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Old 09-21-2010, 01:28 PM
AntDiN AntDiN is offline
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Default Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

I have a 96 ranger and I was thinking about swapping the gauges to something that adds a little bit to the interior. A cluster with a tach would be pretty cool. What gauge clusters out there would fit in my truck and if I get one with a tach what has to be done so the tach works.
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Old 09-21-2010, 05:46 PM
drppdyllwrngr drppdyllwrngr is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

any 95-03 ranger cluster will work, along with explorers 95-01, explorer sport trac/ex sport up to 03.

a tach cluster is plug and play even if you didn't have a tach to start with. if you get a 98+ ranger or explorer cluster, you may need to swap your water temp gauge as some 95-97 may have a resistor, and all 98+ do not. the door ajar light may also need to be swapped with the fuel cap light. i still need to do that, but not too worried about it.

03 ranger cluster in my 95:
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Old 09-21-2010, 09:31 PM
mtmkocsis mtmkocsis is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

hello, i would like to do a cluster swap also. will a cluster from a 96 6cyl 5 speed work in my 96 4cyl 5 speed? would i have to make any modifications to it at all?

thanks very much
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Old 09-21-2010, 09:33 PM
mtmkocsis mtmkocsis is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

also the cluster i would like to install has a tach, (reason for swap) my cluster is not originally equipped with one. is it going to be as simple as plug it in and it works?
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Old 09-21-2010, 10:45 PM
Coleosis Coleosis is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtmkocsis View Post
hello, i would like to do a cluster swap also. will a cluster from a 96 6cyl 5 speed work in my 96 4cyl 5 speed? would i have to make any modifications to it at all?

thanks very much
Dont think the tach will read right from 4 to 6 cyl...i have an aftermarket tach that has a 4cy, 6cy, and 8cy setting...If not on the 6 cyl setting, it doesnt read right.
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Old 09-22-2010, 03:34 AM
drppdyllwrngr drppdyllwrngr is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

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Originally Posted by Coleosis View Post
Dont think the tach will read right from 4 to 6 cyl...i have an aftermarket tach that has a 4cy, 6cy, and 8cy setting...If not on the 6 cyl setting, it doesnt read right.
there are no different settings on our factory tachs. they are plug and play other than the differences i posted before.
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Old 09-23-2010, 08:10 AM
AntDiN AntDiN is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

Thanks again for the info I actually found a good cluster in an explorer sport at the one junk yard i went to unfortunately we didn't bring all the right tools and couldn't get it out but I'm looking forward to getting a new cluster in it'll look sweet
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Old 10-06-2010, 08:17 PM
AntDiN AntDiN is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

I'm going to be swapping the gauge cluster (hopefully tomorrow) how would i know if it has the resistor and if it does how do I go about swapping the water temp gauges?
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Old 10-07-2010, 04:09 AM
drppdyllwrngr drppdyllwrngr is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

you pull the clear cover off, then pull the sections out. you don't have to remove the needles or overlays in order to pull the sections out.

here is one without:


and one with:


you can see there are two screws that hold the gauge in place. if you need to swap it, then you pull the needle for just the water temp, unscrew the gauge, do the same with the new cluster, and just swap. pretty simple.
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Old 10-07-2010, 02:51 PM
AntDiN AntDiN is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

I did the swap today and switched the temp gauge however it doesn't seem to work at all now, but it did work in the other cluster am I missing something? Could I possibly need a new temp gauge?
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Old 10-07-2010, 03:32 PM
huffa12 huffa12 is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

I'd like to do the same swap so i could have a tach but i don't want to loose my milage is there a way to keep the same milage ?
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  #12  
Old 10-07-2010, 07:13 PM
joker515 joker515 is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

i noticed on alot of explorers and some rangers the cluster has a white face, what color does it shine when the lights are on? i have a project im working on...
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  #13  
Old 10-08-2010, 03:31 AM
drppdyllwrngr drppdyllwrngr is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

Quote:
Originally Posted by huffa12 View Post
I'd like to do the same swap so i could have a tach but i don't want to loose my milage is there a way to keep the same milage ?
swap the odometer to the new cluster, or roll the new cluster to the same mileage.

Quote:
Originally Posted by joker515 View Post
i noticed on alot of explorers and some rangers the cluster has a white face, what color does it shine when the lights are on? i have a project im working on...
all 98+ are green.
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Old 10-08-2010, 10:40 AM
AntDiN AntDiN is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

Theres a whole tutorial right here about rolling the odometer or switching them over for gauge swaps http://www.fordrangerforum.com/inter...03-trucks.html

And the lights are kind of a lime greenish color. I need to go about changing the color though cause it stands out really bad at night in my truck but its definitely worth doing it looks so much better with a tach
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  #15  
Old 10-09-2010, 10:54 AM
AntDiN AntDiN is offline
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Default Re: Swapping out guages in a 96 xlt

Update: Found a gauge overlay that not only gives me white faces BUT matches the lights perfectly with my head units blue and red lights. Just ordered them cant wait to put them in
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