Swapping Gauge Clusters in an AC or AY body Mopar

In this video I show you how you can replace an analog gauge cluster in your AC or AY Body Chrysler car (Dodge Dynasty, Chrysler New Yorker, Chrysler Imperial) with a digital one.

[@robertswedo1027]

You’re a braver man than I.

[@madmanmapper]

I don't think you say in this video, but I think you mentioned it in another one. So for anyone wondering, this conversion requires the digital cluster out of a A body car - Acclaim/Spirit/Lebaron sedan. As those cars (apparently) did not have body computers. In the C/Y body - Dynasty/New Yorker/Imperial - the body computer does most of the heavy lifting for the digital cluster, and sends the processed information along the CCD bus to the instrument cluster. Furthermore, the cluster from an A body has a different mounting pattern. So that means for this conversion you need the digital cluster from an A body - AND - the digital cluster from a C/Y body, so you can use the cluster's housing from the C/Y body one to put the A body one inside of it. So it'll fit the C/Y body cars. And of course, you'll also need at least the red connector. To do the conversion the 'right' way would be much more involved. As you need the digital cluster, the TWO connectors for it, the matching body computer, and the connectors for that. Much custom wiring and splicing will have to be done. The body computer need not necessarily 'match' the instrument cluster, but it has to be the 'premium' body computer, which most typically comes with the digital cluster. Or any car with the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), as it also processes the data for that. It would actually be ideal to just take a digital dash donor car's entire dashboard wiring harness. See, back in the day, my friend and I wanted to convert his Dynasty. At that time, C/Y body cars were plentiful in the junk yards. We decided to just take every inch of wiring out of an Imperial. Worked out much better. Not really a viable option these days, parts are scarce now.

[@LAEXMA]

You’re absolutely right, I can’t believe I forgot to mention that in this video. The 88 New Yorker digital dash is the only AC body digital dash that is electrically compatible with the wiring in the analog cluster cars. Otherwise you’ll need the electronics out of an AA body Lebaron’s digital cluster and the housing out of any digital AC/AY body car. Another alternative would be to get the digital cluster out of a LeBaron GTS, it will also bolt right in, but again you’ll have to wire it in and also run a tach signal wire from the ECM to the cluster. If you don’t you’ll have no tach and no oil pressure gauge.

[@marcinxsinski]

Nice this parts still can buy from ebay or only need lucky one scrapyard?

[@Underappreciatedclassics]

What could be causing my metric/trip buttons to not work on my digital unit in my mark cross edition 91’ AY?

[@LAEXMA]

The buttons are surface mounted to the PCB and the contacts inside tend to fail. Generally the buttons have to be replaced. Not an easy job.

[@madmanmapper]

Actually I'm in the midst of repairing one of those atm. I opened a button to find that it is a formed rubber contact. And the little nub on the end of the rubber has broken off. They all seem to fail in this manner. I have just ordered new switches from DigiKey. Part number TL59BF160QCT Not sure how it's gonna work out just yet, the new ones are not a direct replacement, just something I found that's close enough. If you are comfortable repairing circuit boards, it's really not hard at all. The switches on my circuit board (probably 1990ish) are through-hole, not surface mount. Incidentally, the illumination light bulbs at the top are number 74.

[@LAEXMA]

Thanks for clearing that up! I could have sworn they were surface mount, but I guess I was wrong!

[@madmanmapper]

@@LAEXMA idk, design changes, yay! There's like 5 different p/n's just for C/Y body cars' instrument clusters. Who knows what they changed.

[@Tom-rr4qw]

You didn't mention that the mileage doesn't match when you switch out clusters!! I see the analog 1 had 129K miles and the digital 1 had 171K miles so how is that even legal???

[@brokenboosted1515]

you wont a response since this is a old video, but older cars are not included. they stop caring depending on what state after so many years ie 10 or 15 years

[@Ash_Lex]

Hey man I own a 93 dynasty and I’m trying to get parts (tie rod and tires) and I need a reliable source any wisdoms?

[@LAEXMA]

I tended to go to junk yards a lot, but parts are drying up. These days I like WorldPac, but I only have access to them because I work for a shop. eBay or Rock Auto would probably be your best best.

[@Tom-rr4qw]

I'm surprised people even still drive these things a 90s Mopar 90% of them are all in the grave yard lol I never saw 1 on the road since the early early 2000s

[@Nosaj.Dranel]

I have a 91 Dynasty. Love channel but a little disappointed with this video. I thought you would go through all of the wiring steps for this and not just brush by the most important part.

[@LAEXMA]

Sorry to disappoint, however I don’t have any cars that haven’t already been converted. I don’t really want to tear apart and redo the wiring again. Besides, every model year tends to have different wire colors and different cars have different clusters. It’s difficult to put together a comprehensive video covering every possibility. Here’s a link to a video that shows someone putting a LeBaron GTS cluster in a Dodge Shadow that will give you an idea of how to do the splicing and such. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJOZioufYsZ-l80

[@Nosaj.Dranel]

@@LAEXMA No worries. Would have just been nice to see how to do the actual wiring portion. Don’t think I can do this to my 91 anyway. Still a fan of the channel and love these AC AY Mopars. Keep the content coming!

[@jO-ox2xi]

i don't feel sorry for you ............you work on Mercedes Benz what else can some one ask for ? and you have crazy macintosh knowledge and rab has arch linux skills i feel sorry for no one just my two cents

[@colebashor1099]

Hey LEM, you have an email or another social media where I can send you a couple of web links?

[@LAEXMA]

[e-mail] or [e-mail]