So I was looking for a faq and to no avail so I searched the net found some wiring diagrams which I couldn't understand, but I found 1 particular diagram that made life/this project a breeze. so here is what you will need.

-a pre 97 cluster scrap/throw away. you will just need the rear board with the plugs
-a 97+ cluster with all 4 plugs and enough pigtail length
-wire, enough wire (I brought one of these)

http://www.harborfreight.com/400-ft-...use-61527.html

-soldering iron, solder, and a mini torch.

alright let's get started.






the pre-cluster has 3 plugs while the post cluster has 4 total, the name of the game is getting the right wires to match up.



the numbers of the pins are on the plastic connectors




LUCKILY I came across a thread that gerrb had, and someone had made this spreadsheet, .







now you could solder directly into ur cluster pigtail, me I wanted something easier so I made a jumper harness.


first you want to singe the board with the cluster pins in them. you need to heat the solder and the FEMALE plugs will fall out, like so.













next up is trimming the sides so you can have as much pin exposure as possible.




now you are NOT going to use every pin, but instead of counting them. I went ahead and just pig-tailed them all.




3 hours and some rubber tape later.




so with the right wiring diagram it's time to cut and solder. the pins are again numbered and the colors of the wires are perfect.

so 4 hours later.





as you go on you will letter which plug is which, again follow the pin outs and the colors of the wires, all the ones you can fold back into the loom.

and done!!!!




and finished product. this cluster is more modern and it actually gives me accurate mph and fuel.

 

good job Jim

 

Nice write up! What i did was just replace the whole dash harness, but this looks to be the next best bet since the dash doesnt have to come off.

 

Impressive write-up. Would it be possible to just de-pin the "pre" connectors and plug them into the right spots in the "post" connectors, using your road map? That seems like it would be a lot easier if the pins and connectors are sized the same. Wire length might be an issue, though, as the harness is way too short as it is, and might be incapable of reaching new locations on the board.

 

no because the post board isn't a board, if you look you see pins and that green film on the back.

 

thanks g, couldn't had done it without ur thread. now onto some bigger fuel lines..

 

I don't understand what you just said, and I don't think you understood what I was asking. I'm talking about de-pinning and re-pinning the connectors, nothing to do with the board.

 

ah, de pins, well the pins on all but the orange plug are different on the 97+.

 

The pins themselves or the wires and connectors?

I still don't think we're on the same page...

 

the pins themselves, that means the connectors are different also.