NeriVTEC

Ok, so before I get to the write-up I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHATEVER DAMAGE OCCURS TO YOUR CAR, CLUSTER, WIRING OR ANYTHING RELATED. That being said we'll start the write-up.


MATERIALS
JDM cluster
USDM cluster
Wires
JDM cluster plugs
Screwdriver
Wire Stripper
Something to cut plastic (dremel, needle nose pliers, etc)
*Electrical Tape
*Soldering Iron
*Solder

(Items with * are optional, whichever method you prefer)


PROCEDURE

1.Remove USDM cluster from car (assuming you know how to).

2.Open the USDM and JDM clusters by removing all the screws in the white plastic.


3.DO NOT PLAY AROUND WITH THE NEEDLES! they will get busted if you play around with them.

4.Remove the face and remove the USDM's large bulbs and switch them to the JDM one. This is so you don't have to splice these wires like I did before I thought of this.

USDM


JDM


5.Put the face back on the cluster.

6.Now on to modifying the cover. As you can se here:


they are different (top one JDM, bottom one USDM) so we will now modify the USDM one so that it will fit in your dash without any problems.
You will need to modify these 2 tabs as shown here


on the USDM one not the JDM. Also modify this one:



and this one



Ok no we modify the part where the needle body will be passing



so it will look like this one



If this is not done the needle will get stuck when it moves so be careful.

7.Now put everything back to the cluster, the JDM housing and the modified USDM cover. It should look something like this:






8.Now to the wiring part. These links are very useful when doing the wiring.
http://www.vancouverpreludeclu...=6801
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1528977

We need to splice the USDM harness and take the JDM plugs and wire them by the same color each one. You will need to extend the wires since the plugs now have switched sides.





Notice the difference between the two housings and the plugs

USDM


JDM


9.Almost done! Now take your new cluster and plug everything up to see if it lights up. If it doesn't check your wiring, you did something wrong.

10.Now that it lights up, everything works allright, its time to stuff it back in the dash. You may have a little bit of trouble but it's going to go in don't worry. Put the top part in first and then the bottom one. You will notice that it wont bolt up to the original position but without the bolts it should stay there nice and firm.

BEFORE



AFTER



See the diference??


11.Put everything back on the dash, clean it, and ENJOY!

Good Luck!

PS. (Still figuring out how to put the top cover of the dash. when I do I'll put it in.)




Modified by NeriVTEC at 3:08 PM 2/23/2006

mgags7

wow i like how the jdm EL clusters have the small tick marks....did you do the blue over it though??

NeriVTEC

The "blue" effect is behind the face of the cluster. I put about 2 layers of blue tint in the 2 plastic pieces that are behind the face.

NeriVTEC

Admin put this in the Essential Prelude Links!

BlueLude 94

wats the diffrence between the usdm and jdm ones.

NeriVTEC

One is in MPH other one is in KPH, few details in the face change.

bb6prelude97

you cant be serious...

please do your lude a favor and do not attempt

M2B4

nice and all but how exactly u plan to know how fast ur going?

tickets get costly....lol

NeriVTEC

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6prelude97 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you cant be serious...

please do your lude a favor and do not attempt

</TD></TR></TABLE>

What are you talkign about??<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by M2B4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nice and all but how exactly u plan to know how fast ur going?

tickets get costly....lol</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just use math man. That is easy just convert the KPH to MPH.

onefastrx7turbo

all that work just to have a speedo that wont read in MPH? *sigh* only a honda owner

Honda Sport

why so much bashing?? I think it was good of him to do a writeup considering this question pops up once a week.

anyways, good job on taking pics and good description.

by the way, what'd you do with the USDM cluster? wanna sell it?

onefastrx7turbo

no you retard, that is not the only reason. It is different in a few ways, EL clusters are not an easy thing to come by

why would you post such a worthless, flaming comment.....youre just an *** dude....


Woa, calm yourself young ricer...I dont see a difference in the before and after pics except for the fact that one doesnt read in MPH, and has hash marks. Both have the same color to them and everything. The japanese one says rpm instead of unleaded fuel only. I have a japanese gauge cluster in my rx7 but I have it because it's sentimental to me from my car in japan. not cuz its madd sicc

pez1

i thought USDM are not EL.....only JDM....??? and a conversion USDM to JDM would involve replacing the analogue cluster with EL. but both before & after pics are EL cluster.

Do some US preludes come with EL culster??

BZRKbb2

great write-up!

Now if I only can find a lhd cover...
I've got the JDM cluster allready installed, but it isn't flush with the rest of the dash

hu

Great writeup

NeriVTEC

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onefastrx7turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">all that work just to have a speedo that wont read in MPH? *sigh* only a honda owner </TD></TR></TABLE>

First of all if you don't like it nobody asked your opinion, second of all I did it because my USDM cluster was busted so I found a JDM at a decent price. And if you haven't noticed this is HONDA TECH not RX7 TECH.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pez1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i thought USDM are not EL.....only JDM....??? and a conversion USDM to JDM would involve replacing the analogue cluster with EL. but both before & after pics are EL cluster.

Do some US preludes come with EL culster??</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes 94-96 USDM Models have EL clusters.

For everybody else who had something good to post thanks!

NeriVTEC

Can some admin erase all this bull**** fight because this is supposed to be a write up not a fight up

BB4-Japanpower

i have converted my jdm cluter into mls with a converter so now i have a 180 mls gauge

roller3804

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onefastrx7turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Woa, calm yourself young ricer...I dont see a difference in the before and after pics except for the fact that one doesnt read in MPH, and has hash marks. Both have the same color to them and everything. The japanese one says rpm instead of unleaded fuel only. I have a japanese gauge cluster in my rx7 but I have it because it's sentimental to me from my car in japan. not cuz its madd sicc</TD></TR></TABLE>


go back to http://www.rx7club.com

Dont flame for a writeup.

OEM_ASSASSIN

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you pulled the dick out of your rear and opened your eyes you would see that this cluster is ELECTRO-LUMINESCENT
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Was his old usdm one not?


EDIT: Can you swap just the faces?

mgags7

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NeriVTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can some admin erase all this bull**** fight because this is supposed to be a write up not a fight up </TD></TR></TABLE>

i deleted my posts....

good info, and no, you cant just swap to an EL face....theres a lot more to it

NeriVTEC

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i deleted my posts....

good info, and no, you cant just swap to an EL face....theres a lot more to it</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks. And yes there is alot more to just changing the faces.

site2you

I want to publish this article at http://www.honda-prelude.com

Just wat to reply a permission.

wstef

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onefastrx7turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no you retard, that is not the only reason. It is different in a few ways, EL clusters are not an easy thing to come by

why would you post such a worthless, flaming comment.....youre just an *** dude....
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I am also making many things that can appear worthless ou sensless to others.

It is just for fun, better to have such passion than drugs or alcohol, don't you think ???


Modified by wstef at 11:11 AM 3/29/2006

NeriVTEC

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by site2you &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I want to publish this article at http://www.honda-prelude.com

Just wat to reply a permission.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can put it but don't take credit for it. I wrote it so It should go with my name.