Aftermarket instrument kits As with all kits, there's a bit of fabricating. Currently, I'm installing one of the Nordskog dash kits. And, no, it's not a direct bolt-in. You don't want to have a ton of wiring between the dash and the cluster, as you will not be able to fish it back through the dash to install the cluster. There are no connectors included. You get new senders for the oil and water, with adapters to hopefully fit your application. There's a momentary toggle switch, included for the operation of the odometer, trip, 1/4, 0-60, and top-speed recording.
The instructions included don't tell you how exactly how to modify the stock speedo and tach overlays to allow for the idiot lights to be included. Nor do they inform you on how to make the overlays stay attached to the cluster housing. Once you get that figured out, you have to "sandwich" (as Nordskog puts it) the overlays, new LED panels, and smoked acrylic lenses together. It all looks quite hokey, at this point.
Next, it is up to you to figure out what wires off the factory harness need to be cut or tapped into (not hard to figure out, with common sense) to operate the new gauges. Nordskog prefers you solder all connections, but what if you have to remove it? You'll end up cutting and splicing to R&R the cluster.
Now, you'll have to figure out how to get a signal to the speedo, as a cable won't work now. You could just leave the stock speed sensor in, if you have cruise control, or eliminate it completely.
Once you have it all wired in and sensors swapped, now you have to go program the speedo. You'll either need a GPS to calculate a measured mile or you could've bought the GPS box from Nordskog (more $) to allow your speedo to be calibrated via satellite. When all is said and done, you'll have a unique looking instrument cluster. You'll have to decide if you can handle the minor electrical and mechanical work to get it done. It should be more accurate than the stock junk, and that's why I'm installing mine.
Hope this helps make a decision.
Last edited by 5.0Stanger; 07-06-2008 at 07:36 PM.
Reason: not finished
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