Earlier I featured the AE86 GT-Apex Digi Dash and obviously it raises many AE86 enthusiasts hearts. This time I’d like to feature the normal AE86 cluster versus the AE85 cluster.
If you ever owned an AE86 (or watched too much Initial D) this cluster should be quite familar:
It is the standard JDM kouki AE86 cluster for RHD cars. Difference between the kouki and zenki cluster are the the white vertical lines and white needles that replaced the old orange needles.
Difference between JDM and UKDM gauge cluster is the speedo that reaches 150mph (240km/h). Unfortunately I haven’t found a picture of that cluster yet…
Difference between JDM and continental EUDM gauge cluster is the mirrored layout and speedo that reaches 240 km/h.
As you can see every gauge has been mirrored and the EUDM tachometer starts where the JDM ends. Some of the warning lights have been mirrored as well.
Difference between JDM and USDM is the mirrored layout and the speedo that reaches 150mph (240km/h) and reads “Unleaded fuel only”. EUDM and USDM are pretty much the same, apart from the mph speedo scale.
Now you may wonder what the lesser JDM models looked like:
This is what the gauge cluster of the Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE85 XL Lisse looked like. :o
For other countries the gauge cluster of the SR models was the normal AE86 gauge cluster with a changed redline at 6k rpm (still 8k rpm max), for the SR5 models (picture above) it had a redline of 6k rpm and a speedo that reached 110 mph (180km/h).
Then there are a couple of special gauge clusters:
The most well known is the TRD JDM layout gauge cluster that has a 10k rpm tachometer and a speedo up to 240 km/h.
Then there is also a TOM’s JDM layout gauge cluster which also has a 10k rpm tachometer and a speedo up to 240 km/h.
a ALSports JDM layout gauge cluster that has a 11k rpm tachometer and a speedo up to 270 km/h!
And there even was a drop in replacement tachometer for the RHD gauge clusters by Chowini available through the Finish company RMF that went belly up four or five years ago.
There is also an gauge cluster overlay available from Torparts which has a tacho meter layout going all the way up to 10k, but then you will have the USDM layout and a mph speedo. The overlay just extends the 8k rpm range to 10k rpm on the same scale so your tacho needs to be recalibrated or replaced.
Also very beautiful is the white aftermarket JDM gauge cluster by SK Engineering which also has a speedo going up to 200km/h.
Another one off 220km/h JDM cluster.
Last but not least AEU86 member Ivan141 is currently busy on a RGB dash project where he uses several PCBs to backlit the AE86 gauge cluster in any color by using RGB leds. The project is still in its development phase, but he might sell it as a separate kit in the (near) future.
I know there might be a couple of other variaties around the globe, for instance I could not find anything regarding the AU/NZ clusters. If you have such a cluster: please compare it to what I posted here and tell me if it is similar to any other model.
Image sources:
Hachiroku.com.au
Torparts
AEU86
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