Need help with digital dash swap with my 1990 thunderbird

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90blacktbird

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Oct 28, 2024
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Maine
Vehicle Details
1990 Ford Thunderbird V6 Stock
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Trying to swap these 2 displays, what would be required for this? Is there an adapter or will I need to rewire. Also what the connectors called. Any info would be appreciated, using repair manuals only is a pain.29889EE3-5B07-442B-A95D-B4065E0FCACF.jpeg0809C3BC-1F46-4C14-AEE1-07290D047D23.jpegIMG_1404.jpegIMG_1401.jpegIMG_1409.jpeg
 
What you want isn’t a repair manual, buy a Ford EVTM(Electrical Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual) for your year and it will have the diagrams and exact connector pinouts you’d need for this conversion. I’d give you specifics to the point you wouldn’t need one if I had done it but I haven’t. Either way when it comes to any kind of electrical an EVTM is a must have.

The biggest task with that cluster will be getting the various fuel metrics to readout, which involves running a wire from the DOL(data output link) pin on the EEC connector to the cluster. That will give you the MPG, distance to empty etc data for the display.

Also you’ll need to change oil pressure senders to the analog type(not literally analog) the base cluster your car came with uses a normally closed switch(no oil pressure=light on) Analog clusters and the digital cluster use normally open switches(no oil pressure no needle movement or in the digital case no bars).
 
I will be home later this week and can get you the diagrams for the clusters. What years are they from/going into?

Do you have the harness pigtail for that black connector on the digital cluster?
 
jco1385 said:
I will be home later this week and can get you the diagrams for the clusters. What years are they from/going into?

Do you have the harness pigtail for that black connector on the digital cluster
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It’s a 1990 thunderbird and the part was claimed to also be from a 1990 thunderbird. I believe it’s actually from a cougar. I don’t have a harness pigtail for it, i’ll find one.

1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
I have nothing to contribute, sorry... But what a great project! I love those digital clusters.

Definitely share your progress with us!
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I will, thanks for replying. I’ll also post the completed car whenever I have the money

XR7-4.6 said:
What you want isn’t a repair manual, buy a Ford EVTM(Electrical Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual) for your year and it will have the diagrams and exact connector pinouts you’d need for this conversion. I’d give you specifics to the point you wouldn’t need one if I had done it but I haven’t. Either way when it comes to any kind of electrical an EVTM is a must have.

The biggest task with that cluster will be getting the various fuel metrics to readout, which involves running a wire from the DOL(data output link) pin on the EEC connector to the cluster. That will give you the MPG, distance to empty etc data for the display.

Also you’ll need to change oil pressure senders to the analog type(not literally analog) the base cluster your car came with uses a normally closed switch(no oil pressure=light on) Analog clusters and the digital cluster use normally open switches(no oil pressure no needle movement or in the digital case no bars).
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info, I will keep you guys updated.
 
That black connector that you are missing is the same connector used at the VMM. I searched my whole shop to find the broken one I had thinking I had the pigtail with it. Unfortunately I do not, but I can confirm it is the same connector. Maybe that will be fairly easy to get.

20241103_082421.jpg
 
jco1385 said:
Here are links to high resolution images of the large-format diagrams for each cluster:

1990 MN12 Analog Cluster Diagram
1990 MN12 Electronic Cluster Diagram
1990 MN12 Performance Cluster Diagram

I'm only home for the weekend. If there is anything else you need let me know asap or it will be another week or so.
Click to expand...
THANK YOU. I had to do my brakes and replace my turn signal flash module so that took all my free time this week. I’ll be looking through those and developing my plan for the installation.

jco1385 said:
That black connector that you are missing is the same connector used at the VMM. I searched my whole shop to find the broken one I had thinking I had the pigtail with it. Unfortunately I do not, but I can confirm it is the same connector. Maybe that will be fairly easy to get.

View attachment 8582
Click to expand...
Hopefully will be an easy find. Thanks for your help.
 
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