Anyone made this dash swap happen?

[DaddysTruck]

I'm liking the idea of one of these newer model Explorer dashes in my '85. I've never come across someone who has made it happen. Anyone know if this should be a good fit like the earlier style, or were there changes that would cause issues? Another thing I've never seen is someone making the stock steering column and pedals work with the newer dash. I know why they aren't easily compatable, but if I gut the dash to make it work are there any fitment/functionality issues I might run into?

 

[Mark_88]

I put a 96 dash into an 88 Ranger and got everything to work with some modifications.

The stock steering wheel (edit) might have worked but because of the way I did it I decided to go with the 96 (Ranger) steering wheel.

The main problem for me was the way it fastens to the dash and I just found it easier to use the newer steering column. That only required a bit of shortening of the middle segment of the shaft. I was running out of time on my location where I was doing the build and had to speed things up.

I also moved over the heater box from the 96 because the old style would have required more modifications. The heater box from the 96 fit perfectly with just slight modification t the firewall (bigger hole with different mounting).

The only other considerations were the wire harness pass though at the firewall and how the dash was mounted on the sidewalls. The whole dash sits on the sidewall mounts, unlike the original dash which has a few more mounting locations. The newer cabs are a bit wider also...doesn't matter though as the trim allows you to fit it to professional looking or factory finish.

I have some pics of the mods I did but they are on Photobucket and linking them is not working since the changes they made.

Overall, yes, it will work and yes it is worth it to me just to have the side defrost vents working so I didn't have to keep flipping the vent control between panel and windshield.

The upgrade actually looked pretty good too...I tried to upload some pics but they need to be resized...and I can't actually do that with this computer...XP is getting wonky.

 

[twoll86]

I put a 96 dash into an 88 Ranger and got everything to work with some modifications.

The stock steering wheel (edit) might have worked but because of the way I did it I decided to go with the 96 (Ranger) steering wheel.

The main problem for me was the way it fastens to the dash and I just found it easier to use the newer steering column. That only required a bit of shortening of the middle segment of the shaft. I was running out of time on my location where I was doing the build and had to speed things up.

I also moved over the heater box from the 96 because the old style would have required more modifications. The heater box from the 96 fit perfectly with just slight modification t the firewall (bigger hole with different mounting).

The only other considerations were the wire harness pass though at the firewall and how the dash was mounted on the sidewalls. The whole dash sits on the sidewall mounts, unlike the original dash which has a few more mounting locations. The newer cabs are a bit wider also...doesn't matter though as the trim allows you to fit it to professional looking or factory finish.

I have some pics of the mods I did but they are on Photobucket and linking them is not working since the changes they made.

Overall, yes, it will work and yes it is worth it to me just to have the side defrost vents working so I didn't have to keep flipping the vent control between panel and windshield.

The upgrade actually looked pretty good too...I tried to upload some pics but they need to be resized...and I can't actually do that with this computer...XP is getting wonky.

Can you put the link into the pictures on here? I have a 94 ranger and the dash is beat up but I have a 95 expo I'd love to swap over it'd add some nice features too

 

[adsm08]

Can you put the link into the pictures on here? I have a 94 ranger and the dash is beat up but I have a 95 expo I'd love to swap over it'd add some nice features too

I doubt you will get much of a response. Unfortunately Mark has been inactive for a while. His profile page says he was last here on the 28th, but I haven't seen him post anything in much longer. Also, he never really posted pictures when he was active. I think I remember reading a post from him saying he didn't even have a digital camera.