Cluster swap revisited
03-05-2015, 03:10 AM
#281
Cluster swap to go from metric to english???
I just bought a 2008 F150 XLT from across the border. Right now you can save a lot of money by doing so and its not too much of a hassle. I figure I saved 2k to 3k on this purchase at least. I was willing to live with the metric display (the speedometer shows both but mph is on the small inside) and the odometer shows kilometers and temp Celsius but if there is an easy fairly cheap fix I may do it. I thought that a dealer might be able to change the display from metric to english but they say they can not. I thought about just buying a cluster overlay but I care more about the odometer and temp than I do the speedometer as it already shows mph in small numbers. Ok so to my question or rather clarification.
Based on what I have read in this thread and other places it seems like I may be able to just purchase a whole cluster from another truck that is the same (2007-2008 F150 XLT), wait until the mileage is equal (finding one might be hard as it only has about 51,000 miles on it) and make the swap.
Is there any downside to doing this, will the cluster change cause potential legal or questions down the line, I would do my best to document everything with pictures and paperwork and I of course have paperwork form buying it showing the mileage.
I just bought a 2008 F150 XLT from across the border. Right now you can save a lot of money by doing so and its not too much of a hassle. I figure I saved 2k to 3k on this purchase at least. I was willing to live with the metric display (the speedometer shows both but mph is on the small inside) and the odometer shows kilometers and temp Celsius but if there is an easy fairly cheap fix I may do it. I thought that a dealer might be able to change the display from metric to english but they say they can not. I thought about just buying a cluster overlay but I care more about the odometer and temp than I do the speedometer as it already shows mph in small numbers. Ok so to my question or rather clarification.
Based on what I have read in this thread and other places it seems like I may be able to just purchase a whole cluster from another truck that is the same (2007-2008 F150 XLT), wait until the mileage is equal (finding one might be hard as it only has about 51,000 miles on it) and make the swap.
Is there any downside to doing this, will the cluster change cause potential legal or questions down the line, I would do my best to document everything with pictures and paperwork and I of course have paperwork form buying it showing the mileage.
03-05-2015, 05:28 AM
#282
Moderator (Ret.)
Thread Starter
There are speedo shops that can flash the mileage onto the new cluster. Most require a simple "notorized" letter that states the mileage of your old clusters reading that you want flashed to the new cluster.
Prices vary, so let your fingers wander google for this service. You will ship the new cluster along with the notorized letter to them, they flash it, and send it back.
You may get lucky and find a Ford dealership that can do this, but many do not, as the equipment required is expensive, and they don't get many requests to do it, so the return on their investment is slim to none. Many dealerships simply have you order a new replacement cluster that comes flashed with your mileage, and they drop it in (or you do).
Prices vary, so let your fingers wander google for this service. You will ship the new cluster along with the notorized letter to them, they flash it, and send it back.
You may get lucky and find a Ford dealership that can do this, but many do not, as the equipment required is expensive, and they don't get many requests to do it, so the return on their investment is slim to none. Many dealerships simply have you order a new replacement cluster that comes flashed with your mileage, and they drop it in (or you do).
03-06-2015, 12:23 AM
#283
What about the transition form metric to english. Does anyone know if I buy a mph cluster and put it into my truck (originally sold in canada and in kilometers per hour and celcius temp) if it will just automatically read out in english units. If it is possible I think I would just prefer to buy a cluster with a bit more mileage than I have now and just wait until the right time to swap, unless this is going to bring about a legality issue or if it wont read my keys or something.
Last edited by CountyMounty; 03-06-2015 at 12:30 AM.
03-06-2015, 05:45 AM
#284
Moderator (Ret.)
Thread Starter
What about the transition form metric to english. Does anyone know if I buy a mph cluster and put it into my truck (originally sold in canada and in kilometers per hour and celcius temp) if it will just automatically read out in english units. If it is possible I think I would just prefer to buy a cluster with a bit more mileage than I have now and just wait until the right time to swap, unless this is going to bring about a legality issue or if it wont read my keys or something.
Hopefully someone who has done this before will chime in and give you the piece of mind answer.
03-06-2015, 06:38 AM
#285
Yes hopefully. If it is just a matter of a simply swap out I will do it for sure but if it needs a reprogram for the keys to work or if it still wont read the odemeter in miles and temp in Fahrenheit then I will instead just get a guage overlay for the speedometer and live with the rest. I saved so much by buying cross border I'll deal with it.
03-06-2015, 08:17 AM
#286
Moderator (Ret.)
Thread Starter
And for the STX and XL owners out there that have a cluster with only a speedometer and would like one with a tach, here is a picture (below) of the cluster that is best suited for you (everything works, and the information center is identical to that of the XL/STX/XLT). As of this writing (March of 2015), they are averaging $100.00 to $120.00 in price on EBay. If the lense is scratched on the one being purchased, you can remove the one from your original cluster and swap it onto the replacement one easily, as the cluster lense are all the same for these years. If the cluster being purchased came from a 4.2 manual transmission truck, the gear selector plate will have a "blank"; simply remove it by pressing the clips on both sides to remove it, and then slide your gear selector plate in its place. Easy peasy.
Last edited by Mod (Ret.); 03-06-2015 at 08:21 AM.
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Bossgame (03-06-2015)
03-16-2015, 04:22 PM
#288
BAMF Club
You'll lose your info center (mpg till empty, avg mpg, timer...) but that should be it
03-17-2015, 05:30 AM
#290
Moderator (Ret.)
Thread Starter