BroncoII Dash Swap Question

[Dave01234]

I'm planning on doing the 4.0L engine swap and I want to use the dash from the donor Explorer. My donor is a 94 X Sport. I read on another site that the fuel gauge from the Explorer doesn't like the Bronco's fuel sending unit and that you have to use the Explorers sending unit. Has anyone had this problem or knows anything about this. Also I would like to hear from someone that has swapped the dash from a 91-94 Explorer to a 89 BroncoII. I'm wondering what to expect to run into with the air vents. Any advice or input would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[rookieshooter]

The dash mounted fuel gauge and sending unit have to be in sync with each other.
The gauge is nothing more than an OHM gauge that measures the resistance of the wire windings as the float goes up or down. At one end you have the float and at the other a metal contact that slides along the coil windings.
The windings may start off with a few wraps but then increase as it goes up the sending unit.
I forgot if Ford uses 70 Ohms(estimate) full or empty. At any rate I'm sure you'll have to switch out.
In fact if you do take it out and have a Multimeter, just hook it up to the sending unit and you can see the resistance change as you raise the float.
I spent a lot of time on mine when I switched to an AutoMeter gauge. Even to the point of re-bending the float arm.
On a side note, there are plenty of Broncos that have a flat spot in their factory gauge.
Like it may read 3/4 of a tank for a long time and then start to move.
If you were to take out the sending unit, you would see that this flat spot in where the wire windings have slipped down and are not tightly wound together. Just push the wires back so the windings are nice and even and are touching each other.

I think if you use the search feature you'll find info on the dash. I've known others that have done this.

 

[Dave01234]

So I should ohm both sending units to see if there is a difference. If I find that there is a difference I'll use the one from the x since I'm using the dash. I was planning on ohming both I just thought somebody knew for sure. I didn't find anything in search. Thanks for your reply.

 

[snoranger]

The '89 BII dash should be basically the same as the 1st gen Explorer dash. I swapped a 93 Ex dash into my 89 Ranger, it was a bolt in deal. Ford changed the sending units in '89, so yours should work fine with the Ex fuel gauge. It was the '88 and earlier that was different.

 

[Dave01234]

Great info Snoranger. Thanks. I will ohm each sending unit just to be sure. I just want to research as much as I can to get the major stuff out of the way. I know every swap is different but I know from other jobs I've done it the past that a little research can save you time and money. Appreciate it. Have a great day

 

[snoranger]

It will bolt right in and the harnesses should hook right up. You will have some new switches that wont be used to the left of the steering column.
If the Ex had the premium sound system, you may have to rewire it for speaker wires (the premium sound had an amp in the back of the EX).


This might help you:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248021

 

[Dave01234]

Thanks so much. The 94X sport donor is just a basic sport manual windows no premium sound I really appreciate the link. That will be part of my reading tonight when I'm in bed relaxing for the night. I plan on taking as much as I can from the94x as far as wiring goes and swap it into the 89B2. Have a great day. If you think of anything else please post or PM me. Thanks again

 

[Dave01234]

Snoranger, Thanks for that link it will most definitely help me when I do the dash swap. I love this site people on here are so willing to help. Thanks again.