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SWAPPING INSTRUMENT GAUGES

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Old Aug 16, 2010 | 05:55 AM
  #1  
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SWAPPING INSTRUMENT GAUGES

I have a 98 Ranger 3.0 2WD with the standard instrument panel. When I was at the junk yard I picked up a panel from a 99 Explorer 4WD that had a tach. When I looked at the pack of the panel I noticed that there are more idiot lights on it. My question is will this instrument panel work on my truck or will I have problems later on. Did Ford make the same instrument panels for both the Ranger and Explorer.
 
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Old Aug 16, 2010 | 08:05 AM
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Ranger and Explorer gauges are the same
 
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Old Aug 18, 2010 | 12:08 PM
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Thanks I will probably make it a day to replace it. One thing, how do I swap out the odometer so the mileage is correct. I also noticed that the back of the Explorer's panel had two missing lights for the flashers and another light, was this on purpose. The panel was still in the truck when I pulled it out.
 
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Old Aug 18, 2010 | 01:15 PM
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The odo is possible to roll, but VERY hard. You might have better luck swapping your old one to the new gauge pod.
 
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Old Aug 18, 2010 | 02:58 PM
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They're very easy to swap, that's what I did. Just pull the donor one out and drop yours in
 
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 07:02 AM
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So there is no calibration required on the speedometer when I am done swapping out.
 
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by chief96
So there is no calibration required on the speedometer when I am done swapping out.
That is the worst part.

What I did was drove the truck and placed the speedo needle back on went I got to 70 (according to my friend I was following)

I know there is another way, but I lost the link to the thread.
 
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 08:14 PM
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If you have a GPS, use the speed displayed on it to set the speedo needle.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 06:11 AM
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From: Newport News, VA
All,
Thanks for the input but I think I am just going to hold off on this little project for a while. Here is the link on calibrating the speedometer, it is part of a job this is replacing the entire odometer module.

How To: change your Odometer when doing a gauge swap...95-03 trucks - Ford Ranger Forum
 
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 07:07 AM
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That's the thread I used to do my gauge swap. You don't have to do it that way though.

I just replaced my odometer by swapping the actual units, no calibration required.
 
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