1st Gen DLX to SR5 Cluster Swap

[rusty904]

I'm looking to swap my DLX cluster on my 88 22re to an SR5 cluster. I've found a few write up's on this subject from the early 2000's but all the pics are removed and there isn't much detail.

I know the oil pressure sending unit must be switched but other than that, I am having a hard time figuring out what clusters will be swappable (do the V6's or different 1st gen model years have different connectors? etc).

I've done some pretty thorough googling and haven't found a great thread with the info I want so if someone has done this or could point me to a good thread, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[swapped_mini]

The connectors are all the same, and all years interchange for second gen pickups and first gen 4runners. but the tach is different in the V6. You should get a reading on the tach but it wouldn't be accurate. My 86 SR5 tach did not have a potentiometer but my V6 tach (unknown year) does. Because the signal is different I don't think you can correct it with the potentiometer.

The tach on a 4cyl cluster can be driven by the test port on the ignitor and hooks up to the screw with a P next to it, since your 4runner didn't come with one it probably won't have the wire in the loom. If you have extra connectors with wires from a parts truck you can follow the track on the flexible board to the right connector and just add a wire into the right place on the connector which would be cleaner.

The individual gauges can be switched out, so you might be able to swap tachs or if you find cheap clusters with busted gauges, I have done it with a broken temp gauge and an oil pressure gauge which was way off, but never a tach, should work though. Around my area SR5 clusters are tough to find and way overpriced.

To change the odometer take the speedo out of the cluster. On the back of the odometer here is a retaining rod that can be slid out to the side which unlocks the individual numbers. You can then roll the numbers with your thumbs. It takes quite a bit of force, but I haven't broken one yet, of the two I have done. I just do the first three digits to get it close enough. I think you might be able to take it apart further and not have to force the numbers, but its worked ok for me adding mileage to one and taking mileage off another. Just to show the correct mileage for my own vehicle of course.

 

[rusty904]

The connectors are all the same, and all years interchange for second gen pickups and first gen 4runners. but the tach is different in the V6. You should get a reading on the tach but it wouldn't be accurate. My 86 SR5 tach did not have a potentiometer but my V6 tach (unknown year) does. Because the signal is different I don't think you can correct it with the potentiometer.

The tach on a 4cyl cluster can be driven by the test port on the ignitor and hooks up to the screw with a P next to it, since your 4runner didn't come with one it probably won't have the wire in the loom. If you have extra connectors with wires from a parts truck you can follow the track on the flexible board to the right connector and just add a wire into the right place on the connector which would be cleaner.

The individual gauges can be switched out, so you might be able to swap tachs or if you find cheap clusters with busted gauges, I have done it with a broken temp gauge and an oil pressure gauge which was way off, but never a tach, should work though. Around my area SR5 clusters are tough to find and way overpriced.

To change the odometer take the speedo out of the cluster. On the back of the odometer here is a retaining rod that can be slid out to the side which unlocks the individual numbers. You can then roll the numbers with your thumbs. It takes quite a bit of force, but I haven't broken one yet, of the two I have done. I just do the first three digits to get it close enough. I think you might be able to take it apart further and not have to force the numbers, but its worked ok for me adding mileage to one and taking mileage off another. Just to show the correct mileage for my own vehicle of course.

All very helpful info, thanks very much. My truck came with an aftermarket Tach installed, I'm wondering if I will be able to use that same wiring with a factory Tach?

 

[swapped_mini]

All very helpful info, thanks very much. My truck came with an aftermarket Tach installed, I'm wondering if I will be able to use that same wiring with a factory Tach?

I am guessing it would work but here are a couple things to try first. One is just google the model of tach and see if there is a wiring diagram available for it. The factory techs are based on the number of times the engine fires per revolution is my understanding, so 4 for the 4 cylinder and 3 for the V6 (or maybe 6 on the 3.0 ? I am more familiar with the wasted spark system on the 3.4). This is why the tachs read different between the engines and it can't be corrected. If the aftermarket tach is driven off of the coil as I expect, then it would probably work.

I would probably take the tach out and just make a jumper wire for the tach test port and provide a ground and see if it runs. If it works fine then it should be operating from the same signal as the factory tach and your existing wiring should work fine for the SR5 cluster.