I have been wanting to do this swap for a while but couldnt get a decent price on a cluster, so waited a bit and grabbed a brand new cluster off ebay for $150.

here my lil write up on how to remove a cluster from an 04 XLT, dont know if these same steps work on other models.
XLT Cluster


First remove two the two lower screws (9/32) on the the bottom of the dash near your knees. One on the left one on the right.


After the two screws are removed, pry on the top part of the panel they are held to the dash by pressure clips, just pull.


Next to remove the (dome) Housing around the cluster you first begin with the two lower screws (9/32) One on the left one on the right.

 

Once the srews are removed you have to pull and pry slightly to remove the pressure clips that are at the top of the dome near the winshield.


Now that the dome is removed you can start with the four screws (9/32) that hold the cluster in place. One on each corner.


You can now start with the disconnect of the wire harness, one on the left and one on the right. (top)


Now for those with the column shifter, once the harness is disconnected you can flip outward the cluster and access the two black legs that hold the shift indicater in place, just press the legsa together and pull down.

 

Here is the dash awaiting its new cluster


Now here is the cluster in place with out the shield, the reason i did this was i tried to swap lcd screens so that maybe on the slight chance i could trick the computer of the odometer but it didnt work. Hey atleast i tried something new. Also I had to drive around and readjust the needles so that they mark correctly after i had taken apart the cluster to swap screens. People who are just swapping the cluster you could ignore this step i was trying to solve the odometer problem.


After all was said and done i put the cluster in place and just went opposite of the install. Here is the finished product.


This was a brand new cluster with 000000.3 miles on it. I got lucky it was new and for the price of $150, now just have to program it. Hopes this helps those who want to confront a cluster swap.

 

So your truck with over 45k miles now reads less than 1 mile? I'm turning you in for odometer fraud!

 

i dont even really notice a diffrence to be honest.......... :S what was wrong with the stock one?

 

nice mod!

don't forget to write your mileage on the other cluster underneath the dash somewhere!

 

That cluster looks just like the other, except the guages are lined, and there is a bezel on top.

How come aftermarket hasn't jumped on the bezel mod?

Hello US Speedo?

CORRECTION: Outboard dummy gauges moved to the middle. Still.

 

He didn't post a daylight picture of the FX4 cluster, but it is quite a bit different than the XLT. The gauge locations move, but it also has silver rings around the speedo and tachometer. There are also black rings around the other 4 mini gauges. It's a subtle, but nice mod.

 

It's a nice mod I guess. I honestly really like the location of all of my guages. I wouldn't change them...

 

where did u get the cluster?

 

When you swap the clusters FX4 to an XLT did you reprogrammed it? to get the truck start or it was a plug and play thing?

 

The FX4 gauge cluster is most definitely the best looking of all the trim levels. Of course, it's even better when it's in an FX4!

 

I always loved the FX4 cluster. It's cool that you just knocked 45,000 miles off your truck!

 

No difference???? Are you smoking crack???? That is a bad *** mod. Almost as cool as the DIY Harley lights. Good job man, although I dont really like the whole mileage deal. I think it costs like 150 to get it programmed.

 

Why not upgrade to the Lariat cluster? Not knocking the cluster you have its an improvment but I was just curious.