I have a base series ef cluster. to put a mid series or high cluster in, ie like one out of a fairmont or xr6 is it a simple swap over or do i need extra wires. also how hard would it be?

direct replacement, but if u want to get the oil pressure guage working you will have to get an oil pressure sender to replace teh oil pressure switch, it near the oil filter somwhere i believe ive had a mid series cluster for ages now and still havent got around to changing the sender to a switch

It's so easy to change the clusters, just remove your old and put the new in.
Then jack up the car and use a 1" (I think) deep socket to remove the switch and replace it with the sensor ($50.00 from Ford new).

When i bought my car it had the high series cluster in it cause the lcd screen on the old one low series one was cracked! All i know is its a straight swap over and everything works on mine and i prefer it to the other one

i will be doing this in the near future.
did you's have to get a new coolant overflow bottle, one with a low water level and also, dosen't the mid series have a low washer bottle light?

Best thing to do is read the doco (Its up, minus the pictures working..... Which we will get to shortly )

http://www.fordmods.com/phpBB2/documents.php?doc=14

That has descriptions of the differences, whats involved in a swap (Including swapping your Odo Readings and crap like that), and what features you should expect from the conversion

Hope this helps

the futuras and above have the low coolant sensor fitted in the overflow bottle - AFAIK the Gli's were the only model that wern't fitted with them. i have swapped clusters but yet to change the oil pressure sensor over - even thought i have it here. hehe got the cluster and sender for $50, and then sold my old base cluster for $50 - not a bad swap eh!

yeh my futura has a low coolant sensor which is handy. my mates gli doesnt have it but i find it a little handy to have.

i like the idea of the dash cluster giving me as much info as possible which is why i love the diagonostics and little things like that.

ok so i go to the wreckers get a BA XR6 dash (oh yes please)...

no seriously something like a high cluster ef/el dash and stick it straight in, then i install wires to the oil pressure sensor. what about battery sensor?

thanks for the doco xyphoid.

one day i will find the time, effort and money to do this to my car.

one day.

[quote="twirqurky"]no seriously something like a high cluster ef/el dash and stick it straight in, then i install wires to the oil pressure sensor. /quote]


there are no wires to add as such - you change it from a sender to a sensor - the unit then sends the appropriate signal itself. so therefore no extra wires for you to run! as for the battery voltage, that already runs itself...

ugly bob's right, unless your goign for an aftermarket gauge, there's no need to change the wiring, ust upgrade the sensor.

Just keep in mind that the "High Series" Cluster (The Fairlane / LTD ones) need a fair bit of re-wiring to get working (These are the clusters with the Car outline, and door ajar warning, and Gear position.....)

The XR / Fairmont / Farimont Ghia Clusters have the Battery volts, and Oil Pressure, as well as Tacho and speedo....

You can safely swap these clusters over from a low series, without any wiring, or modification (Plug and Play).... But the following will not work,

Oil Pressure (Will only Read Max Oil Pressure or Min Pressure)

Odometer Reading will be changed (You will need to swap the EEPROM to change your Odo Reading - More about that in the doco)

Low Coolant Warning for GLi models - (Well you have this warning on the Low series cluster already, you just need the Low Coolant sensor, which you can fit to your current Bottle, then wire the thing up)

Its a very worthwhile swap. It makes the Cluster not look so bare, and the Battery Voltage Reading is always good if you have an aftermarket Audio System fitted