USDM Cluster To JDM Cluster Conversion Write-Up
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: PR...now in FL, Puerto Rico
USDM Cluster To JDM Cluster Conversion Write-Up
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
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
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Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 370
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From: PR...now in FL, Puerto Rico
Re: (bb6prelude97)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6prelude97 »</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 »</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.
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 »</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.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 0
From: WA
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?
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?
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: phoenix, az
Re: (mgags7)
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
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
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham, England
Re: (onefastrx7turbo)
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??
Do some US preludes come with EL culster??
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: PR...now in FL, Puerto Rico
Re: (onefastrx7turbo)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onefastrx7turbo »</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 »</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!
</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 »</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!
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 894
Likes: 1
From: Fort Worth, TX
Re: (onefastrx7turbo)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onefastrx7turbo »</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.
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.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
From: Roseburg, Oregon, USA
Re: (mgags7)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 »</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?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Was his old usdm one not?
EDIT: Can you swap just the faces?
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,050
Likes: 3
Re: (NeriVTEC)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NeriVTEC »</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
</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
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: PR...now in FL, Puerto Rico
Re: (mgags7)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 »</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.
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.
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Re: USDM Cluster To JDM Cluster Conversion Write-Up (NeriVTEC)
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 437
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From: Warsaw, Poland, poland
Re: (onefastrx7turbo)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onefastrx7turbo »</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
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
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 370
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From: PR...now in FL, Puerto Rico
Re: USDM Cluster To JDM Cluster Conversion Write-Up (site2you)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by site2you »</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.
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.