Dash Swapping Please HELP!!!!

[Griff89]

Hello fellow ranger peoples, I am undertaking a project that will involve swapping out the dash in my ford ranger, and most of the interior. first things first I have a 1988 model bone stock, my goal is to completely redo the entire truck from inside and out, I have it running like new and am fixing to get into the body and interior work. This will be my first project vehicle so I need all the help I can get. Anyway the dash swap I will do will be out of a 2000 mustang gt, now I have seen one put into a 97 ranger and I have a cousin that has a 97 ranger dash in his 88 ranger so I know the dimensions will work. The question I have is what do I need to do about the wiring? I can weld and do all the fab work that needs to be done to get the dash in but after that all I will have is the dash with nothing working, I'm no electronic expert, so will I need to take the wiring out of the mustang and replace it? also looking to put power steering in to so what am I looking at wiring wise from the dash swap do get everything in working order? If you have done this or done a similar swap please include the details. Thanks so much.

[RangerEdgeWhite]

the mustang interior is alot smaller

[Griff89]

I know but I know i can get it in there just concerned about the wiring afterwards

[drppdyllwrngr]

why not get a donor mustang, do an engine swap then just reuse the entire mustang harness? then the gauges will all work, etc. but if you are just doing the dash, there shouldn't be anything major for rewiring as you will be reusing the ranger wiring. you'll have to splice in the headlight switch, the hvac controls, etc. the gauges will be the biggest task.

oh, and here's my 03 cobra dash in my 93.




hope you have power windows, a manual trans (or floor shifted auto), and be prepared to modify every last piece of plastic around the dash. a-pillars need to be modified, and on 93+ the door panels do as well. you may be alright there on your older truck.

the hvac is the worst part. the only conclusion i have come to is aftermarket heat/ac.

[Griff89]

Originally Posted by drppdyllwrngr

why not get a donor mustang, do an engine swap then just reuse the entire mustang harness? then the gauges will all work, etc. but if you are just doing the dash, there shouldn't be anything major for rewiring as you will be reusing the ranger wiring. you'll have to splice in the headlight switch, the hvac controls, etc. the gauges will be the biggest task.



hope you have power windows, a manual trans (or floor shifted auto), and be prepared to modify every last piece of plastic around the dash. a-pillars need to be modified, and on 93+ the door panels do as well. you may be alright there on your older truck.

the hvac is the worst part. the only conclusion i have come to is aftermarket heat/ac.

So what will I have to do to get the guages to work? that is if I dont do the engine swap?

----------

oh and by the way it is a 5 speed.

[Griff89]

...

[drppdyllwrngr]

hope and pray! the cluster in your truck is pretty much mechanical. the mustang will be all electrical. don't think there is any easy way to do it. aftermarket gauges would probably be the easiest solution.

my truck is a little different. i did a motor swap in it. it's a 97 motor, in a 93 body, with the 03 cobra interior. so i have a mustang cluster. i have the wiring harness for it. i plan to cut/spline/repin the ranger harness to work with the mustang cluster. but 95+ rangers are all electronic in the clusters.

[Griff89]

Originally Posted by drppdyllwrngr

hope and pray! the cluster in your truck is pretty much mechanical. the mustang will be all electrical. don't think there is any easy way to do it. aftermarket gauges would probably be the easiest solution.

my truck is a little different. i did a motor swap in it. it's a 97 motor, in a 93 body, with the 03 cobra interior. so i have a mustang cluster. i have the wiring harness for it. i plan to cut/spline/repin the ranger harness to work with the mustang cluster. but 95+ rangers are all electronic in the clusters.

thanks buddy i appreciate the insight hopefully aftermarket cluster will do the trick i havent even thought of that. have any ideas where i could find some? and just for giggles if i cant wire it myself how much or where would i even go to have the dash wired up?

[drppdyllwrngr]

auto meter, dolphin gauges. any aftermarket ones. you'll have to get all the sensors and senders to make them work.

as for taking to someone, that's a good question. i'm sure it would be pretty expensive to get done.

[Griff89]

thanks

[Griff89]

.....