Question 1

Which dash to pick to swap my 99 to 07 Ford Super Duty or Ford Excursion?

Accepted Answer

Firstly, you will need a donor dashboard from a 2008 to 2016 Ford Super Duty; you will need to get the entire dash along with its wiring harness, as you will use some of the connectors from the later model harness to connect to your old harness (like the 4x4 switch, cigarette/power points, aux switches, if equipped, etc.). The 2008 to 2010 dashes are the easiest and most simple to swap, while the 2011 to 2012 are the slightly more difficult but still rather straight forward, and the 2013 to 2016 “hump” dash is the most difficult and time consuming because none of the HVAC controls natively fit and require custom modification.

Of note, the 2011 and 2012 plastics will fit on a 2008 to 2010 frame, so if you plan to do a 2011 to 2012, you may want to look into buying a 2008 to 2010 bare dash frame and column to simplify your build. Make sure you get the column wire harness and the plastics around the column, as these are 2008 to 2010 specific.

If you decide to go with the 2011 to 2016 dash (assuming you didn’t take the above advice on using the 2008 to 2010 frame), you will have to retrofit the 2008 to 2010 multifunction switch on to the 2011 to 2016 column.

Here is a look at the three major dash styles:

2008 to 2010

2011 to 2012

2013 to 2016

Please note there are lower optioned 2013 to 2016 dashes available without the “hump”.

Question 2

What instrument cluster do I run?

Accepted Answer

Next, you need to decide what cluster you want to run in your dash, with your options being (all from Super Duty trucks) the 2008 to 2010 cluster (various trim levels available), the 2011 to 2016 XL cluster, which is black and similar in appearance to the 2008 to 2010 cluster, or the 2011 to 2016 Lariat+ cluster, which has the screen in the middle which you can control using the steering wheel buttons (more on this later). You can use any of these clusters in any of the 2008 to 2016 dashes using our Cluster Helper product, which is available here: https://www.swaphelper.com/product-page/swaphelper-com-cluster-helper

You can switch clusters at any time, so even if you start with an ’08 cluster and want to switch to a ’16 down the road, that is not an issue for the Cluster Helper.
As far as what will work on the clusters, expect all the normal functionality to work, but anything having to do with the newer truck obviously won’t work (like setting remote start run times, etc.). As of writing this, we are working on adding fuel mileage capabilities like distance to empty, which if completed, will be released in a firmware update (all our interior products are field upgradable). Here are pictures of the various 2008 to 2016 Super Duty instrument clusters:

2008 to 2010 Lariat+ Cluster

2008 to 2010 XL Cluster

2011 to 2016 Lariat+ Cluster

2011 to 2016 XL Cluster

Question 3

What about setting the miles on the cluster to match my old cluster?

Accepted Answer

The mileage for the vehicle is stored in the cluster, so the miles shown on your new cluster will be whatever the donor truck’s mileage was. We offer a service to change the mileage on the 11-16 clusters to within +-50 miles of your original mileage. You will need to send in your new cluster and fill out our odometer modification disclosure. You MUST be a Cluster Helper customer to use this service. This service is available for purchase here: https://www.swaphelper.com/product-page/11-16-cluster-odometer-correction-service

As of writing this, we do not modify mileage for 2008 to 2010 clusters, but you can Google “mileage correction service” and find someone who does.

Question 4

What about my steering column and wheel?

Accepted Answer

Our Column Helper product allows you to run any 2008 to 2016 steering column and wheel, but remember, the 2011 to 2016 columns require a retrofit of the multifunction switch from a 2008 to 2010 column. You can see more about that on the Column Helper instructions page here: https://www.swaphelper.com/columnhelper

Regarding the steering wheel, you can use any 2008 to 2016 steering wheel, as they all fit any 2008 to 2016 column. If you decide to use a 2011 to 2016 instrument cluster, you will need to use the 2011 to 2016 steering wheel buttons; FYI, the buttons fit in the 2008 to 2010 steering wheel without issue, or you can use them in the native 2011 to 2016 steering wheel, either way will work. The red ’01 Excursion featured on our YouTube channel is a 2008 dash, column and steering wheel with a 2016 cluster and 2016 buttons in the steering wheel, so you have many options.

With the Column Helper, you will be able to utilize the cruise control, blinkers, wipers, HVAC control, the newer cluster via the steering wheel buttons, pretty much everything from the newer column. And the Column Helper will upgrade your blinkers to act like the newer trucks, with tap-to-pass technology and eliminates the blinker relay so the blinks are silent (the newer cluster emanates a faux blinker sound). You can purchase the Column Helper here: https://www.swaphelper.com/product-page/column-helper

Question 5

What about my HVAC controls?

Accepted Answer

Let’s break this down into two sections, manual controls (knobs) and electronic controls (EATC). A quick note about manual vs electronic, it is not practical to swap from one type to the other, as it requires changing the dash harness, the air box under the dash and under the hood, etc. It is not a change we recommend.

Manual Controls:

If you have a 1999 to 2004 Super Duty or 2000 to 2005 Excursion with manual controls (three knobs), you will want to upgrade to the 2005 to 2007 manual controls, as they are plug and play and have a more modern look. Obviously, if you have a 2005 to 2007 Super Duty, just use your stock manual controls. The 2005 to 2007 Super Duty manual controls will fit into the 2008 to 2010 XL dash bezel. The XL dash bezel is typically black, so if you want woodgrain, you will have to hydro dip the bezel to get the woodgrain look. This is not something we offer, but you can Google to find someone who does. If you go this route, there will be an open space under the controls which can be filled with a piece we sell here: (Coming Soon)

Another option is to use the 2011 to 2012 woodgrain bezel (originally electronic controls) along with our bezel modification kit to mount the 2005 to 2007 manual controls in this newer, wood grain bezel:

Some modification (cutting and filing) on the bezel is required, but if you take your time, you will have a very nice end product. It is available for purchase here: https://www.swaphelper.com/product-page/11-12-manual-hvac-bezel-kit

Electronic Controls:

If you have a 2002 to 2005 Excursion or 2005 to 2007 Super Duty which was originally equipped with the digital Electronic Automatic Temperature Control, or EATC, there are several options available. The simplest and cleanest is our EATC modification service in which we take your original EATC and combine it with the more modern 2006 to 2009 Ford Fusion or Mercury Milan climate controls (must have heated seat option), which will fit natively in the higher optioned wood grain 2008 to 2010 dash bezel:

*Note, this pic shows the stock 2008 controls, but the fusion mod controls look the same.

While these controls do not fit natively in the 2011 or 2012 dash bezels, because they have a more modern look, many customers will have us modify them and they will mold them into their custom made 2013 to 2016 bezel:

Our modified controls have the button outputs for the rear defrost (Excursions) and seat heat/cool, as well. This modification service is available here: https://www.swaphelper.com/product-page/eatc-climate-control-mod-service

Question 6

What about the headlight switch?

Accepted Answer

Our Headlight Helper product will allow you to run a 2008 to 2016 headlight switch in your interior swapped 1999 to 2007 Super Duty truck or Excursion, adding auto lights to trucks not originally equipped using the ’08 - ‘16 sun load sensor, keeps auto light functionality for trucks originally equipped, adds interior dimming functionality, adds cluster dimming with Cluster Helper, including early 1999 to 2001 Cluster Helpers, allows use of the 2011 to 2016 rocker buttons to control the dome light and interior dimming, and adds fog light functionality to 1999 and 2000 trucks and Excursions.

If you have swapped a 2008 to 2010 dash, you can use an earlier F-150 headlight switch by swapping out the internals with the 2008 to 2010 switch, but it will not offer all the functionality the Headlight Helper does, and we do not offer any support or guidance for using the F-150 headlight switch.

The Headlight Helper is available here: https://www.swaphelper.com/product-page/headlight-helper

Question 7

What about my 4x4 switch or Parking Assist switch?

Accepted Answer

You can use the newer 4x4 switches in your 1999 to 2007 Super Duty or Excursion, but they may require modification. We offer a modification service for the 2011 to 2016 4x4 switch so it will work properly in your truck or Excursion. You will send in both your switches and we will modify the 11 to 16 switch to match your truck’s needed functionality. We will also include a rewire guide so you can use the newer 4x4 switch connector. This service is available here: (Coming Soon)

If your truck or Excursion was originally equipped with a parking assist system, you can easily rewire the switch from the newer dash without needing to modify the switch. We have a blog post with diagrams regarding the rewire here: (Coming Soon)

Question 8

What about the Trailer Brake Controller?

Accepted Answer

If you have a 1999 to 2004 Super Duty truck or 2000 to 2005 Excursion, your truck cannot make use of the newer trailer brake controller from the newer dashes (2008 and up) because they lack several of the sensors and required hardware to operate properly. Ford made a coin holder to fit in the space of the Trailer Brake Controller, which is what we typically use to delete the Trailer Brake Controller. The part number from Ford is 8C3Z-2513546-BA.

If you have a 2005 to 2007 Super Duty originally equipped with a Trailer Brake Controller, your TBC will continue to operate properly in the newer dash with our products, but it will not fit properly without modification. We do not currently offer a solution, but a small operation called Valtronix offers a modification service to convert the 2008 to 2010 Trailer Brake Controller to function in the 2005 to 2007 Super Duty trucks. They can be found here:

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Question 9

What if my Excursion had PATS (Passive Anti-Theft System)?

Accepted Answer

If your 2000 to 2005 Excursion was originally equipped with the PATS (Passive Anti-Theft System), you have a couple options. We typically recommend customers take the original transponder from the original column and zip tie an original key into the transponder and mount it under the dash, effectively eliminating the PATS. The PATS can also be disabled through tuning, eliminating the need for the transponder, but we cannot offer guidance on this approach. You will not be able to use the newer transponder from the 2008 and up dash.

Question 10

How do I make my keys from the newer column match my doors?

Accepted Answer

Obviously, the simplest approach is to call an automotive locksmith and have them rekey your new column ignition switch to match your original key so your doors and ignition match. You can also repin either the doors or the column ignition switch yourself using pinning kits. We do not currently offer guidance on repinning, but a simple Google search should get you going in the right direction

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