KA24E 89 240sx, bogging/cutout issues and electrical woes!

[joee1]

Hi guys, have been searching the forums and I have found a few solutions to my problems but none have fixed them.

Here is the problem:

Just picked up the car, had no cat-back exhaust when I bought it, prev. owner said it bogs down at ~4-4.5k rpm and hits what I would call 'cutout'. Totally stops revving, will not go anymore unless I let off until it slows down or shift gears.

Prev. owner said it was because of no backpressure, so we put the exhaust on today and have the same effect(just much quieter )

Changed out the MAF to no avail.

; Car does it when cold and when warm; no difference. Revs up to 6k redline when part throttle, when it is WOT the problem exists(is also there at about 3/4 but 1/2 throttle will rev out)

Any thoughts on that? Plugs, wires are in good shape.

Electrical issue:

NO dashboard functionality except fuel gauge. This is a coupe edition with digital speedo/HUD. searching brings up a flawed capacitor or burnt out dimmer switch bulb, or fried TCM. Checked dimmer bulb; no light. Switched TCM, fixed dimmer light so it turns on, but no dash lights. (WEIRD: 1 bulb lights up with KEY ON - LIGHTS OFF, but light goes out with KEY ON LIGHTS ON WTF?)

Checked wires for stereo(no stereo installed) and isolated the 2 illumination wires to no avail. HVAC controls also were not lit up, but upon replacing the TCM the HVAC now works properly.

I am leaning to replace the whole instrument cluster; do you think the problem is deeper?

Thanks for all of your assistance and I look forward to your replies.

Joe