Instrument cluster
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More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 653
Likes: 2
From: Concord, NC
Instrument cluster
For all you gentlemen who have said that you shouldn't take the instrument cluster out unless you have to because it will fall apart in your hand....well...dang it. Anyone have a spare one lying around that says "Only to be used by extreme idiot" on it?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
What year is your truck?
If it's between 1975-1979...
... what I would do is just swap the cluster back that disentegrated with one out of a 1981-1991 Econoline with Guages, or 1981-1986 Econoline with idiot lamps.
The printed circuts won't interchange, but you can take the back plastic off and use the salvageable parts from your cluster.
Why I say 1981 and later Econoline is that this is the first year Ford changed the cluster back to plastic. Before 1981 they were made of a composite material that as you well know desentegrates.
If it's between 1975-1979...
... what I would do is just swap the cluster back that disentegrated with one out of a 1981-1991 Econoline with Guages, or 1981-1986 Econoline with idiot lamps.
The printed circuts won't interchange, but you can take the back plastic off and use the salvageable parts from your cluster.
Why I say 1981 and later Econoline is that this is the first year Ford changed the cluster back to plastic. Before 1981 they were made of a composite material that as you well know desentegrates.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 3
From: Waterloo IL
What year is your truck?
If it's between 1975-1979...
... what I would do is just swap the cluster back that disentegrated with one out of a 1981-1991 Econoline with Guages, or 1981-1986 Econoline with idiot lamps.
The printed circuts won't interchange, but you can take the back plastic off and use the salvageable parts from your cluster.
Why I say 1981 and later Econoline is that this is the first year Ford changed the cluster back to plastic. Before 1981 they were made of a composite material that as you well know desentegrates.
If it's between 1975-1979...
... what I would do is just swap the cluster back that disentegrated with one out of a 1981-1991 Econoline with Guages, or 1981-1986 Econoline with idiot lamps.
The printed circuts won't interchange, but you can take the back plastic off and use the salvageable parts from your cluster.
Why I say 1981 and later Econoline is that this is the first year Ford changed the cluster back to plastic. Before 1981 they were made of a composite material that as you well know desentegrates.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,423
Likes: 8
From: Clarksville,Tn
Does the van's come with true gauges or idiot lights only?
Near paid attention in the yards. For that matter I rarely paid attention to anything! lol
Near paid attention in the yards. For that matter I rarely paid attention to anything! lol
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Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 3
From: Waterloo IL
Also on the van cluster the gauges dont have their function written on them like the trucks, its just a pic. Meaning instad of the gauge saying temp right on it, it has a pic of a thermometer. Instead of the fuel gauge saying fuel right on it, it has a pic of a gas pump, etc.
I left the van gauges in the the one I got but I really dont like them. lol. I mainly just wanted the good van plastic and the all silver surround that I swapped onto it.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 653
Likes: 2
From: Concord, NC
I think I might head up the street to Dennis Carpenter's in the morning and buy a new plastic back. The rest of my cluster looks pretty much new. Everything was fine except the bulbs were burned out. I thought some LED lights would be a nice change so what do I do? Just what you guys told me I shouldn't do. I tried to remove the cluster. It is going to be painted inside and out pretty soon, so I think I'll just keep it gageless until I get it back from paint. Considering how great the rest of the truck is, I just couldn't believe the cluster would fall apart like that. Let it be said "There is no substitute for experience". Now I have some...big dummy!
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 3
From: Waterloo IL
Its totally easy. Its no different then replacing it with another truck piece, except the van one is way better. The van plastic is basically exactly the same as the truck plastic but a better material. It seems like a similar plastic as a distributor cap.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 10
From: Indiana, PA
Cool, I`ll have to pick myself up one next time I am at a junkyard. Thanks for the info.
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