hitman72 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I have been reading around and i am lost. What are the considerations i need to take when swapping in a new cluster that contains a tack into my 88. what make and model can i pull one out of? thanks for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParadiseMJ Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 You can use one out of an MJ or an XJ pre-1990. Junkyard item...easier to find an XJ. The tach, when you plug the new cluster in, should work right off. If you have idiot lights instead of gauges on the old cluster, you'll need to also get new senders for the oil pressure and coolant temp (the one at the back of the head). If you already have gauges instead of lights, you're good to go...plug n' play. Tip: When you're trying to disengage the speedo cable, climb under the truck and push the cable UP a little to give you more slack. Pull out the elctrical connectors (2). Then reach behind the old cluster, squeeze and pull the clip off. Installaton is reverse of removal. While you're back there it wouldn't hurt to check all the bulbs and clean and grease the connectors for the new cluster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exgrayxj Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Good advice on the speedo cable, I should have disconnected mine first ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitman72 Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 On 2/15/2013 at 5:51 PM, ParadiseMJ said: You can use one out of an MJ or an XJ pre-1990. Junkyard item...easier to find an XJ. The tach, when you plug the new cluster in, should work right off. If you have idiot lights instead of gauges on the old cluster, you'll need to also get new senders for the oil pressure and coolant temp (the one at the back of the head). If you already have gauges instead of lights, you're good to go...plug n' play. Tip: When you're trying to disengage the speedo cable, climb under the truck and push the cable UP a little to give you more slack. Pull out the elctrical connectors (2). Then reach behind the old cluster, squeeze and pull the clip off. Installaton is reverse of removal. While you're back there it wouldn't hurt to check all the bulbs and clean and grease the connectors for the new cluster So pre 1990 xj (the 4.0 not the high output one) is what i am looking for then thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 On 2/15/2013 at 6:27 PM, hitman72 said: So pre 1990 xj (the 4.0 not the high output one) is what i am looking for then No. To be safe, 1988 through 1990, not "pre" 90. The earlier XJs and MJs used a different speedo cable attachment. Unless you want to also change the speedo cable, you can't use the cluster from an 84-86 in a 1988 vehicle. Also, the 88 and up have a potentiometer that allows setting the tachometer for 6-cylinders or 4 cylinders, so it doesn't matter what engine was in the donor vehicle. The early tachometers don't have this adjustment. You'll notice that I have carefully avoided mention of 1987. That's because, even though I have both an 87 MJ and an 87 XJ, I have never pulled the cluster out of either one and I don't know if the 87 used the arly style speedo and tach, or the late style speedo and tach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 For what it's worth, my '87 uses the plastic attachment, with both ears broke off. It's only being held in place by the friction of the firewall grommet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exgrayxj Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 On 2/16/2013 at 4:54 AM, jimoshel said: For what it's worth, my '87 uses the plastic attachment, with both ears broke off. It's only being held in place by the friction of the firewall grommet. Same on my '90, Jim. Every once in a while I have to push the cable toward the dash to stop the needle from wobbling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 The reason I have reservations about the 87s is that the dial faces in my '87 MJ Pioneers are the old style markings, with ticks for every one MPH, not like the '88 XJ Pioneer that only has ticks at the 2.5 and 5 MPH intervals. It has been my guess that the old-style face probably has the old style cluster behind it, but I've never bothered to crawl under the dash and look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitman72 Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Also, my gauges now are not working quite right. They all read low, 5 mph, temp half of what it would be, and volts around 10-12. I know that there is a ground upgrade you can do that i have not yet. But is there something i can do or check when i am in there doing the swap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParadiseMJ Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 On 2/16/2013 at 2:37 AM, Eagle said: To be safe, 1988 through 1990, not "pre" 90. That's right Eagle...I have a 90 and an 88. My knowledge base is mostly limited to those years. The speedo and electric gauges do not work off the same system. The speedo is operated by a cable, not electric. Connctor integrity and/or cleaning in order. Speedo cable firmly engaged in T-case AND at back of cluster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitman72 Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Went great thanks guys Now what are all the wires for on either side of the wheel, i am guessing they are for factory upgrades but is there anything i can do with them? IMG_1191 by Dallas_Downing, on Flickr IMG_1185 by Dallas_Downing, on Flickr IMG_1193 by Dallas_Downing, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 The extra wires are likely the Fog light and Cargo light circuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1987Comanche Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 For what it's worth my '87 2.5 had 3 different clusters in it: Base (out of a '90 4.0, speedo cable fit), 3/4 cluster (came with the '87), full cluster (out of either an '89 or '90). Of these clusters two of them were in the '90 4.0: base and full cluster. I had no issues with speedo cables in either truck. Also of note I upgraded the cluster in the '92 and found there are 2 different 91-96 H.O. clusters. '91-'92 with a conventional albeit electronic speedo, and '93+ with an odometer that's sealed in the speedo housing via plastic welds at the front. The '93 + also has a small plastic/lexan window over the odometer and is made by Mitsubishi. The '91-'92 does not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 This may come a little late or even if you are intrested but you can also change the background of the gages to white if you want. If you go to http://jeep-xj.info/ and scroll down to White Gauges shows how to change the blacks gauges to white backgrounds for $10. you can order the background and even change the illumination color. I was thinking of doing this to my cluster but I kind of like the original color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armyofchuckness Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Hey, 1987 Comanche, did you have any issues with your tach since it came from a 4.0? I'm about to try the same thing with my 2.5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBpunk Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Sorry to be that guy that asks the dumb question but the senders are for your year cherokee? Trying to figure out what to ask for at Checkers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitman72 Posted April 4, 2013 Author Share Posted April 4, 2013 On 2/16/2013 at 2:37 AM, Eagle said: On 2/15/2013 at 6:27 PM, 'hitman72' said: So pre 1990 xj (the 4.0 not the high output one) is what i am looking for then No. To be safe, 1988 through 1990, not "pre" 90. The earlier XJs and MJs used a different speedo cable attachment. Unless you want to also change the speedo cable, you can't use the cluster from an 84-86 in a 1988 vehicle. Also, the 88 and up have a potentiometer that allows setting the tachometer for 6-cylinders or 4 cylinders, so it doesn't matter what engine was in the donor vehicle. The early tachometers don't have this adjustment. You'll notice that I have carefully avoided mention of 1987. That's because, even though I have both an 87 MJ and an 87 XJ, I have never pulled the cluster out of either one and I don't know if the 87 used the arly style speedo and tach, or the late style speedo and tach. On 4/4/2013 at 5:22 PM, armyofchuckness said: Hey, 1987 Comanche, did you have any issues with your tach since it came from a 4.0? I'm about to try the same thing with my 2.5. Does the highlighted part answer your question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 I think the only difference is the oil pressure and the speedometer it shows that my oil pressure I through the roof and my speedometer isn't accurate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armyofchuckness Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Derp. Sorry about that. :doh: I've been reading some other posts since I asked that and I think I know what to look for now. The Cherokee I "sourced" this cluster from was badly disassembled, so my amateur eye doesn't know what year it was. Hopefully I got lucky and it's an 88-90. If not, there were plenty more to snag at the yard. I'll check when I get home. At least I know I've got the right cluster because they're both light blue housings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitman72 Posted April 4, 2013 Author Share Posted April 4, 2013 I do believe to that on my new cluster it had a sticker on it with the year it was used, not 100% tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armyofchuckness Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 I took mine apart last night and saw the set screw. Thanks to Vaquaro for posting this picture (http://widetrackdrive.com/temp/mj/tach-pot.jpg) in the thread below. I would have never been looking for a nylon screw head on that part of the tach. Here's the post, which has some more great info: http://comancheclub.com/topic/30426-1990-25l-gauge-cluster-swap-options/ I also noticed that my new cluster did have a Chysler part decal on it, so it's definitely post 87. Hopefully I'll get lucky like 1987Comanche and the speedo cable will fit. I doubt they'd have changed them between 86 and 87. Then again, this is AMC we're talking about. :roll: Thanks to everyone for all the cool info on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitman72 Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 The biggest helper when doing this (and it may be on thread, not sure) is to release the speedometer cable from where it is held onto the underside of the truck. This makes it 10 times easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armyofchuckness Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 If it's not on the thread I linked to, it's on another one. I saw it mentioned a time or two. I'm definitely doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armyofchuckness Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 Ugh. Looks like there was a mid-87 swap on the speedometers, according to Geonovast, so I'll definitely be needing a new cable. No biggie. More good info here: http://comancheclub.com/topic/17557-switching-odometers-from-cluster-to-cluster/ And a really good write up here: http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=921205 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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