Dashboards/Instruments
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 5
Dashboards/Instruments
Does anyone have a pic of the different Dashboards and Instruments that came in 1987-1996 trucks?
I have a 1989 and it looks kinda clunky. I think I prefer the later styles, but I am not sure as I don't have them right in front of me to look at side by side.
How many different dashboard layouts were there between 1987-1996?
Are they different between F150, 250, and 350?
Are they different between Diesel and Gas, 2wd and 4wd, or Manual and Automatic?
Finally, wiring aside, will the dashboards physically bolt into a different cab?
I have a 1989 and it looks kinda clunky. I think I prefer the later styles, but I am not sure as I don't have them right in front of me to look at side by side.
How many different dashboard layouts were there between 1987-1996?
Are they different between F150, 250, and 350?
Are they different between Diesel and Gas, 2wd and 4wd, or Manual and Automatic?
Finally, wiring aside, will the dashboards physically bolt into a different cab?
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 74
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well i just swapped the instument cluster from an 89 to my 91 to get the tach and it worked including all factory wiring...do you have a tach? i have the old guages i dont need without a tach and everything works on them if they are what you are looking for. otherwise i would say go to a scrap yard to find them and look at the differences.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 336
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From: Iowa
I believe that the dash was basically unchanged from 80 through 91 and for sure between 87 to 91. Minor variations in trim perhaps between XL, XLT, etc but all the same stuff, 2 or 4WD and 150-350 (blank plates used when say single tank vs dual, etc. Instrument cluster is consistent too as I recall, difference basically being with or without tach and gas or diesel application. 92-96 (97 F250 HD and F350 too) were all the same but use a totally different dash and cluster than the earlier 91 down trucks. Again, minor trim differences and blank plates, engine type..gas or diesel, make up the differences). While physically swapping one may be possible with alot of work, wiring one, in my opinion, would be a nightmare. I think this is all correct but am hoping that someone will correct me if my assumptions are wrong.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,008
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One or two wires each for the Tach, Oil pressure, Coolant Temperature, Fuel, and Voltage gauges, One wire for the fuel cutoff solenoid, and one wire for the starter solenoid...
But I'm an electronics technician by trade and I'd converted a couple vehicles to a home built engine control computer (Google MegaSquirt) so I'm not afraid of wiring.
I might have to do something for the speedometer if it's not cable driven.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 336
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From: Iowa
92 up speedo is electronic. Picks up signal off of a ring in the rear axle (I think they are called an exciter ring but?). Would be fun figuring that out but where there's a will (especially tied with some skill).......
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 5
That ring turns a certain RPM as you go a certain speed, since it's tied directly to the wheels through the rear axle shafts and differential. So you count the RPMs. After that, it's just math in finding out 1 rotation of the tire goes how many feet? (Multiply the diameter of the tire by pi, 3.1416) Multiply that by RPM's to get distance in a minute, and multiply that by 60 to get how much distance you cover in an hour.
Count RPM's once every other second or so and do the math, then just send that to the gauge. A chip can be programmed to do that.
I think that ring also controls the rear anti-lock brakes, which my truck has...
You ever set up an aftermarket cruise control on an older car? They have this magnet you zip-tie to the driveshaft and a little sensor that goes near to the magnet that reads when the magnet passes by.
Or those bicycle speedometers, you put a magnet in the spokes and a sensor on the fork. Then you have to tell it how big your wheels are.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 679
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver B.C.
as a part of an engine swap I plan for my truck I've been doing allot of looking around for ideas to help me make my tach and speedo work... I found a company that sells different interface's and senders just for this kind of thing...
Universal Speedometer Signal Interface
Universal Tachometer Signal Interface
Universal Flywheel Tachometer Interface
from what I've read up on these things they'll help with engine/tranny/gauge swaps.... they got a bunch of other cool stuff too... just thought I'd share it with you guys
Universal Speedometer Signal Interface
Universal Tachometer Signal Interface
Universal Flywheel Tachometer Interface
from what I've read up on these things they'll help with engine/tranny/gauge swaps.... they got a bunch of other cool stuff too... just thought I'd share it with you guys
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Fayetteville, NC
you may need to swap out the a-pillar trim as well depending on how it matches up...and door panels also.....outside of that, if there wasnt a major body change i dont see why not.....maybe tack in a mounting tab here or there, or maybe move one to new location.... pretty much all the generation windows i think are interchangable....... they were pretty simple about stuff being "plug n play" for cost cutting
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 5
I found enough pictures and sat in enough trucks to decide that I think it might be worth the effort to swap dashboards.
I don't really much like the 1989 dashboard I have currently.
