FAQ - Factory tachometer installation
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
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From: Northern California
All 1981-1986 cluster printed circuts are red. But have seen some of them faded to clear or a ruddy brown color.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Originally Posted by ri_truck_guy
No....left directional and seat belt warning light.
Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff
Hmmm, my seat belt warning light will have a heck of a time trying to work without a bulb.....
That's odd, as I'd figured it was those other 2.....
That's odd, as I'd figured it was those other 2.....
Two circuts are changed within the main wiring harness at the cluster connector, and two circuts are changed in the cluster printed circut itself. That equals four.
Since swapping the 1981/1986 cluster is only changing two of the circuts in your 1980, you have to change two of the circuts in the main wiring at the connector of the 1980 to compensate. Either change the two circuts to mimic the 1980 light bar pattern, or change the two circuts to mimic the 1981-1986 light bar pattern. And that depends on if you want to use a 1981-1986 instrument cluster bezel or keep your 1980 one, I suppose.
That's how the four lights, (right and left turn indicators and the seatbelt and brake warning lights) are swapped around between the 1980 and 1981/1986. Two circuts are changed in the cluster printed circut, and two are changed in the wiring at the cluster connector itself.
Hope this makes sense.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
I still haven't tried doing this yet, but I will likely use the entire 1985 cluster. Not only does it have the tach, but also has a trip odo as well.
I hate the high beam indicator in the 80. It's so bright it will blind ya. The newer clusters had most of the high beam indicator blacked out, and just a small blue icon, where the 80 is a blue lens with black icon.
The 85 cluster is in the bronco I am going to be getting the 4wd system from and swapping under my truck. Probably do it all at the same time.
I hate the high beam indicator in the 80. It's so bright it will blind ya. The newer clusters had most of the high beam indicator blacked out, and just a small blue icon, where the 80 is a blue lens with black icon.
The 85 cluster is in the bronco I am going to be getting the 4wd system from and swapping under my truck. Probably do it all at the same time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 2
From: Mexia, TX
Like others have said, it should just be a drop-in deal. Save yourself the frustration and time and test your circuit film prior to installing the gauges, though. I didn't, and this is going on the fourth time I'll be pulling the gauges back out. lol.
I didn't know that about the different indicator. Huh.
I didn't know that about the different indicator. Huh.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Yes, 1980 and 1981 Instrument cluster bezels have different indicator covers.
The 1980 is the most different, with it's lights being reversed ordered.
1. Blank | 2. FASTEN BELT | 3. <---- | 4. HI BEAM | 5. -----> | 6. BRAKE | 7. 4x4
1981-1986 are the same order as follows.
1. Blank or EMISSION | 2. <------ | 3. FASTEN BELT | 4. HIGH BEAM | 5. BRAKE | 6. -----> | 7. 4x4
The 1980 and 1981 share lenses though. The high beam is a large solid blue light with the word high beam in black letters. The turn indicator arrows are the full length of the space.
1982-1986 the High Beam letters themselves are the only thing lit. and the turn arrows are very short by comparison.
I'll try and post some pictures when it gets dark.
The 1980 is the most different, with it's lights being reversed ordered.
1. Blank | 2. FASTEN BELT | 3. <---- | 4. HI BEAM | 5. -----> | 6. BRAKE | 7. 4x4
1981-1986 are the same order as follows.
1. Blank or EMISSION | 2. <------ | 3. FASTEN BELT | 4. HIGH BEAM | 5. BRAKE | 6. -----> | 7. 4x4
The 1980 and 1981 share lenses though. The high beam is a large solid blue light with the word high beam in black letters. The turn indicator arrows are the full length of the space.
1982-1986 the High Beam letters themselves are the only thing lit. and the turn arrows are very short by comparison.
I'll try and post some pictures when it gets dark.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 6
From: Florida
81-Explorer,I got a strange one for ya..here's my old bezel(1980)
If anybody is wondering,the two indicators on the outside both say 4x4,even though my truck is 4x2.And as far as I know,there's only supposed to be one 4x4 indicator light.
If anybody is wondering,the two indicators on the outside both say 4x4,even though my truck is 4x2.And as far as I know,there's only supposed to be one 4x4 indicator light.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Actually all 1980 cluster printed circuts are green. Non-Tach, tach and gauges, and idiot lights. I have a green 1980 tach printed circut that needs to be fixed.
All 1981-1986 cluster printed circuts are red. But have seen some of them faded to clear or a ruddy brown color.
All 1981-1986 cluster printed circuts are red. But have seen some of them faded to clear or a ruddy brown color.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Make sure you grab the 4x4 light harness.Can't have the light without it.lol.I'm not sure if our trucks are prewired for it or not though,as i've never really checked.Might do that tomorrow.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
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From: Florida
lol.When I got the new interior for my truck,the donor truck just so happened to be a 4x4,so I grabbed the light harness,and then I decided to just take the entire interior wiring harness from the truck.So,now I have endless replacement wires for my truck,including the ones for the 4x4 indicator light,so if these trucks aren't prewired,I can take care of it the factory way.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
Yeah, the cluster is coming from the 4wd donor, so it should have the factory harness. I'm taking the tilt column out of an F100, so as to prevent turn signal switch issues. My switch is broke, so the tilt column is not only an upgrade, but a repair at the same time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 2
From: Mexia, TX
Got an update and a question.
The update is that I've been running the tach on a 4 amp fuse (not 4.5 as I first thought), and I've had no issues with blown fuses or strange electrical behavior. Everything seems to be good.
The question: My factory tach reads about 150rpm lower than my Sunpro tach. Is there a way to correct this, assuming it's in the factory tach, or is it a small enough difference that it's not worth messing with?
The update is that I've been running the tach on a 4 amp fuse (not 4.5 as I first thought), and I've had no issues with blown fuses or strange electrical behavior. Everything seems to be good.
The question: My factory tach reads about 150rpm lower than my Sunpro tach. Is there a way to correct this, assuming it's in the factory tach, or is it a small enough difference that it's not worth messing with?