Digital Dash Swap?

[geoph1986]

I'm not going to worry about the 20 ohm resistor. I'm just going to swap the sending unit for the true pressure one. If the resistor is in line, then I would assume that the oil gauge will just move slower. I think it was in '90 that the resistor went to the OUTSIDE of the cluster, in line about 6" from the oil sender. That reference seems to be true for the analog gauges, but I haven't read anything that says the resistor is part of the cluster for the digi-gauges for any year. The stuff I've read on the oil pressure mod (for the cougar) seems to be for the analog cluster. I will post on the other forum I'm on and let you guys know.

More progress that has set me back. Last night I painted the inside face of the outer cluster sandwich, and let it dry overnight. I was like a kid on Christmas morning today, and I ripped all the tape off of my plexi piece. Then I was sad. There is nothing wrong with the paint application. I painted the backside with a flat black plastic spray paint, after I had sanded the area with 220 grit paper. However, once the sandwich is back together, the paint is so glossy against the flat black displays, that it adds an EXTREME cheapness that just screams "I'm made in China, produced in bulk, with no thought of quality"! I think it looks really bad, and I the window tint I would need to hide it would be so dark, the displays would be to dim to read. I WOULD NOT recommend anyone to paint the display face. So, I'm going to cut a new piece of plexi-stuff (and only tint it), or maybe I'll buy a small sheet of pre-tinted stuff, and use a black sheet of foam stuff you get at the craft store, on top of the displays. I think it will blend together a lot better, for the stock look.

BTW, my cougar cluster was made February 13, 1989 and the brain board I.D. is the same as both of Arco's.
PWB-795
E9SF-10D952-BB

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

Hmm, then it is entirely possible that the electrical wiring diagram for the '90 is just wrong. I guess I would have to go back to the cougar I took the dash out of and look to see if the resistor is in line with the sender. My '89 diagram shows resistor in line, my 90+ diagrams do not show it at all...And I think the digi cluster would be the same as the explorer, with the real sender + 20 ohm resistor, the oil gauge would not to much move slower, but give you a reading that appeared to be low ( for ex, I'm guessing the bottom bars would only be lit up, as it would never reach to the middle of the gauge with the resistor in line) Just a theory...

 

[geoph1986]

I have posted a question about the 20 ohm resistor location for the digi-cluster over at tccoa.com. Once I find something out, I will post it here for you guys.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

So for those keeping tallies...

In first place is Geoph, having actually mounted his digi-cluster...

In a close second is Arco, having actually mounted his digi-cluster...

and in a distant third place is me, who has just looked at his digi-cluster...

I think where everyone is currently at is figuring out the illumination part of the display.

Geoph appears to be goin with CCFL's for a laptop...

Arco I think is going with LED's...

And I am...well, still looking at mine, lol. But I think I will try the 194 SMD bulbs first and see how well that lights up everything.

Guys, correct me if I am wrong on any of this

 

[arco777]

I haven't made any progress since test-fitting the components together - I have a new distraction of the female variety so the cluster is just hard to focus on

LEDs are looking promising but who knows, I may try bulbs.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

Female variety? Don't you know the explorer is infinently more important than social studies of the male-female relationship??? But on the upside, I might be able to slide into second place with this new distraction of yours...muwahahaha....

 

[damarble]

Geoph appears to be goin with CCFL's for a laptop...

Is this still the plan? Make sure they can handle cold temperatures.

 

[geoph1986]

Is this still the plan? Make sure they can handle cold temperatures.

CCFL's are my plan. I have a voltage inverter from an old laptop. The problem with the old laptop bulbs, is they were too short. I don't think that cold will be to much of a problem for the bulbs, as I have an Alpine dvd player in my Grand Am, and it gives me no problems. I would have loved to use the LED's, but I can't get them to diffuse enough to get the light to spread evenly in such a small area. The bulbs I ordered are only 2.6mm in diameter and are 12.4" long. With two of those I don't for see any problems with dim spots. I won't have the dimming feature, but I will be able to use a darker blue tint until I get the brightness I want.

 

[arco777]

Well the temp gauge arrived today, one of the two bright spots in a cruddy day. I am impressed, I ordered it at about 1AM on Saturday and it's here on Monday already with free shipping. This week is going to be 12 hour days the whole way so unfortunately I don't see myself making much progress but it's something. Free prop to Speed Solutions for the awesome service!

 

[jimmyfloyd]

I just grabbed one of these out of a 89/90 Thunderbird with switch and wiring pigtails if someone is looking for one. I grabbed it cause the car was getting crushed in the next two days and figured there may be someone who wants to swap it (since i have a 95, with a slightly different cluster from what I understand. )

How can I test the lights and such on it?

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

jimmyfloyd, that's cool you were able to find one as well! As far as the wiring for testing lights, I have the electrical cheat sheet I made a few pages back on this thread that tells what each wire coming from the digi-cluster does. But off the top of my head, on the 20 pin connector, just to test if everything powers up, there's is a P/O wire (pin 9) and a LG/P wire (pin 7) that you would connect to 12V positive. Then there are two wires for ground, one BK (pin 2) and one BK/W (pin 8)

but please check all the wiring diagrams I have posted before hooking anything up. I do not take responsibility for the digi-cluster exploding, burning up, or turning into a giant alien robot bent on world domination.

Just covering my butt, lol.

 

[MrQ]

I do not take responsibility for the digi-cluster exploding, burning up, or turning into a giant alien robot bent on world domination.

Quote of the week.

Also, toooo much Transformers.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

lol i agree. Decent movies though if you like trying to figure out how that huge of a robot can turn itself into such a small car. But i digress. Just waiting on a dremel to arrive and i will dive straight into this
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[geoph1986]

My production has been put on hold, and will probably remain that way for the next week or so. By the means of a freak accident, I managed to break the second metatarsal in my my left foot. I broke it so good, that the knuckle had exploded and a piece of bone has flipped 180 degrees. This happened Sunday evening and I go for surgery Friday morning, where they will try to pin everything back together. I have been told that the damage is so severe, that they may not be able to repair the break. If that is the case, the surgeon will remove all the loose pieces of bone and try to stabilize the joint for the index toe. If the joint can't be stabilized properly, I've given them permission to remove the toe itself. So, when I wake up Friday afternoon, I may be missing a digit. I did tell them that if the toe has to come off, I'd like to keep it, after all it is mine. The surgeon gave me a weird look, but then realized I was serious. I hope they will let me keep it. Since Sunday I have been kept on a high dose of Tylenol 3's, and demoral. I like demoral. Once production resumes, I will post more pictures...but I have a feeling I may lose the first place position. lol.

 

[MrQ]

My production has been put on hold, and will probably remain that way for the next week or so. By the means of a freak accident, I managed to break the second metatarsal in my my left foot. I broke it so good, that the knuckle had exploded and a piece of bone has flipped 180 degrees. This happened Sunday evening and I go for surgery Friday morning, where they will try to pin everything back together. I have been told that the damage is so severe, that they may not be able to repair the break. If that is the case, the surgeon will remove all the loose pieces of bone and try to stabilize the joint for the index toe. If the joint can't be stabilized properly, I've given them permission to remove the toe itself. So, when I wake up Friday afternoon, I may be missing a digit. I did tell them that if the toe has to come off, I'd like to keep it, after all it is mine. The surgeon gave me a weird look, but then realized I was serious. I hope they will let me keep it. Since Sunday I have been kept on a high dose of Tylenol 3's, and demoral. I like demoral. Once production resumes, I will post more pictures...but I have a feeling I may lose the first place position. lol.

Ouch man!! Take care of yourself.

 

[arco777]

Wow! Sorry to hear that. Hope it turns out okay and that you get to keep your toe. You never know when those kinds of things will turn in handy

 

[jimmyfloyd]

ouch. Hope things go well.

I'll be testing mine this weekend, but not sure if I will begin the swap, or if I will leave that to someone else.

How different are the 95 clusters from the ones you are using?

 

[geoph1986]

Thanks guys. I plan to keep my toe no matter what...I just don't know it will be attached to me, or in a jar of alcohol. mmmmmm, alcohol.

jimmyfloyd, I don't know how different the clusters are. If you are interested in doing this, I welcome you to join our thread. The first thing I would do, is make sure that all the signals will be the same (oil, fuel, temp, etc.). In one of the earlier posts (I think page 2) I listed my findings on the Cougar cluster (like NICE59 said, "it sounds dirty" just like mukluk). Good luck.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

geoph, so sorry to hear about your accident! And i promise i had nothing to do with it, i swear! but seriously, i hope all turns out well and you get to keep your toe! But the good thing is that i have a dremel on the way so as soon as i get that in, im just goin to sit down for a weekend and work on mine and hopefully at least catch up with yall!
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[geoph1986]

i had nothing to do with it, i swear!

The one's that did it always say that! lol

EDIT:
I figured I should give an update of what I have done since the unpleasantness. My backlights are on their way. I ordered 2 of these.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350262533823&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
the ones I ordered are 2.6mm X 316mm (0.1" X 12.44"). Since I have a laptop voltage controller (which is 12v not 5v as I had previously thought), powering them shouldn't be a problem. I've also decided to absolutely cut a new piece of plexi-stuff, because I don't like the look of the painted one (I think it makes the whole thing look extremely cheap). I've acquired a sheet of black foam from the craft store, and it's about 1/16" thick. I will use this over the whole cluster face and place the new tinted front plexi over it. I think this will give a stockish look. Anyway, that's all the new stuff going on.