dashboard swap

[paddlerdan]

I'm new to your forum, and to rangers in general. Question on dash wiring. I am changing cabs on my 94 b3000 Mazda (rolled) to a 99 ranger. The dashboards are a totally different shape, but house the same gauges. I'm thinking of using the 99 dash, can I splice or use the 94 harness with the 99 dash? Are the wires the same colors?
Any advice is appreciated, tx. Dan

 

[Mark_88]

Not sure about the colours...I think a few people have spliced harnesses over the years successfully...

If you are intent on going that route and mixing and matching parts as needed then it is probably doable...I just did an 88 cab onto a 96 frame...carb to fuel injection...so I had to actually use the 96 dash and steering column to get it to work more easily...the older stuff could have been worked in and I probably could have even used the 88 dash and found or bought the wiring harness to run EFI and EDIS or whatever was used in first gen Rangers...

If you want to keep it simple and have the least amount of mismatches...use the newer frame also if possible...just be sure to have the vehicle inspected and certified as needed in your area...and check to make sure the wiring requirements are the same...

Things like headlamps also changed at some point...they went from a 9004 to a 9007...the bulbs and sockets look identical but there is a minor change that made them not work right as a direct swap...the lense housing also is different to accommodate the different operation of the lamps...if you use a 9004 bulb in a 9007 socket or vice versa, you will not be able to see properly and you could blind other drivers on the road...