Interesting question about LS/Thunderbird Gauge Cluster

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05Linc_LS_V8

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So I came across several pictures of how similar the LS and the Thunderbird interiors are...I compiled a few pictures. What I am really curious is if the thunderbird guage cluster will work with the LS. I like the white faced gauges of the thunderbird. Both are very similar...just curious if anyone has tried to swap the guages. The pic of the thunderbird is a 2002 and the LS is an 05.

111111.jpg
 
They are the same car basically so it should work.

but with the dealers help.
 
For example the K&N intake on our cars is actually a ford thunderbird intake.
 
The cluster is married to the PCM, so the dealer has to re-program a new cluster. They may not enjoy doing that for a non-standard swap like this.
 
BlackLS06 said:
For example the K&N intake on our cars is actually a ford thunderbird intake.
Click to expand...

Right. I knew about the intake. I thought maybe the gauges were plug and play.

oddball said:
The cluster is married to the PCM, so the dealer has to re-program a new cluster. They may not enjoy doing that for a non-standard swap like this.
Click to expand...

Well maybe I won't be doing this then lol. I like my gauges now, just thought about switching it up and still having a factory look to it.
 
oddball said:
The cluster is married to the PCM, so the dealer has to re-program a new cluster. They may not enjoy doing that for a non-standard swap like this.
Click to expand...

Don't see why..not like it's warranty work and both clusters are oem ford parts.
 
If the clusters are the same, from the picture it looks like they are, you can just use the thunderbird exterior shell with your ls'es cluster internals. The pcm is married to the internals not the plastic pieces right.

I will be doing this when I get my car back. I recently bought a cluster from T_money to put a valentine stealth unit on it, which is done. I just need my cluster to install this exterior cluster with my ls'es internals in to my ls.
 
I would closely study the wiring for both, the harnesses should be the same, therefor the color code of the wires should be the same. The wiring schematics will define the correlation of wires to components. The LS basic chassis & components were developed for the Jaq S-type, then the LS, Thunderbird and first re-designed Mustang after the FOX platform.
 
Alax7 said:
If the clusters are the. from the picture it looks like they are, you can just use the thunderbird exterior shell with your ls'es cluster internals. The pcm is married to the internals not the plastic pieces right.

I will be doing this when I get my car back. I recently bought a cluster from T_money to put a valentine stealth unit on it, which is done. I just need my cluster to install this exterior cluster with my ls'es internals in to my ls.
Click to expand...

U gonna post up any info on the stealth install!!!!! love to see what you had in mind.... as for the cluster..you would def need to follow the wiring diagram wire be wire for both... wouldn't take much to really mess it up
 
The T-Bird doesn't have the message center. That could be a problem........
 
G-RELL said:
U gonna post up any info on the stealth install!!!!! love to see what you had in mind.... as for the cluster..you would def need to follow the wiring diagram wire be wire for both... wouldn't take much to really mess it up
Click to expand...

This is the second one I did. The first didn't come out so good, to me, because I had to do all the cutting and placement from the back. This time I just cut the clear cover off to work on the black overlay with a lot more ease. It came out better, but still not where I want it, I should've taken my time with it.

This is the first one, I'll post the second one I did later tonight.

DSCN0097.jpg


DSCN0177.jpg



DSCN0174.jpg
 
LS4me said:
The T-Bird doesn't have the message center. That could be a problem........
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was noticing that. Also, not all the lighted symbols are found in the same location.

Well, I guess the next best thing would just be to take off the thunderbird cluster overlay and needles and just swap them out for to your ls'es. You will probably need to have the dealer calibrate the needles position though.
 
Hah. Forgot about that thread, Alax.

Another infamous mod with potential that goes nowhere. This car and custom mods is a knee slapper.
 
Hmm. Very Interesting. I don't know guys. I'll have to really give this some thought. Thanks for the pics Alax I like that design. I mean I don't hate my gauges, but an update would be nice.
 
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