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Topic: An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87... (Read 2369 times) previous topic - next topic

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

I am considering putting an perfect condition '83 dash in my '87 thunderbird to replace my cracked and messed up stock dash. I really like the look of the older dash as well.  I cannot find a good replacment '86/'87/'88 dash in any local junkyard, but have found several nice dashes in some '83/'84 cars.
I plan on using the '87 dash wiring and buttstuffog cluster. I'm obviousiy going to have to modify the dash some way to make the '87 cluster to work. Does anyone have and ideas for this conversion? any suggestions would be great.:D
~1988 thunderbird~
In hibernation, waiting for spring.

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #1 –
I dont know any real "techincal" details, but I am willing to bet you will have to hack up the display panel an awful lot to get your current gauge cluster in there to work. Have you ever  considered a dash cap?
Before



Before tpuppies

after

As per Mr. Eric@coolcats website
http://www.coolcats.net/stockmod/modified/dashtop.html
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #2 –
I agree that the 1983-84 dash is clean, simple, straightforward, no-nonsense...but it definitely has a lot of limitations. I seriously doubt you'd get your gauges cluster to work in that dash, because the hole in the 1983-84 dash is just way too small to accommodate it. You would have to change your heater box, etc. behind the dash as well. The good news is that all the holes you need are there...you shouldn't have to drill even one. It is a lot of work though. I'm going to have to agree that a dash cap is much more economical and viable at this point. Unless you have all winter, all the parts, and some wiring schematics. ;)

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #3 –
I've already removed the heater core and all of the surrounding plastics. I only drive my tbird in the summer, and I don't recall haveing ever turned the heater on for any reason. That stinks that the recessed area in the '83 type dash is too small....Well what do you guys think about a mustang dash? Theres several various years of fox mustang at my local junkyard with good condition dashes. Particularly, theres a '88 four cylinder 'stang that has a flawless dash. I wonder if I could get an '87 tbird cluster to fit in that...As far as prices go, I could get 3 dashes from this junkyard for the price of one dash cap, and not one of the carpet ones: I'm not too particular of those.
~1988 thunderbird~
In hibernation, waiting for spring.

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #4 –
You can probably get an older (pre-1987) Mustang cluster to work. Keep in mind that the speedo is cable driven.

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Haystack
I dont know any real "techincal" details, but I am willing to bet you will have to hack up the display panel an awful lot to get your current gauge cluster in there to work. Have you ever  considered a dash cap?
Before



Before tpuppies

after

As per Mr. Eric@coolcats website
http://www.coolcats.net/stockmod/modified/dashtop.html

That looks great! That dash cap Is the type I would get, but there expensive aren't they?
~1988 thunderbird~
In hibernation, waiting for spring.

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #6 –
Not really there about $100 for the 85-88 dash but you have to dye them the color of your dash top. It's not that to do either:D
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #7 –
What are mustang clusters like for the '86 and older? I think those are the ones that have individual pods for each gauge. those would look pretty cool and have a old-school feel along with that style of dash. Hmmm, well I could get a dash cap and keep it simple or i could do somthing that is real time consuming but in the end be real unique....I think I'll have the time to put into it this spring and summer.:rolleyes:
~1988 thunderbird~
In hibernation, waiting for spring.

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #8 –
here is a moddified 86
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #9 –
here is a moddified 86
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #10 –
haystack.. you mean this?

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #11 –
Yeah I got it right before you did. thanks.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

dashcap

Reply #12 –
i think i would check e-bay for dascap. the guy that i just bought mine from sell them for most vehicles. the buy it now price 98.99 but i won it on auction for 31.00 and got a console lid cap for 8.81 at auction. i will post pics when done but test fit looks great.

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #13 –
Badbird, your 'bird is beautifull! thats one of the best looking earlier foxes i've seen...:bowdown:
~1988 thunderbird~
In hibernation, waiting for spring.

An '83 T-bird Dash In An '87...

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Haystack
here is a moddified 86

what is that cluster thats in that dash? It seems that if that could fit,
an '87 cluster could fit..
~1988 thunderbird~
In hibernation, waiting for spring.