slicknapier

So I've got an 81 Dodge Crewcab that I recently picked up. I've had a 90 Cummins 12 valve patiently waiting to be put in the newly acquired crew. I pulled my dash apart to check a few things out thinking I could just swap in the guages from the 90, wrong...Now I've seen people running the later style guage cluster in older trucks. What's the best way to do this? I have the complete dash wiring harness from the 90, should I just swap the entire harness? By doing that can I just plug it directly into the bulkhead on the firewall or are they different as well since there are more wires and actualy guages? thanks in advance, andrew..

Trooperthorn

I am pretty sure the bulkhead plug on the 81 is smaller than the ctd one. On my rc I swapped the wires on both sides of the firewall from the ctd donor. I also used the dash from the donor truck. that way the wipers, heat/ac controls, message center, you name it worked. It was pretty easy.

slicknapier

cool thanks for the reply. I guess the problem is that I don't have the dash or engine wiring harness. I will keep my eye out for, it seems like the best way to go. thanks again..

DevilzTower

If you're running a non i/c 90 engine, it doesn't need a PCM to run - so I assume that you're desire is cosmetic?

You can always swap the harnesses over after the conversion is done, you should be able to get that engine up and running after only connecting a few wires ... 4 I think.

slicknapier

I've already had the engine running and that's pretty simple. I'm just trying to get the new model guages working along with the wait to start light, water in fuel, etc.....

thrashingcows

wasn't 81 the first year of the newer dash? I know 80 still had the old dash and round gauge pods.

I hear of some guys swapping the wiring over, and then having several LED's wired into series with the message center.