Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 13:37:08 -0800
Reply-To: Ray Hunnam <hunnam@PNC.COM.AU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Ray Hunnam <hunnam@PNC.COM.AU>
Organization: RAYJEN Security
Subject: Re: Instrument Pod Conversion-need advise
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Hullo Scott
I have recently carried out the exact conversation you are planning except
I swapped a Tacho into my 91 Bus. You are correct the pre 85 clusters are
different from the post 85 - 86.
How I did my conversation is that I purchased a complete second hand
cluster from a great and helpful motor wrecker in Canada. I got onto this
instrument from a fellow lister, David Marshall. The cluster was from an
86 model and was in good condition. Even with shipping it cost me less
that attempting to buy one here ( they are impossible to find over here and
as dear as poison)
The cluster I got had heaps of miles on it so I decided to swap my speedo
into the other cluster. Believe me this was a fairly simple operation.
The system works on a plastic, printed circuit sheet, affixed to the back
of the cluster. This circuit board plugs into the wiring harness and is a
very simple arrangement, so no worries there. What I did find the tricky
part was removing the circuit sheet from the individual gauges.
The sheet ( I will call it that ) is held on by little arrow shaped heads.
I found it a good idea not to try and force the sheet off these studs,
otherwise you could easily damage the printed circuit in the sheet. The
way I did it was to gently place a small screw driver under the side of the
stud and carefully prise the sheet off. Do not try to rush this process
take your time.
The circuit hook up to the gauges are simple nut and posts. All told my
conversation took under 1 hour and by no stretch of the imagination am I a
mechanical or electrical genius. Just why some of your gauges wont work
may be associated with the small voltage regulator at the rear of the
cluster.
When I fitted my new cluster all gauges as well as a small digital clock
worked fine. Unfortunately my experience is with the 86 cluster into a 91
model. I do not know how your 84 is set up. I would assume that while
different, the principal idea would be the same.
I hope this helps
Ray Hunnam
Scott Chen wrote:
> I have an '84 Vanagon with the clock in the instrument pod and have
> access to a pod with the tachometer. The archives says that this
> should be a straight swap, has anyone actually done this? According to
> Bentley, the wiring on the 14 pin connecter is different for the pre-85
> clock models(90.4) and the 85 and up tach models(90.18). The fuel guage
> specs are also different. When I plugged the late model cluster in,
> the tach did not work, the fuel guage showed life, and the water light
> blinked with the ignition switch in the off position. Anyone have any
> experience with this, and if so, what wire on an '84 is the tach
> signal? It's not mentioned in Bentley 90.4. Are there any '84 models
> with tachometers? Help!!
>
> Thanks-
> Scott
> '84 Westy
> Rockville, MD
