72 convertible dash swap

ALLWELD488 · Oct 13, 2014

I have two 72 mustang convertibles one im restoring and the other is a basket case, now the parts car has tilt and a dash cluster with factory tach and gages like oil, temp, and alt in center, i would like to swap the gages to mine because it just has the idiot lights, do i need to swap the whole wiring harness or will mine already have the wires back there when i tear it apart?

OMS · Oct 13, 2014

Yes swap it all, including the wiring - underdash and underhood

Don

will e · Oct 13, 2014

I would second don's recommendation. The connector on the cluster is different. It will be much cleaner if you swap everything.

Pay close attention to how the alt meter is wired. Ford used a 'shunt' and it makes the wiring a little weird. Get a copy of the wiring diagrams.

midlife · Oct 13, 2014

Yup, you can't mix and match dashes and underdash wiring. You can get away with using a non-tach headlight harness in a tach dash so long as you understand there will be no leads for the ammeter, but you can't get away with using a tach-configured headlight harness in a standard dash, as the alternator light won't work.

Paul of MO · Oct 13, 2014

Buy band aids - lots of band aids.

- Paul

p.s: buy band aids

Totalled · Oct 13, 2014

Wear "mechanic's" gloves.

Mustang Dynasty · Oct 21, 2014

I have two 72 mustang convertibles one im restoring and the other is a basket case, now the parts car has tilt and a dash cluster with factory tach and gages like oil, temp, and alt in center, i would like to swap the gages to mine because it just has the idiot lights, do i need to swap the whole wiring harness or will mine already have the wires back there when i tear it apart?

A good auto electrician shop can take care of that and set the middle guages up (a very close to looks of the original Mach 1 middle guages available, that has Ford printed on the lower half moon chrome)worth the bucks to replace the old wiring map per se and get the one for the mach 1 that handles the tach and middgle guage set up. pic of those guages on either page 7, 8, or 9 on my photo album for a closer shot.

whitesoc · Oct 21, 2014

Been there done that! I started at the battery and worked my way into the car when I replaced mine.

72 convertible dash swap

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