95 Ranger instrument cluster backlight question.

[bobbywalter]

I think what matters most is which years are plug-and-play, and I wish there was more centralized info on which ones aren't. Sometimes it lines up with "enthusiast" generations, but breakers and parts sellers will still group things by "book" generations.

Like '92-'93 is the big one I know looks the same but requires a repin. There's a major breakpoint where Ford redesigned a bunch of shit there anyway, but somebody who isn't into Rangers doesn't know about it.

its worse than that. from x day there can be changes in the same year with wiring....especially explorers.

it is insane. there can be hammer weld variations and color changes in the harness which were clearly assembly process adjustments to get by....i have found them on accident troubleshooting swaps....

crazy stuff. it is why i suggest complete running swaps with 4.0 engines.

 

[Powder2015]

aye... but when powertrain swapping the later units and wanting to keep an oem style cluster, swapping to the early cluster simplifies things.

generally i just work with what is there, though things like the later hec systems and pats are garbage waiting to fail anyway and a unneeded easily avoided hassle in my eyes.

in this case i may have went through all of the harness grounds in the cab first and traced back the idm and coolant signal.

That was my next project when I get it back in the shop to do the intake, valve cover gaskets and exhaust manifolds is to cleanup the wiring and grounds as well as check stuff out to make sure it’s in spec then re loom it all to make it look nice. I really want to see how long this 3.0 will last.

 

[Powder2015]

its worse than that. from x day there can be changes in the same year with wiring....especially explorers.

it is insane. there can be hammer weld variations and color changes in the harness which were clearly assembly process adjustments to get by....i have found them on accident troubleshooting swaps....

crazy stuff. it is why i suggest complete running swaps with 4.0 engines.

Is a 4.0 swap the better option because I was really kicking around finding a v8 explorer and harvesting it for when the 3.0 dies

 

[bobbywalter]

Is a 4.0 swap the better option because I was really kicking around finding a v8 explorer and harvesting it for when the 3.0 dies

i would swap a gen3 or gen4 vortec before a windsor if a v8 is on the table.

 

[Powder2015]

i would swap a gen3 or gen4 vortec before a windsor if a v8 is on the table.

How reliable is the 3.0? This is my first one and I didn’t really know it was an option. I know of the 2.3 and the 4.0. I mean it made it to 283k and honestly it’s probably higher than that due to the worm gear having returned to dust.