Author Topic: Cluster swap info =)  (Read 6668 times)

February 10, 2010, 08:24:27 pm

8v-of-fury

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Cluster swap info =)
« on: February 10, 2010, 08:24:27 pm »
I have searched all over the Vortex, Google, and every other reputable Volkswagen forum...

and when I try and search for information on mk2 cluster swapping in to mk1 cars.. all I get is mk3 swaps, and mk3 full dash swaps..

has anyone got a bookmark, or seen one recently of a detailed DIY of how to swap a CE2 Cluster from an mk2 in to the spot of a CE1 in an mk1? ;)

It would be greatly appreciated guys as the cluster in the 81 is in mph and odo does not work ;( I have a cluster from some mk2 gasser with a tach instead of clock.. and want to get one of them Dakota signal changers lol. what do you guys think?

Reply #1February 10, 2010, 10:59:23 pm

Kantdrivefast

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2010, 10:59:23 pm »
Hey dude... I did this. Very straight forward, but there are a couple things you need to do.

Pm me and I'll write you up a bit of a DIY

Reply #2February 11, 2010, 06:17:43 pm

FineFrank

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2010, 06:17:43 pm »
Hey dude... I did this. Very straight forward, but there are a couple things you need to do.

Pm me and I'll write you up a bit of a DIY
Unless it's a secret, post it here for those dying to know.
Frank Longtine
1983 Rabbit Diesel 4 dr/ 1.6NA
1997 Rokon Trailbreaker
1984 Ford F-150/ 300-6

"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants"   -Albert Camus-

Reply #3February 11, 2010, 07:10:17 pm

8v-of-fury

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2010, 07:10:17 pm »
I cannot see why a Haynes or Chilton manual would not work for this right? They each have wiring diagrams do they not? just line up each wire with each wire regardless of colour. as long as it goes to the right spot..

like.. they are the same senders and same gauges.. so no reason why that wouldn't work right?

Only real problem i see with the swap is using an mk2 cable.. that's probably the hardest seeming part..

Reply #4February 11, 2010, 08:37:33 pm

Kantdrivefast

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2010, 08:37:33 pm »
Hey dude... I did this. Very straight forward, but there are a couple things you need to do.

Pm me and I'll write you up a bit of a DIY
Unless it's a secret, post it here for those dying to know.

Wasn't aware that this was such a wanted DIY... so I will divulge what I pm'd

Hey dude.

While I will agree that a bentley would be awesome... I didn't have the luxury of having one so I just figured everything out by taking apart the plug for the mk 1 cluster and reading the pinout (the little blue plastic wire dealy... it says what each wire is supposed to be.)

I used CE2 cluster, so one plug. It really doesn't matter because your going to need the pigtails from either of them.

A2 resource is awesome for telling you what each wire on the pig tail is.

The down side of how I did it, Ive got an early jetta... So no warning switch in the coolant expansion tank so the low coolant light flashes all the time. Im almost certain grounding the wire from the cluster would solve this problem, but it just doesnt bother me enough to rip the dash out again.
The other downside is there is an extra oil pressure/temp wire that I didnt have a place for, so it flashes as well. It also is attached to a stupid buzzer inside the cluster.

Now, you have two options at this point. You can ground both wires and see what happens. No guarantees wether it will work, but hey! Im no electrical engineer.
Option two, if you've got the low coolant sensor in the expansion tank, awesome. And if you can figure out where the oil light wire goes then bam. I personally took the cluster apart and disabled the buzzer.

Alright... your almost there. If you've managed to figure out the wiring and such thus far, well your still not done. You're going to need a speedometer cable from a manual mk2 car. Its the same length and everything, but different end at the cluster. Easy enough to do, just another step.

The mk2 cluster doesn't just bolt in either unfortunately. There is some trimming of the cluster to be done. That is up to you though. You've gotta just put it in, see where it hits, trim, try again. Mine is held in by one screw on the right side and then the rest of the dash holds it in place.

Now if I were to do it again, I would swap a whole mk2 dash in. To me it seems like alot less hassle, plus the cluster fits. The down side to this for anyone scared of alot of wiring is that it you would then have to replace all the switches and such to mk2.

Oh it goes without saying, but you need a diesel cluster. I crimped and shrink tubed all of my connections as well. But thats just me.

Good luck, its worth having a tach and an updated look. If you've got more questions dont be afraid to ask!

Old dash-

New dash-

Cluster-
http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/casman66/?action=view&current=IMG_0037.jpg&newest=1

I don't have pictures of what I had to trim on the cluster, but its pretty straight forward. Trim a little, try again.
 8)




Reply #5February 17, 2010, 09:28:34 pm

8v-of-fury

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2010, 09:28:34 pm »
Well, the only real reason i wanted to swap.. was because my odo stopped working.. and there was no tach..

I have fixed the ODO, and i will settle for an aftermarket tach that reads diesel w signal :)

Thanks though for your time, this will still be good for other searching it :P

Reply #6February 18, 2010, 07:58:28 am

Rabbit on Roids

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2010, 07:58:28 am »
mk2 cluster swaps right in. it doesnt really mount to anything, but you can swap a mk2 cluster in a mk1 dash in like, ten minutes? the hardest part is wiring up the new pig tail into the wiring harness for the new cluster. i swapped from a stock 80 diesel cluster, to a 92 gasser cluster. speedo was for a 4 speed car, so i swapped in a 140 mph cluster, and the car will actually bury the needle at 140, well, it used to.

Reply #7February 18, 2010, 09:21:20 pm

Kantdrivefast

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2010, 09:21:20 pm »
mk2 cluster swaps right in. it doesnt really mount to anything, but you can swap a mk2 cluster in a mk1 dash in like, ten minutes? the hardest part is wiring up the new pig tail into the wiring harness for the new cluster. i swapped from a stock 80 diesel cluster, to a 92 gasser cluster. speedo was for a 4 speed car, so i swapped in a 140 mph cluster, and the car will actually bury the needle at 140, well, it used to.

I know for a fact it doesnt swap right in. I tried. It took trimming to fit. And mine does mount to something...

Reply #8February 18, 2010, 09:28:56 pm

8v-of-fury

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2010, 09:28:56 pm »



These are some pics of the rotary pump i took out of the 91 engine.. Kevin if you don't mind.. could you show me what the others look like?

Reply #9February 20, 2010, 08:02:42 am

Rabbit on Roids

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2010, 08:02:42 am »



These are some pics of the rotary pump i took out of the 91 engine.. Kevin if you don't mind.. could you show me what the others look like?

take a pic of the bottom of the shaft, the round part where the oil pump shaft goes in... both shafts from both pumps. take pics if you wouldnt mind.

Reply #10February 20, 2010, 08:04:41 am

Rabbit on Roids

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Re: Cluster swap info =)
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2010, 08:04:41 am »
mk2 cluster swaps right in. it doesnt really mount to anything, but you can swap a mk2 cluster in a mk1 dash in like, ten minutes? the hardest part is wiring up the new pig tail into the wiring harness for the new cluster. i swapped from a stock 80 diesel cluster, to a 92 gasser cluster. speedo was for a 4 speed car, so i swapped in a 140 mph cluster, and the car will actually bury the needle at 140, well, it used to.

I know for a fact it doesnt swap right in. I tried. It took trimming to fit. And mine does mount to something...

i had to swap the speedo cable, thats it. other than that, 92 cluster was a direct swap in an 81 rabbit. for sure it fits. want pictures? it really does fit like its supposed to be there. but only the cluster trim piece holds it in place. still, its there, and it was super easy, dunno why it took you so much work...