PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: woody53 on June 26, 2020, 06:54:33 PM
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Can a 1975-76 Pinto instrument cluster be reworked to be placed in a 1977 Pinto?
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The printed circuit for each year has a different color. The circuit for 76 and some 77 is pink. The difference from year to year is the amount of wiring. As years advanced, the wiring grows and the plug gets bigger. I know that a 75 had less wiring therefore a smaller plug. That is why I needed to keep the printed circuit from my 76 to put on the 77 cluster. If you use 75 or earlier year, keep your printed circuit but you will need to cut larger hole in the white plastic to fit the larger wiring plug.
There were three 76 clusters in the Colorado junkyard and all were crumbs. Yes a 76 will fit the 77 if you find one that is in good shape. The key will be to match the printed circuit color to you current car. I assume you can use other years cluster with a major rewire.
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This question brings up another. IF..., one has a decent cluster housing is there anything that can be sprayed over it (Urethane etc.) to slow or stop the deterioration? It would be interesting to know why the clusters deteriorate but the "science of plastic" eludes me. https://youtu.be/eaCHH5D74Fs?t=26
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I had to rebuild my gauge cluster as none were available and any that were are as bad. Ford used some real poor plastic that year. See my post dated july 21, 2016 with heading of--crumbling gauge cluster hsg--
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If you are reasonably adept at wiring you might be interested to see what i did with my 73 instrument cluster.
I use the oem.fuel gauge but made an electronic voltage regulator and calibrated it as described in another post.
I only use the illumination lights (which i replaced with led lights) l, turn signals brake warning and alt lights..
I use mechanical oil pressure and temp gauges.
Here is the link tk the post with pics of the rewiring of the instrument cluster.
You will need a wiring diagram and some colored wire. I found a package of 25 fr rolls of 11 different colors of wire onnamazonnfor about $16.
Connections.to the main.harnsee were made by making pigtales.and using multipin.conne ctors as shown. The conne tors were from.a set i got on.amazon.as.w ell and can supply a link.
https://www.fordpinto.com/general-help/1976-wagon-instrument-cluster-bulbs/
Here is the post about what i did.. there is and explanation
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I think the one in my 77 came out of a 74 or 75. should swap with some cussing and careful moving stuff around