Gut pictures of a caravan's gauge cluster

[Darkwolf]

http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0073.jpg
http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0074.jpg
http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0075.jpg
I am mid engine rebuild and while I am at it I want to install a real water temp and oil pressure gauges in place of the stock ones. I know its been done before but don't think he took any in progress pics. Looks easier then I expected. Think I'll roll back my odometer to 0 as a goof while I am at it. My smallest T10 torxs bit is too big so it will have to wait. Yeah yeah its illegal but this thing will probably end up in a junkyard when I am done with it anyway. This is a junkyard cluster so I will have my original odometer to show how many miles are really on it if I do sell it.

Is there an easy way to get the PRD21 wire/unit out without breaking it? I just snapped the junkyard one since I didn't really see any other option with the tools I brought.

[turbovanman²]

I haven't really taken a Mini cluster out so can't help you with the PRNDL part.

Keep us informed and pics of your progress, :thumb:

[Darkwolf]

http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0077.jpg
Well rolling back the odometer ended up being a little harder then I thought. Little hard to tell from those pics but it now has 999,890 miles on it :). Hopefully it rolls over fine.
http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0079.jpg
Both the gauges are going to cause a bit of a problem in the back. I am hoping I can rig some 90 degree dohicky up to the oil pressure gauge to keep from kinking it.
http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0080.jpg
Looks like I will have to cut the bottom trace to get the water temp gauge to work. Looks like all it does is go to the old water temp gauge and the light neither of witch are needed anymore. I'll try to jump it with a wire just incase though.

I also plan to install an EGT gauge in the light panel on the left side where the check engine light is. Going to have to figure out which trace is the check engine light and a way to rig up an LED to it.

I also need to pick up some a light bulb cover for the oil gauge to make the light green. The water temp came with them but not the damn oil gauge. Can you get those things locally? I know summit sales them but haven't noticed them in places like Advanced.

[mcsvt]

Thats a really nice install :thumb: Looks great from the front.

[turbovanman²]

Looks good, :thumb:

[Ground Rat]

Very nice!

[WVRampage]

That looks good now only if I could figure out the ones in my rampage.

[Darkwolf]

Finally finished pretty much everything other then putting it back in.
http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0083.jpg
We have an EGT, water, and the oil gauges mounted. The LEDs over the EGT gauge are green for 5th injector and red for check engine.
http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0087.jpg
I had to make some room for the oil gauge's line and cut another trace which had to be jumped. The extra long white wire will be going to the check engine LED.

[darkredturbo]

I had the same idea. Nice execution. What brand gauges are those?

Ian

[Darkwolf]

VDO. Just wanted some that would blend in with the stock gauges. I wanted a black faced EGT gauge aswell but could find one in the kit I wanted.

[Darkwolf]

http://users.marshall.edu/~kessler8/van/cluster/100_0092.jpg
Just have to hope everything works once I get the engine back in.

[Whorse]

I've been thinking about doing a custom gauge cluster for my Lebaron, and have to say you did a great job. Where did you get the water temp. gauge, and how exactly did you go about wiring it?

[Darkwolf]

Both the water and oil gauge are mechanical so there really isn't any wiring other then the lights. For those I had to solder wires to the terminals since I had no room to use plugs. Thats what the blue and black wires running out of the bottom of the cluster are. I soldered the positive to the boost gauge's positive light line which I had just jamed into the fuse panel by pulling the fuse for the dashlights and wrapping the wire around it and jaming it back in :). Ugly but it works and dims just like the rest of the dash lights. They all came from www.summitracing.com

[Lee'sdaytona]

Hey I had an idea the other day: For you guys converting turbo mini's to 5-spd, you can open up the instrument cluster, get rid of the P RND21 gauge, and go grab a stock Daytona boost gauge. Under the boost gauge needle, it says tubo in italics. If you cut out that lettering and fit it in, it closes off the old spot, and since there is already a light there, it will light up with the rest of your dash! Whaddaya think?
-Lee

[86Shelby]

Or find a Spirit with a manual trans and it says 'front drive' in the prndl display

[Lee'sdaytona]

Or find a Spirit with a manual trans and it says 'front drive' in the prndl display
Yeah I've seen those, but I think it looks stupid...and I think the TURBO thing would look cooler:thumb:

[Darkwolf]

I know I have seen a dawes a/f gauge stuck in there

[Lee'sdaytona]

I know I have seen a dawes a/f gauge stuck in there
yeah thats not a bad idea either. I think the factory stick shift caravans didn't say front wheel drive, but "fuel economy"? Was that a shift light for best fuel economy like in the TBI daytonas?