Retaining 1st gen dash (4.0 ohv swap)

[Nordren]

i've done a fair amount of research on the swap and i also have most to all the parts an pieces for the swap but, i can't quite figure out how to keep my dash. if someone has already done a write up on it please send me in the right direction. Would like to get a solid idea on this before i dive in head first. Thanks

 

[adsm08]

I don't think we have done a wonderful write up anywhere. I was going to do one this summer when things warm up and I can tear into mine to take pics of some of the harder plugs to rework.

I have some miscellaneous notes on reworking an 89+ dash harness to plug into the 87 dash. It was a lot of work, mostly figuring out which pins go where, but I have it working now, so the hard part is done. If I need I can just go take pics of my plugs now.


I have heard of it being done other ways, but getting the newer dash harness in there gets you the big plug which makes dash or wiring service easier.

 

[jhammel85]

I don't think I've seen one either, though it'd be nice.

 

[4.0B2]

I wish I would have wrote everything down... At the time I didn't know TRS existed or it was easier to do the dash swap.

I just used an ohms meter to pin out each plug and see what wire should go where. It wasn't hard at all it was just time consuming.

 

[Nordren]

I don't think we have done a wonderful write up anywhere. I was going to do one this summer when things warm up and I can tear into mine to take pics of some of the harder plugs to rework.

I have some miscellaneous notes on reworking an 89+ dash harness to plug into the 87 dash. It was a lot of work, mostly figuring out which pins go where, but I have it working now, so the hard part is done. If I need I can just go take pics of my plugs now.


I have heard of it being done other ways, but getting the newer dash harness in there gets you the big plug which makes dash or wiring service easier.

Some pictures would be great! i'd like to just get a good idea of the process. i'm sure it'll make sense when my head is in there; really love the OG look. i'll be sure to take pictures and create a log once more parts come in

 

[cammeddrz]

do you want to keep the dash? Or are you wanting to keep the instrument cluster?

what I mean is that I once put an OBDII LT1 engine into a 1977 corvette, and worked the LT1 instrument cluster to fit in place of the 'vette instrument cluster. all while retaining the 'vette dash. That was mostly a matter of using all of the newer harnesses because all of the components/connectors remained unmolested. Is this the type of thing you are asking about doing? Or do you want the OBDII stuff to make the '87 instrument cluster function?

 

[Nordren]

do you want to keep the dash? Or are you wanting to keep the instrument cluster?

what I mean is that I once put an OBDII LT1 engine into a 1977 corvette, and worked the LT1 instrument cluster to fit in place of the 'vette instrument cluster. all while retaining the 'vette dash. That was mostly a matter of using all of the newer harnesses because all of the components/connectors remained unmolested. Is this the type of thing you are asking about doing? Or do you want the OBDII stuff to make the '87 instrument cluster function?

looking to keep both the cluster and dash, and i believe the engine is OBDI

 

[SenorNoob]

I was thinking about this the other day. Why not just build an adapter harness. Would be WAY easier. Just get the big white plug that matches your engine/computer harness from under the dash and the last set of connectors before the firewall from the existing engine/computer harness. That way it can be worked on outside the vehicle too.

It would leave some extra wire under the hood or under the dash. But, not much.

I know if I do it again that's the route I'm taking. Another plus is that at that point almost all of the wires you need to splice are the same color on both ends. At least they were on my setup.

 

[adsm08]

I wish I would have wrote everything down... At the time I didn't know TRS existed or it was easier to do the dash swap.

I had two very good reasons for not writing down what I did.

1) Most of the important stuff was already right.

2) I had no idea if it was going to work.

 

[Phantom]

I am real close to the beginning of a complete 4.0 swap with dash, I would of liked to of kept the original dash, but it seems as if it's easier to just do it all.

 

[4.0B2]

I had two very good reasons for not writing down what I did.

1) Most of the important stuff was already right.

2) I had no idea if it was going to work.

Well #2 is a good excuse for me... I had no idea. I was 14-15 at the time. My dad helped but stayed back and let me do most of it. I learned a lot!

 

[Nordren]

I was thinking about this the other day. Why not just build an adapter harness. Would be WAY easier. Just get the big white plug that matches your engine/computer harness from under the dash and the last set of connectors before the firewall from the existing engine/computer harness. That way it can be worked on outside the vehicle too.

This sounds like a great idea and i'd love to go a route like this myself, but i think i have only half of this big white plug you speak of (cannon plug?). none the less what ever i wind up doing i'll keep records of it fail or not.

 

[adsm08]

I am real close to the beginning of a complete 4.0 swap with dash, I would of liked to of kept the original dash, but it seems as if it's easier to just do it all.

Yes, doing the dash swap is easier, but for some of us ease is not at important as retaining the appearance of the vehicle being all original.

 

[ronclark]

i've done a fair amount of research on the swap and i also have most to all the parts an pieces for the swap but, i can't quite figure out how to keep my dash. if someone has already done a write up on it please send me in the right direction. Would like to get a solid idea on this before i dive in head first. Thanks

My 87 has the 1st gen dash, i am running a 93 explorer ECU and harness.
What i did was make a adapter harness that goes between the old and new harnesses.
http://s951.photobucket.com/user/rdmclark/library/87%20Ranger
there are some photos what my truck looks like.
If you need help i have a few EVTMs that might help.

 

[Nordren]

My 87 has the 1st gen dash, i am running a 93 explorer ECU and harness.
What i did was make a adapter harness that goes between the old and new harnesses.
http://s951.photobucket.com/user/rdmclark/library/87%20Ranger
there are some photos what my truck looks like.
If you need help i have a few EVTMs that might help.

pictures are extremely helpfull! were those all from the cannon plug?