What does removing the speedo.....

[91grandmarquis]

entail? I am switching from my 85mph speedo over to an interceptor 140mph speedo, I have to remove the interceptors from the junkyard car. How do I go about doing this while breaking as few parts as possible on the junk car and hopefully none on mine when I re-Install. Also an easy way to roll the odometer to match my current mileage? Yeah Im anal like that so no matter how ling it takes it needs to match.

[1990LTD]

Long skinny dash trim pops off, black bezels unsrew.... you gotta unbolt the panel under the steering column to reach up and press the release button on the headlight switch or it won't pull out, which you need to remove to finish taking that bezel off.

I think when that's off, the next piece is the clear cover. I think, at least... been a few months since I have had it apart. There might be another piece to unscrew, I can't really remember. Have a socket set and some torx and phillips screwdrivers and you will be fine.

[1987cp]

Work very, very slowly. Look over each trim piece exhaustively to make sure you know exactly where it's catching. In some cases, there are some screws or clips in weird places that you may or may not think to look.

The pre-'90 Vic speedo cluster is more troublesome to get out than the pre-'90 Mercury because the speedo cable is directly above the steering column and it's not really intended that you be able to get your hand in there. It may take some back-and-forth peering in from different angles with a flashlight or two before you can get your fingers onto the cable quick-release in a position where you can actually get it off.

Removing the steering wheel, while far from necessary, can make the process easier and less frustrating because it won't constantly be in your way wherever you try to position your head, elbows, or body.

Be very careful with the electrical plug on the cluster, and make sure you've depressed both end-clips in the correct direction before putting much force on anything, or one or both of the clips are likely to break off, leaving you with a cluster electrical connector that's prone to coming disconnected at inopportune times. On my '87 Vic, for all the tons of wire under the dash, the harness to this plug isn't long enough to just pull the cluster out enough to disconnect the plug halfway conveniently, so a great deal of care was required when disconnecting and reconnecting the plug.

Oh, and some of the fasteners you'll encounter have funky sizes like 9/32" (7mm?) hex or a small Torx of some description (T10? T15?). Try to be prepared beforehand to encounter those if you can.

That's all I'm thinking of right now. I'll try to post again if I think of anything else.

[87gtVIC]

Are we certain that a 90-91 Crown Victoria speedometer swaps into a 90-91 Grand Marquis?

[1990LTD]

Are we certain that a 90-91 Crown Victoria speedometer swaps into a 90-91 Grand Marquis?

I couldn't say, my 88 and 89 Merc dashes were 100% different than my Crown dash, that's all I know

[neums]

His car looks like a '91 Mercury. So disregard the headlight switch comment, it just pulls off on a '91. Merc and Ford dashes in 90-91 are identicle. The speedo will plug right in when you get the dash trim off. No need to remove steering wheel or anything else. Can't help with the odometer though.

[trwp72]

once you get both speedos out, you can carefully remove the odometer "wheels" as a complete assembly... but you have to take the cluster apart to get to them... Then there is two screws holding them in, and the whole thing come out... just be really carefull with the gears that runs the two odometers... they have a habit of being very brittle.. and break easily... If you haven't replaced them, now would be a good time, as the newer updated ones are stronger... To take the cluster apart after you get it out, lay it on a table, and using a very small flat blade screwdriver, "pop" the gas gauge and the temp guage out of the cluster... They just press in place... the electrical connections actually hold them in place. Then unbolt all the bolts around the edge, and carefully pull the cluster apart. Be vary careful, as these have a habit of being brittle from the heat of the lamps inside. The cluster will also have the same type of electrical connections for the speedo itself, as the whole thing is electric. In the center, where the speedo "pivot" is, there is a couple of screws also, if I remember right. Again, use the small flat blade screwdriver to help you pop it loose... turn the face over, you will see the odometer assemblies, and the little gears... Check them to make sure they are not broken of stripped, then swap in your other odometer assemblies, then put it back together. One word of caution, use some petrolium jelly to coat the screws, to help keep the cluster from breaking around the screws... be very careful tightening them down, I would use just the socket, and a extension to tighten them with... NO RATCHETS! (1/4) socket set... DO NOT uses a 3/8 inch, as it probably won't fit into the tight spots you need to get to... Hope this helps... if you can wait until this afternoon, while I am at work I will post some pictures of my last remove / install / replacement of gears/ odometer assemblies... (I will have Tom or somebody "sticky" the post for future reference!) I just don't have time right now... I get to work at 2:00 central.. I'll work on posting that then... Tom...

[91grandmarquis]

The cars interiors are the same and the speedo looks to be exactly the same, however That doesn't mean it will swap, I just assumed.... And we all know what that does. Thanks for all the info. Ill probably be going to the scrapyard on monday because they are closed today. I have a large enough trunk to bring all the tools necessary , and plan to use the donor car to learn from as far as the trim goes, But I know that I will not be able to order any of the trim for my car because it seems everything is obsolete for it. The donor is a 1990 ltd interceptor, My car is a 1991 Grand marquis, as far as I know these are the same dash as pre 90 was different and post was the aero generation.

[91grandmarquis]

As for the info on swapping the clusters odometer, thank you very much, I will not be going out till monday so I can wait for pics, I also would like to know were to get new gears should I need to replace any.

[trwp72]

I forgot my fricken power cord for my laptop at home... I get off at 10:00, so I will post the pictures about 11:00 central time... sorry... I can't access the photo hosting site on these Navy computers... IF you happen to find another 140 speedo for a 1991, can you please grab it, and I'll pay you for it? I need one for the speedo face, as mine is all cracked on the back... NO ONE around here has one...

[91grandmarquis]

If I spy another car there ill grab one for you. 50 bucks is what I was told it would cost me, plus my own labor. The guy said that the car would be there a while so ill keep a look out for more, I know there are a few that are ready to die running around town so its a matter of time. The only competition I have for parts is 87dueceVic. He lives in the same area and frequents the same scrapyard.

[trwp72]

OK,, Cool Mine is glued together right now... but it won't be long.....

[trwp72]

Here is where I got my gears... good company to deal with....

http://www.transmissioncenter.org/Odometer_Gears.htm?gclid=CITAxrHBz58CFQqF7QodjlnD0A

You need two sets, one for the odometer, one for the trip odometer

[91grandmarquis]

Thanks, Ill order them the speedo isn't going in till the HO swap, so probably some time in june or july when Im out of school.

[hemihotrod402]

The only competition I have for parts is 87dueceVic. He lives in the same area and frequents the same scrapyard.

except you shouldnt have to worry about competition with speedometers, because both of his cars cant use a 90-91 speedometer