Hi All

A quick update.

After trying to get an EF/EL Fairmont Oil Pressure Sender from wreckers etc with no luck, I ended up buying a new one from Ford for just under $62. Really worth doing first, before driving all over the countryside trying to get a secondhand one. LOL.

So, got home, changed the sender over, ouch, car still hot, and..........

It still didn't work. p****d off at this stage, so a week went by before I removed the cluster and checked my wiring.

OOPS!!! Bit of a woopsie with the wiring loom I made. The Oil Pressure Sender wire was soldered to the wrong Pin, luckily blank. A few minutes later and we have oil pressure reading on cluster. Yippeee!!!!

So while I had the Cluster out I also finished the wiring to make the ODO LCD light up. However, I had gotten very used to just seeing the guages lit up, especially at night, and find the orange of the LCD too bright.

My solution was to install a switch so I can light up the ODO whenever I choose by holding the button down. I used a spare rear demist switch in the dash next to the factory one. Works brilliantly.

Obligatory photos.

ODO Off


ODO On

Yes, I know the washer bottle light is lit up. It chooses when to be on or off. Will fix it one day.

I have also acquired some bits to fill in the gaps on the sides of the EF Cluster. They are mostly plastic and are a good colour match.



Install details over the next week or two.

Cheers
BenJ

Thats quite the filler.

Double post? I don't remember this.

Last edited by knowsfords on Sun May 25, 2008 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

the big step!lol
looking good there mate..
watching eagerly

couldn't you just use a lower voltage globe for the ODO?

Yes, you probably could. Are they available in the T5 size?

BenJ

Yes they are available in 2w, 1.5w, 1.2w

If you still intend to install a green central controller, the variable dimming should take care of that.

Gidday

So, have been busy over the last few days. Got off my backside and got stuck into preparing the EL Dash to go in the EB.

Before I go any further, I would like to thank PaulMac for giving me the Dash, Console and associated parts for my recent birthday, and snap0964 for answering technical questions re some of the more fiddly wiring changes.

Cheers Guys.

My conversion will be a little different to others I have read about. All the other conversions have used the entire EL Wiring loom for the Dash, Engine Bay and Body. I intend to use the EB Loom and either cut and shut or make adapters to work with the EL Dash components.

The Loom I am using is from my spare parts car, which is an EBII Fairmont with Smartlock. This means I will also get the Fairmont Goodies like the diming interior lights, the variable rheostat for the dash lights and the Auto Climate Control loom. As my car is pre Smartlock, I will use the Smartlock Module only for the Remote Central Locking and associated functions, and bypass the imobiliser components.

Here are some shots of the EB loom in the EL Dash. The fuse panels screwed straight in to the factory holes, and the rest of the loom fell into place nicely as well. You can see that I labelled the loom when I pulled it out of the EB Fairmont over 3 years ago. Very helpful now I can tell you. I had to cut and shut some plugs and run a couple of extra wires for lighting etc, but not to bad really.





See my assistant there keeping an eye on things.

I managed to get the parts together to upgrade to Auto Climate Control at the same time. Interestingly many of the EB components work with the EL Climate Control Module, however there are some important changes as well. There are several functions that in the EB are controlled by the Climate Control Module, but in the EL are controlled by the ECU. This means I have to run a couple of extra wires to the ECU. I won't go in to detail here, but if any one is interested in doing a similar conversion, PM me and I will do what I can to help. I did have to make an adapter loom to interface between the EB Climate Control Plugs and the EL Climate Control Module. I managed to find matching plugs from other parts of the cars so I didn't have to cut and shut this part.

The Adapter.



The following are some shots of the EB with no dash (but lots of red dust) and of the front of the EL dash.








The plan is to put the EL dash in and see if the car starts first, then test the other components. Once it is drivable, I will then install the console and carpet and then worry about the handbrake.

Wish me luck.

Regards
Ben

Good Luck Ben.Say hello to the assistant for me.Lol.Cute cat

very impressive. the ef cluster in the eb is the best! well done.

lookin good ben


Sorry ben had to do it

ookin good ben


Sorry ben had to do it

lookin good ben

LOL Six Posts in one hit.

Nice one Dave.

I can't believe you figured out my secret. It has been the Cat all along doing my mods.

BenJ