Date:         Tue, 12 Feb 2002 14:00:38 -0700
Reply-To:     jbrush@AROS.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Brush <jbrush@AROS.NET>
Subject:      Re: Installing 87 instrument cluster in 82
Comments: To: Jeff Strickrott <jstric01@CS.FIU.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <3C695F80.3D818139@cs.fiu.edu>

I>look at the schematics for the 85 WBX and  82 aircooled, they seem to
>indicate that I can just swap one cluster for the other. I know I will
>have to run the additional wire from the coil for the tach to work, but
>everything else common between the two models looks the same.

My God man, its not a diesel, is it???? :-)

>My questions are:

>- Has anyone in the group done this?

Yes

>- What is the best way to run hte wire from the coil up to the front of
>the car?

I choose to run it inside. My van has the aux furnace underneath and it
just looked like a pain. Drill a small hole in the rear deck and use a
grommet to get the wire up out of the engine compartment. Just looks nicer
that way.

>- Is there anything I have missed or should look out for when installing
>the new instrument cluster in place of my old one?

I don't know about the schematics, but I put an 85 into my 81 and it was
wired differently. The connectors come apart real easy for swapping the
wires. If you have the bentley, its a piece of cake.

>is at 89k. Since it looks like there are some additional features (the
>printed circuit foil has 6 connection going into the speedometer while
>mine has nothing) to the new one versus my old odometer, I am leaning
>towards just using the new one.

Again, the years may matter, but in my case, the connection to the speedo
was not the same, so I couldn't use the newer one, with the trip odometer
:( without changing out the cable itself.

> Does anyone know the best way to reset
>the mileage to match my old odometer (can I take it apart and manually
>reset the gears) or is running it backwards the only way?

No clue. Sounds like one of those things that will come apart, but not go
back together :-)

Good luck. If I can help, lemme know.

Regards,

John