v8 SHO gauges

[H.D. HUMPERDINK]

I have never seen it do before, but I was looking at them and started thinking about what it might look like. Has anyone seen this done or know what would need to be done to convert the gauge cluster other than making some kind of custom braket.

 

[SHOZ123]

The V8 speedo/odo is electric and you probably won't get the tach to work.

 

[jelloslug]

I looked at the wiring diagram for a '97. The speedo is electric on the 3rd gens vs cable driven on the 1st and 2nd gens. This might not be much of a problem though since there is a VSS on all SHOs. I used the stock VSS on my digital dash an it worked fine. The electrical connector are very differant so you would need to get the plugs with enough wire to work with and splice them into your harness. It would be about like putting in a digital dash. Very do-able. Also I think the 94-97 T-Birds used a very similar cluster so you could get the wiring off or one of those if need be. I would check this ouf first though.

 

[SHOZ123]

The V8 speedo signal comes from the ABS via the PCM. Unique amoung Fords.

 

[jelloslug]

The wiring diagram that I have says it comes from the VSS. Pin 16 on connector "B" from the cluster(Gray/Black) to VSS

 

[91 SHOplus]

Hey Jello, Did you ever resolve the 88 mph thing on the digi-dash. I found one that I'd like to buy, but I want it to work properly as I frequently exceed 88mph.

You should feel it when the Flux Capacitor kicks in! WOW!

 

[jelloslug]

It was an 85 MPH thing . Anyway I never had that problem, just DJ SHO did. I have tried 2 differant clusters in my car and both worked fine over 85 MPH. Get the part number off the cluster (it's under the gear indicator on the face) and I'll compare it to mine. In the mean time here is some light reading: http://home.mindspring.com/~cadman10/digital/digital1.htm

 

[SHOZ123]

Gen 3 SHOs don't have a VSS.

 

[jelloslug]

This is what my '97 wiring diagram says:

Maybe it's incorrect shrug I have never messed with a 3rd gen myself.

 

[ohioshodude]

well your not completely wrong jelloslug. the v8 sho doesn't have a VSS, the ABS module, which gets vehicle speed from the ABS sesnors, sends the pcm the VSS signal. from what i've read and gathered, its the same "signal" as a vss sends. i'm gona find the specs........... ok i can't seem to find it now. i'll look later. thumb

<small>[ September 25, 2003, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: ohioshodude ]</small>

 

[jelloslug]

None the less, I think there's a good chance the speedo would work. There is a question about if the tach would read correctly, but it it functions the way I think it should, it would work just fine. It's worth a shot, remember there were lots of people that said you could not hood up a digital dash and make it work correctly; everything on mine works perfectly thumb .

 

[SHOZ123]

The GEN 3 SHO speed signal is processed by the ABS computer. This in turn sends a signal to the PCM. It may be that it is the same type of signal that the VSS sends out. But I know you cannot change the calibration of the signal through the PCM.

I do know that with my 3.99 gears and 1.25" shorter tires the speedo and odo are off by a very large margin. The speedo can be calibrated accurately by repositioning the needle when under a constant know speed. The odo error cannot be fixed that I know of.

<small>[ September 27, 2003, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[SHOguy 92]

ok this maybe way off subject but i was just looking at jelloslugs 89 interior pic he has up and i noticed a diffrent center console than later gen 1's and 2's. that 89 one is so wicked i want it looks tons better.

 

[jelloslug]

BTW it's a '90 not an '89 thumb . The '89 have a different dash than the '90s and '91s. The console is from a 2nd gen (93-95) auto SHO with a custom panel housing a 2nd gen Probe GT EQ.

<small>[ September 30, 2003, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: jelloslug ]</small>

 

[SHOguy 92]

oh sorry about that i really can't see much of the dash. but i just love that center console it would look so at home in my 90. how hard is it to do. looks like it has a cup holder on front of it which i would love to have one right there. send me a pm about this. thanks

 

[SHOguy 92]

jelloslug i just looked at ur website *bows before you* your my god lol jk. you did an amazing job with that interior. im guessing u chose 1/2 leather because u don't like hot summers especially with black interior (i know cause i have black leather inteerior). but seriously u made it look so much better with all the digital stuff and the equalizer. great job. the digital dash is nice but whats the speedo go up to we had a SLO ours only went to 85mph. and don't u have a tach? you should get a sweet on that mounts on ur column with a shift lite even thought u wouldn't need it im sure just makes it look cool.

 

[jelloslug]

I really wanted full leather but I just happen to run across a complete 50/50 black interior that was in good condition for $200. I am going to change to full leather some time soon though. Some digital speedo stop at 85 MPH, some don't. I have 2 cluster that go past 85 but know of another conversion that stops at 85. There is a tach on the cluster, it's a bar tach that runs up one side and over top of the speedo readout. I would say the only flaw in the whole conversion is the tach because it stops at 7000 RPM. It work well enough though.

 

[SHOguy 92]

so im guessing u went with the speedo that doesn't stop at 85 right? i can see why u went with the half leathers who could say no to $200 thats dirt cheap and those things are in great condition. ur lucky ur good with wiring and all that didn't look hard for u to stick in the equalizer and the custom clock and everything else. car wiring is beyond me lol. i seen you have insructions to make the digital speedo you should make some to put in that center console i want one of that style in my car.

 

[jelloslug]

The center console is really easy, you just need to get ALL the parts from the doner car: The console itself, the rear floor bracket, the middle floor bracket, and both dash brackets. It would bolt right in then.

 

[SHOguy 92]

did i mention your my god? lol jk thanks for that info that console would look so at home in my car. one thing though? is it more useful and nicer than the original gen 1's stock ones?