 6 to install in my 86, but the speedo in the ZF 6 equiped trucks was driven off the rear axle. There is no provision to drive a speedo off the transmission or transfer case in the ZF 6 setup.
So to make it work, I have to swap rear axles and the dash.
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awsome responses, I was actually thinking of the same thing about switching the guage cluster from the 88 to the 92, i know that it won't fit but i'm pretty sure i could make it work, that way i won't have any problems with the speedo or the tack, everything will work. So what your saying is that if i get a 92 diesel cluster, it will hook up to the 88 stuff? I'm still not sure, but i think that's the way i might go. I started tonight on the tare down, going pretty well so far. I need to figure out what to do with the heating system as well, great responses though, Thanks
Last edited by cubb; Jul 19, 2006 at 12:01 AM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Ladner, British Columbia
The instrument clusters wiring and sending units between the 88 diesel and 92 gasser don't match.
If I understand correctly you want the 92 body on the 88 diesel frame/motor/ tranny. Probably the best way to avoid problems is to try and fit the 88 cluster in the 92.
Post any specifics when you get to them.
If I understand correctly you want the 92 body on the 88 diesel frame/motor/ tranny. Probably the best way to avoid problems is to try and fit the 88 cluster in the 92.
Post any specifics when you get to them.