The truck is an '82, not an '80 if there was any confusion. Even if I bought the new board, I would still need to do some custom wiring, correct?

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by newrider3

Apparently I'm just not looking close enough, because that is exactly what I've been doing.

Heh... Try searching on "gauge cluster" and look through that? One of the
problems with this search engine is that it doesn't know that "gage" and
gauge" should be the same thing, and lots of people misspell things out here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle.stosh

I just posted the link so that you would know that one was available.

Jerry is a good guy and will probably work with you. Tach clusters and circuit boards are VERY hard to find for your model year.

I was trying to save you some aggravation.

Stosh: Jerry's stuff is for a 1980, correct? Isn't this guy's truck a 1982, or did I
miss something somewhere?

newrider: 1980 is a one-year wonder, the dash wiring is different in it than the
other 80s variants, you don't want a 1980 circuit film unless you want your
high-beam indicator lamp to blink at ya when you try to use your left turn
signal (or something equally wrong, 81-F-150-Explorer knows for certain).

About your gauges, you'll need different sending units on the engine for the
ones that are presently idiot lights. The ammeter is a whole different subject
entirely, requiring an ammeter shunt in your wiring to avoid melting the
insulation and possible fires. Best to get yourself a factory wiring diagram.

The tach will be pretty easy but it depends... are you gonna be using a
Ford-supplied cluster circuit film or no? If so, everything should be plug-n-play;
if not, there are different wiring requirements depending on 6- or 8-cyl engine.
Try to find more in the archives....

 

So, I've been looking around a bit and found some more info.
From what I've found, I can take the new cluster, and install the original idiot lights and circuit paper on it, and use this method to hard wire in the tach. The rest would then just plug in.
Does this sound right?

 

Wow, your 82 looks WAY better then my 83. I got holes from rust all over!

 

Yeah, I was surprised at how minor the rust is compared to some I've seen locally. My friend was hopping up into an '85 at the u-pull-it to help me get a dash out, and he broke through the rocker.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by newrider3

From what I've found, I can take the new cluster, and install the original idiot lights and circuit paper on it, and use this method to hard wire in the tach. The rest would then just plug in.
Does this sound right?

I suspect this might be doable but I think it'd be an ugly hack... the electrical
connector for the "new" cluster (the one with gauges + tach) is physically
bigger (it has more wires and more leads) than your existing connector + the
rectangular holes in the backs of the clusters for those connectors are in
different locations, making for entirely different circuit films. I don't know how
you'd handle the relocation of that connector, the shunt thing on the back of
your existing connector, etc. etc. etc.

If you want to do this, my best advice to you is to get yourself an original Ford
factory wiring diagram, it will help explain a LOT of things. Lots of places sell
'em (including eBay) here's a place I bought some other manuals from and they
provided good service to me, it looks like you can buy a reprint for $25.

http://www.lloydsautolit.com/index.html

Other places in the archives, search on "shop manuals" (with the quotes).

-chris

 

Well, after way too many layers of bondo, and more sanding than I'd like to think about, the dash is ready for paint.

 

Painted. Also finally got pics of the new grille and tailgate.

 

Actually,to be exact,Any truck that was built between summer of 1979 and summer of 1980 has the circuit film that won't fit the newer trucks.Any truck made from 7/80 to 1986 will interchange circuit films.The early 1980 circuit film is green in color,while the late 1980-newer circuit film is red.When I needed a new circuit film,I was told to get one from a 1980.I found a truck that was built in July of 1980.I picked the circuit paper,and noticed it was red.Figured it was just a color change,paid for it and came home.Everything matched up,until I went to test the lights.As before mentioned,two indicators were switched,and my brake warning light flashed with the turn signal on.My truck was built in 12/79,so it was the wrong one.However It's very easy to fix this.Just take the gauge bezel off,and gently pry the indicators off the bezel,being careful not to snap them.Then,just simply put some glue on the outer edges of the indicators,and put them in the right place.

Hope this helps anyone else out that has this problem.

 

I came across a deal on a mostly parted '89 F250, but with a good cab. It had a 460 and automatic trans. My truck has the 300-6 and a 4 speed. If I pick it up, where am I going to have compatibility issues with swapping the cab over? What will I have to do about the dash, clutch linkage, steering linkage etc?

 

Picked up a rear slider, and a roof to rob the skin for my truck.


Aww, this isn't where I parked my carrr...

 

Finally got it registered and to my house; worked on it a bit since school was out for Labor Day. Took out the seat and most of the trim panels, found a ****load more mouse nests. One was inside the door?!??



Pulled up the nasty floormat, and lo and behold, found some rot on the passenger side. Scraped off a bunch of rust, replaced the metal, and threw down some rust converter. Need to get a can of bedliner one of these days and do the whole interior of the cab.

That's always good...



Found this jammed inside the driver's door, apparently there wasn't a fitting replacement speaker to be found

 

Looking great man!!! Getting some work done too er!!

 

truck is coming along great!
thanks for keeping us up to date
make sure you get a picture of the "convertible" pick up truck haha

 

Thanks.

Any of you guys know of a decent inexpensive seat cover that will fit one of these trucks? I tried a saddle blanket one from Wallyworld, and it didn't want to go on.