I'm swapping out my dash (with gauges) for one with a tach. It looked pretty simple until I saw the dash had the wire to the gear indicator yanked out from the column. Would it be easiest when removing my dash to unbolt my gear indicator? I couldn't see where the wire goes. This one also has a trip meter I wanted.
Second, will i need to change a calibration gear or is that on the transmission on Fords?

 

While it has been some time since I have been into an 80-86 cluster, I believe you could probably pull the tach & speedo from your new assembly & replace your current speedo (sans trip odo) and the dummy plate where the tach goes. Remember; you will need to use the lens from the trip unit to allow the reset button to protrude. You should be ready to go!

A final note, which you may have already discovered: The white plastic Ford used for these clusters does not age very well. My experiences have shown them to break quite easily, especially the ears where bulbs mount (perhaps from the heat over time) as well as the recesses that the assembly screws bore into.

dn.

 

I took a look at it and the gear indicator comes off with 2 small bolts. I think all cars from the 70's & 80's have that plastic rot issue. Its a PIA to find a good tach/gauge pack for my '79 Camaro. It doesn't help they put a 8 lb item connected by 4 little rubber tabs.
I'd like to set the Speedo mileage to match, but I'll see how hard that is....

 

Nope, you don't have to change anything with the speedo heads, they are all calibrated to something like 1001 rpm per mile(thats the speedo cable RPM from transmission)



The gear shifter indicator is attached to the gear shifter lever usually under a cover just before the collum goes into the dash. the ones I took apart were always broken due to age..

 

The "calibration" is accomplished by way of the tooth count on the gear on the transmission end of the speedo cable. Bigger tires-->use a smaller gear.

Regarding the stripping out of threads and/or breaking out of the recessed threaded attachment points, a rebuild of these areas can be accomplished with 2-part epoxy.

Also, consider replacing your incandescent dash lamps with LED units: they stay much cooler - as well as consuming far less current.

dn.

 

Yeah, I know other manufacturers have the gear on the tranny as well. Are those LED's special order somewhere or can you get them an any auto part store?

 

At this time, I don't recall the exact way they mount, but I do recall that the little cable for the shift indicator does detach somewhere. Work on too many different things, and haven't had to do one of those for a while...