Lightning II
Well-Known Member
This is going to seem odd, but are the mounting holes for the F-'s and M-'s gauge clusters & the fascia the same? or is the frame of the dash behind it different?
I see you never got a reply, so I'll answer in case you still need the info.
The dash mounting is exactly the same. M-body dash frame will bolt onto your F-body dash perfectly. I believe the fascia takes a very light clearancing in the upper corners to interface with the slightly different F-body dash pad. It was such a small modification that I don't even remember what it took. You'll see when you get it together.
The wiring is different between the two, so you will need to cut and resplice the two connectors for the proper M-body pinout. Speedomter cables also are different, they went to a newer plastic clip on design somewhere in the 80s (my '77 Volare had a spring-clamp style cable).
You'll enjoy the swap!
View attachment 42046
That is an open ended question.Are 1980 and 1979 dashes interchangeable?