AU dash + ABS

Sox · 11-08-2009, 06:39 PM

Righto, we picked up a dona car a few weeks back to rob some panels and a few other bit and pieces for the folks car.

The folks have a 2000 AU1 povo pack wagon.
The dona car is a 2000 AU1 fairmont wagon.

We've already swapped the cruise control which was pretty straight forward. Just needed the steering wheel buttons and stalk. The module in the engine bay, and the small loom. Piece of cake.

So now we've been glancing at this fancy fairmont dash with all the sexy bits and have been wondering the obvious..... How difficult is to fit that mother into the folks car and not have it all go pear shaped part way through?

While I'm on the subject, has anyone upgraded to ABS and if so what was it's complexity?

If anyone has done either of these jobs can you give detail on the headaches involved, and or some links to it being done would be just super.

lofty · 12-08-2009, 06:21 AM

Dude, you have too much time on your hands

Sox · 12-08-2009, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lofty

Dude, you have too much time on your hands

:
Ummm, why?
Because I'm asking about modifications to a car on a car modification site?

:

lofty · 12-08-2009, 08:37 AM

Nah, sorry. It just sounded like a lot more hassle than it's worth to me, and I couldn't help being cheeky. Sorry to completely unhelpful. Best of luck with it.

Sox · 12-08-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lofty

Nah, sorry. It just sounded like a lot more hassle than it's worth to me, and I couldn't help being cheeky. Sorry to completely unhelpful. Best of luck with it.

That's cool. :sm_headba
You're right though, I suspect it will be a time consuming cow of a job, but we have the car now and may as well start somewhere.

I'm hoping Stav might chime in here sometime..... Stav... STAV.....

Jack91 · 12-08-2009, 08:50 AM

If the fairmont has the climate control panel with the clock and trip computers all in the same panel, these will need to be wired. Ive only ever looked at the el climate control conversion but should be pretty much the same which was a fair whack of work (thermometres, heater box, sun reader thingo). Trip computer would be easy, not sure on the airbag situation, I would also guess that you would need the BBM or whatever its called from the mont to power all this stuff. If the speedo is going with the dash you will also need to add a oil pressure sender and POSSIBLY the door open sensors. This is all the definate info I can find: http://www.fordmods.com/documents.php?d=4
But definately doable and if youve got the dash there anyway might as well give it a shot.

Sox · 12-08-2009, 09:06 AM

That's good info 'DAVO_XR', thanks.

private9 · 12-08-2009, 09:43 PM

I can't give specifics, but basically if they both have the same security setup (ie both are smartshield, or both are smartlock), just start swapping!

Fully body loom and electric windows isn't hard, just time consuming.

Dash, climate, etc should all be a straight swap if you use every part, loom, heaterbox etc from the donor car.

I reckon you could knock it all off with a mate over a weekend.

Sox · 13-08-2009, 02:43 PM

I have the dona car partially apart, looks simple enough, but as you say time consuming.

Do you have any idea if the BCM needs to be swapped, or even the ECU?

I swapped over a ECU a while back on a series 2 AU and it had to get sorted at Ford to make it start.

I'm not interested in fartin around with this one at Ford.

Mr Hardware · 13-08-2009, 03:50 PM

Donor

Sox · 13-08-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Donor

:
I knew it didn't look right............

private9 · 13-08-2009, 07:07 PM

I'm pretty sure you'll have to do the BCM at least. ECU, not too sure.

Sox · 13-08-2009, 08:20 PM

And if the BCM is changed, does it need to go back to a dealer for sorting?

**Stav** · 13-08-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sox

That's cool. :sm_headba
You're right though, I suspect it will be a time consuming cow of a job, but we have the car now and may as well start somewhere.

I'm hoping Stav might chime in here sometime..... Stav... STAV.....

Hi mate .Its a huge job. I have removed my whole dash and replaced the heater core.Alone it took me around 10 hours non stop. Physically it is doable however I believe the bcm is different and may need some programing. I got stuck into chiefs car about 2 years ago and found the climate control from memory needed extra electronic solenoids to work the heater box and air con box. I ended up fitting his back in until the logisitcs were sorted. The rods from the stock system are not found in the faimont typre dash from memory.
What else do you want to know?

philstoj · 13-08-2009, 09:13 PM

Hey stav, Im doing a swap to T2 dash in mine soon, so will change heater box etc etc, now will i have to disconnect the AC lines when swapping the heater boxes?

Sorry to intrude on your thread mate.

Sox · 13-08-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stav

Hi mate .Its a huge job. I have removed my whole dash and replaced the heater core.Alone it took me around 10 hours non stop. Physically it is doable however I believe the bcm is different and may need some programing.

Well I have the entire donor car, so I'd just swap the BCM. But as I said above, it would likely need programming to suit it's new home (keys, etc?).

Quote:

I got stuck into chiefs car about 2 years ago and found the climate control from memory needed extra electronic solenoids to work the heater box and air con box.

I have all that from the donor car. I will have the 2 cars side by side when (if) I do the job.

Quote:

I ended up fitting his back in until the logisitcs were sorted. The rods from the stock system are not found in the faimont typre dash from memory.
What else do you want to know?

Ummm, when you're coming over to help?

Nothing else for the moment.

**Stav** · 13-08-2009, 10:22 PM

For a small fee lol. If you need help let me know.

**Stav** · 13-08-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philstoj

Hey stav, Im doing a swap to T2 dash in mine soon, so will change heater box etc etc, now will i have to disconnect the AC lines when swapping the heater boxes?

Sorry to intrude on your thread mate.

The air con and heater hoses must be removed to remove the heater box in th engine bay at the firewall. Otherwise you cant remove the heater box.

Mr Hardware · 13-08-2009, 10:27 PM

sorry for the silly q's, but why not just do up the fairmont?

Sox · 14-08-2009, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

sorry for the silly q's, but why not just do up the fairmont?

It was smashed pretty badly on the passenger side, and it has 305,000k's.

Long story short - My folks car has a damaged right rear door, and rear bumper, and only has 130,000k's.
A search in the wrecking yards found not much and what we did find was crazy money.

This damaged car came up for not a lot of money and is a runner.
We've so far robbed the door, bumper, cruise control, heavy duty tow bar, harmonic balancer, and many other small parts.
It obviously has all the other spares which may be useful, such as lights, AC, radiator (new), tranny, etc.
It appears to be a very well maintained car.

Once we've taken what we want, we might Ebay the rest or if there's bugger all left, we'll let it go for scrap metal.

The dash conversion is just something which seems logical to do if it's easy enough. It looks rather sexy and is in good condition and working order.

I'd also like to do the ABS.

Mr Hardware · 14-08-2009, 10:26 AM

oh ok, makes sense.