No going from GLi/Futura to Fiarmont you need the resistor.

NOTE : When fitting a Fairmont/Fairmont Ghia/EL-GT Instrument Cluster to a GLi/Futura/XR Model, you will need to add 1 Resistor to the Instrument Cluster, in order for the LCD Panels to Illuminate correctly.
Without this resistor, the LCD Panel(s) (Clock/Trip Computer/Climate Control/Odometer) will not Illuminate when the Park Lamps, or Headlamps have been switched on.

The reason for fitting this resistor is Fairmont/Fairmont Ghia/EL-GT/Fairlane/LTD Model Falcons use the Body Electronics Module to Dim the LCD Panels, when the Headlamps are switched On.

http://www.fordmods.com/forums/documents.php?doc=14

i dunno ;/

It says EL GT as well as Fairmonts ie the differnet cluster, not normal EL clusters.

swaping the clusters over was so easy it took me and my mate 15 min, i thought it was gonna be a a hard job so while i was still in the mood for working on my car i put a set of dba's on the front also very easy!!