Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same?

Topic: Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same? (Read 742 times) previous topic - next topic

Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same?

March 02, 2010, 01:05:03 PM

I need an buttstuffog cluster for my int. project and theres an 85 bird at the JY w/a buttstuffog cluster but idk if it will fit with the 88 dash (I dont care about the wiring).

Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same?

Reply #1 – March 02, 2010, 01:30:31 PM

1983-84 were different (smaller size, cable driven).

The 1985-88 clusters interchange but rewiring will need done.

Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same?

Reply #2 – March 02, 2010, 01:41:27 PM

Ok I may get that. I'm using an 86 GT harness anyways thats why I didnt care about the wiring.

Wait wait wait wait werent the buttstuffog cluster from the 85-88 clusters cable driven too. If not can I swap an 83-84 speedo in a 85-88 cluster or are the gauges smaller (The way you say it makes me think that just the housing is smaller).

Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same?

Reply #3 – March 02, 2010, 01:52:31 PM

The T-Bird/Cougar speedos from 1985-88 were all electronically driven. Only the 1983-84 speedos were cable driven.

I don't believe a 1983-84 cluster will fit in a 1985-88 dash. They're a different size and aren't very usable anyway.

You could swap over the VSS assembly and do a little rewiring, and ditch the Mustang cable setup, in order to make the 1985-88 cluster work in the Mustang. It's been done before.

Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same?

Reply #4 – March 02, 2010, 01:57:11 PM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;312327

The T-Bird/Cougar speedos from 1985-88 were all electronically driven. Only the 1983-84 speedos were cable driven.

I don't believe a 1983-84 cluster will fit in a 1985-88 dash. They're a different size and aren't very usable anyway.

You could swap over the VSS assembly and do a little rewiring, and ditch the Mustang cable setup, in order to make the 1985-88 cluster work in the Mustang. It's been done before.

The VSS assembly meaning the unit on the trans instead of the gear? Do you think it would be very hard? I'm good with wiring I just dont want to get over my head with this. If I was to ditch the cable setup I think i'd use digital gauges though but who knows I change my mind a lot lol.

Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same?

Reply #5 – March 02, 2010, 08:01:40 PM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;312327

The T-Bird/Cougar speedos from 1985-88 were all electronically driven. Only the 1983-84 speedos were cable driven.

I don't believe a 1983-84 cluster will fit in a 1985-88 dash. They're a different size and aren't very usable anyway.

You could swap over the VSS assembly and do a little rewiring, and ditch the Mustang cable setup, in order to make the 1985-88 cluster work in the Mustang. It's been done before.

I aborted an idea to use a 85-88 Tbird dash in my 84 Tbird. I was going to keep it simple and use the 84 buttstuffog cluster. The cluster itself will fit in the space that the 85-88 cluster uses, but it would have required tpuppies the instrument panel trim at the top of the window box for the gauge opening and fabricating a little bit trim to finish off around the gauge cluster. I had also gotten the 85-88 instrument cluster to use later when I could work on wiring up the speedo to work with VSS instead of a cable.

The whole game has changed since I went with the SN95 Mustang dash. Most everyone knows by now I ended up using an electronic digital cluster from a 1980 Tbird which also slipped easily into the Mustang cluster opening. It has a mechanical cable with a speed sensor built into the back of the odometer.

I have been entertaining the possibility of using an SN95 Mustang cluster at some point but I don't feel like tackling this right now.

Are all 83-88 buttstuffog clusters the same?

Reply #6 – March 02, 2010, 08:29:25 PM

let me know how it turns out I can use all the info I can on that.