Are JDM gauge clusters compatible with US spec cars?
 

Hi,

Are JDM gauge clusters compatible with US spec cars?

I have a 94 Automatic that I'm converting to a manual transmission and the JDM clusters are much better priced and more available, but are they compatible with our cars?

Second reason is that my LCD odometer quit working a few years ago and I'd like to be able to read the odometer again.

Thank you for any comments.

They will plug right in, but they are different. Besides the obvious MPH vs Km/h on the speedometer the odometer will also display KM. The oil pressure gauge is slightly different as it reads in kg/cm2. Also the warning lights on the bottom left and right are slightly different.

You're better off repairing your cluster or having it repaired.

JDM clusters are compatible. Easy installation instructions can be found here: 3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) - RX7Club.com[rx7-boutique-tutorial]-how-install-99-cluster-your-usdm-fd-863565/
This company repairs speedometers: Speedometer Repair and Odometer Repairs at Low Prices! Instrument Cluster Repair!

Dale Clark recently posted a step by step guide for converting JDM clusters. You should SEARCH before posting...

What are your US oil pressure gauges calibrated in? Are they PSI?

My JDM car has the kg/mm2 marked oil pressure gauge, and it means squat to me, because I grew up with PSI. Could I just pull my JDM cluster apart and put in a USDM oil pressure gauge and have it work straight off the bat?
Thanks :)

The USDM gauge is in PSI (shows as lb/in2 on the gauge), it should work fine to exchange the individual gauge if you find one for sale or you could probably have someone scan or take a picture of a USDM, you photoshop out the needle, adjust to the right size, print out on non glossy photographic paper and overlay it. I don't think the gauge is that great, but it might as well be in the right units. If you decide to swap out for a USDM gauge, you want to get the oil pressure and coolant temp as a pair, they are both on a single clear plastic light channel assembly for night lighting.

Thanks all for the replies! Especially the tips on the JDM cluster vs the US one and also the links to get my gauge cluster repaired.

I've read that when I do my AT to MT tranny conversion, that I should update the backgroud on my automatic gauge cluster tach. Does anyone know where to go to get the background? NCAUDIO recommended to another person to just print a photo and make sure its sized right.

Last question: Does a manual gauge cluster tell you what gear you're in? The auto cluster tells you if its in R, P, 1, 2, 3 , D or HOLD.

To SA3R, my pressure is in lb/in2, and MPH.

I can't see my odometer, but i found a threat on here on how to disassemble the gauge cluster and to replace burn out capacitors to get odometer display to work again.

No manual gear indication on a US manual cluster

Thanks NCAUDIO for the info.

Then for my situation:

-Odometer doesn't show the numbers
-auto tach will be off once i finish manual tranny conversion.


I see these as my options are:

A. Find a manual tachometer background (no idea where to get one)
B. Buy a manual tach and switch it
C. Buy a used US manual cluster
D. Send it to the online company to repair it and ask if they can switch my tach
E. Not worry about it and use my automatic tach and be off a bit.

The tach won't be off. An auto tach just indicates the redline at 500rpm lower. I think you are confused with the speedometer. If you are keeping your 3.90 gears you will have to swap in your auto speed sensor or recalibrate your speedometer via Dale Clark's guide.

We have several JDM clusters available including a really nice low mileage 2002 cluster if you are interested. Updating the cluster was one of the best mods I did to my FD.

Here's what you need to do -

- Get a JDM cluster
- If you want the PSI oil pressure gauge, that's a SUPER simple swap out. A few screws holds the gauge in to the back of the cluster, just swap it out. Done.
- Read my guide on JDM speedo conversions. You can de-solder your memory chip from your speedometer that has your odometer reading and swap it over to the JDM speedo. You can also modify the JDM speedo so the odometer will show MPH instead of KPH.
- Calibrate your speedo with a smartphone and my guide.

The tach will read the same no matter what. As stated, the auto tach has the lower indicated redline. I would get a manual tach, that way you'd have no PRNDL lights on the tach which is kind of dumb.

If you've not done much soldering/desoldering find someone local that knows electronics to help. It's not a hard job as far as the soldering is concerned.

Oh, and be CAREFUL with the needles and cluster faces. You don't want to do all this work and money and have a cluster with some crap stuck on the face or a bent needle or something. Also, I don't think you have to remove the gauge faces and don't get tempted to do so, they can be HARD to get the needles back on and calibrated right. You're more likely to ruin the cluster.

Dale

Thank you very much for the comments by oblique, pure and Dale! Great info.

One more question please. Will I need to get a manual harness (everything is currently auto harnesses) to convert to a manual JDM?

I'll read through all of the recommended posts on the swap.

Thank you!

The auto dash harness will work. You just leave one plug for the gear selector lights unplugged, however you may want to wrap electrical tape around it so it doesn't short out anything.

Are the gauge hoods the same? USDM vs JDM. I need to replace my gauge hood in my 94 rx-7.

They are completely different and not interchangeable.