Mustang dash pod

[RichS]

Has anyone bypassed dash pod from mustang when wiring gauges , etc.?

[ryanmac]

We left the plugs for the instrument cluster (pod) behind the dash, on our 2003 GT donor build, for troubleshooting later down the road.

Really depends on your year Mustang, as the later models require the cluster be plugged in for the anti-theft circuits in the ECM to be satified. If you have a new edge mustang (99-04), I suggest getting a tuner that can disable PATS (passive anti-theft system) and get rid of the mustang ignition as well. There is not a lot of room behind the dash on a donor build.

Thread on Donor Ignition and PATS (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?19869-How-2001-Mustang-Cobra-Donor-Ignition-and-Key-are-installed-in-MK-IV&highlight=Pats)

[ryanmac]

If you are using aftermarket gauges (ie. autometer) or FFR's vintage gauge kit, then you will want wire the gauges to new sending units.

The factory instrument cluster has a circuit board that talks to the ECM through a 'stream of data' on one pair of wires. There will not be a unique set of wires to splice into in the cluster to get 'X' value.

So...

OIL: we added an oil pressure sending unit to the plumbing near the factory sending unit (near oil filter).

WATER: we added a coolant temp sensor by removing a threaded plug on the driver side of the block between freeze plug and motor mount.

TACH: we picked up tach signal by splicing into the hot wire going to one on the coil packs.

FUEL: we ran mustang's rear harness back to dash, bring level gauge signal from gas tank's sending unit.

VOLTAGE: we grabbed off of mustang's harness, finding a wire that was hot with ignition key on. Could also come from FFR / Ron Francis harness.

CLOCK: we used radio memory wire provided in FFR / Ron Francis harness.