I finally got this project mostly completed, so I thought I'd share some pics with you guys.
The cluster is a '94-'98 style Mustang GT unit, with 150mph upper speedometer limit and 7k rpm tach upper limit with 6k rpm indicated redline. The cluster shape itself is shared amongst all '94-'04 SN95s. This cluster (-98) is electrically compatible with the panthers, using a VSS input, and even the same fuel level resistance. Wiring was a matter of moving all the pins around, splicing a few more power and grounds, and tapping my existing tach signal.
To fit the cluster into the dash opening, it had to be hacked down and a 98-02 panther anti-slosh module was used as it has a narrower end. The face and bezel were unchanged as they are before the dash cluster mounting flanges.
I installed one-off custom gauge overlays I had made by Scott. Some noticeable changes from the factory overlays include the speedometer layout, font, tachometer layout, indicator labels, illumination color (blue -> '98+ panther green) and normal text delete. I wanted to keep a factory-like appearance which we accomplished well.
To trim the opening, I made a (few) customized dash bezel to taper the cluster opening to the Mustang cluster. This was the hardest part of the conversion and I still want to give it one more attempt to get it perfect. Many late nights were spent after work on this! The corners are fiberglassed over a foam core/mold, then bondo and after MUCH sanding glazing putty for final smoothing and last more sanding :P I used a 3M texturizer to duplicate the stock look and painted it semi-gloss black with two coats of matte finish to get the sheen just right.
The new bezel trims it out nicely and I got the curvature almost dead-on this time, where as the last one had two peaks in the curve which made it just slightly off.. I'm not finished with this one either of course, I would still like to paint to match the factory Willow Green but didn't have time. In the mean time, the black is growing on me.
I also repositioned the cluster just a tad from where I had originally mounted it, I think I will leave it right where it's at now.
Enough rambling, the pics:
More pictures: http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/7603/62684
For comparison, here were the factory overlays with one of the previous customized bezels:
The cluster is a '94-'98 style Mustang GT unit, with 150mph upper speedometer limit and 7k rpm tach upper limit with 6k rpm indicated redline. The cluster shape itself is shared amongst all '94-'04 SN95s. This cluster (-98) is electrically compatible with the panthers, using a VSS input, and even the same fuel level resistance. Wiring was a matter of moving all the pins around, splicing a few more power and grounds, and tapping my existing tach signal.
To fit the cluster into the dash opening, it had to be hacked down and a 98-02 panther anti-slosh module was used as it has a narrower end. The face and bezel were unchanged as they are before the dash cluster mounting flanges.
I installed one-off custom gauge overlays I had made by Scott. Some noticeable changes from the factory overlays include the speedometer layout, font, tachometer layout, indicator labels, illumination color (blue -> '98+ panther green) and normal text delete. I wanted to keep a factory-like appearance which we accomplished well.
To trim the opening, I made a (few) customized dash bezel to taper the cluster opening to the Mustang cluster. This was the hardest part of the conversion and I still want to give it one more attempt to get it perfect. Many late nights were spent after work on this! The corners are fiberglassed over a foam core/mold, then bondo and after MUCH sanding glazing putty for final smoothing and last more sanding :P I used a 3M texturizer to duplicate the stock look and painted it semi-gloss black with two coats of matte finish to get the sheen just right.
The new bezel trims it out nicely and I got the curvature almost dead-on this time, where as the last one had two peaks in the curve which made it just slightly off.. I'm not finished with this one either of course, I would still like to paint to match the factory Willow Green but didn't have time. In the mean time, the black is growing on me.
I also repositioned the cluster just a tad from where I had originally mounted it, I think I will leave it right where it's at now.
Enough rambling, the pics:
More pictures: http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/7603/62684
For comparison, here were the factory overlays with one of the previous customized bezels:
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