Tach instal?
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Tach instal?
Hi everybody, I have an '86 F-150 XLT Lariat 4x4 351W C6 and I'm trying to find out how to wire in a tach for the truck. Is there any info on exactly where the wires need to go? thanks.
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I have an aftermarket tach. The factory gauge is easier to install, as you'll most likely have to pull the cluster to get at some of the wiring for the aftermarket tach anyhow.
I want to get a factory cluster, but having my aftermarket (8000!) rpm tachometer makes me lazy.
(my motor rarely goes over 3k.
)
I want to get a factory cluster, but having my aftermarket (8000!) rpm tachometer makes me lazy.
(my motor rarely goes over 3k.
)
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Joined: Apr 2011
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When i installed my sunpro tach i ran the wires along the coloumn thruogh that little plastic beice right under it, it is held by 2 screws. My truck also had a little hole in the firewall close to the parking brake that was plugged up with a rubber plug. I pulled the plug and ran the wires through there. Hope this helps. Should also probably let you know mine is strapped to the steering coloumn.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Texas
When my grandfather gave me the '83 F250, I got a new circuit sheet thing and stock tachometer from ebay for a steal. I never got around to installing it, but it's a straight forward installation. I sold the truck to a guy and gave him the tach stuff. I bought the truck back about 3 years later and he lost the tach stuff so I'm on the hunt for another one. For now I have an aftermarket tach under the dash. It was an easy install since I have an HEI distributor.
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Awesome! I have everything except a tach. Have the speedo, oil, water, battery, and fuel. So all I would need to do is find a cluster with a tach and it just plugs in?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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Sch,
I hate not having a tac. I don't have one in my Dodge either and it really bothers me, never enough to change it though. Anyway I did the swap. When you have the instrument cluster in your hands, on the back side you will likely see a red circuit paper. Twist and remove all the lights, screws and spin nuts. Remove the plastic face on the front slip the gauges out and then clean your instrument cluster (the frame piece not the paper or gauges) real good with soap and water. It got all kinds of dirt off of mine. I then painted my gauges ,look damn good by the way. Then I put it all back together. Its an easy swap and like magic when that tac fires up.
I hate not having a tac. I don't have one in my Dodge either and it really bothers me, never enough to change it though. Anyway I did the swap. When you have the instrument cluster in your hands, on the back side you will likely see a red circuit paper. Twist and remove all the lights, screws and spin nuts. Remove the plastic face on the front slip the gauges out and then clean your instrument cluster (the frame piece not the paper or gauges) real good with soap and water. It got all kinds of dirt off of mine. I then painted my gauges ,look damn good by the way. Then I put it all back together. Its an easy swap and like magic when that tac fires up.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Air Capitol, KS
I agree with glovemeister there. I can't stand having a manual tranny vehicle without a tach. Not having a tach was one of the main reasons for finding a gauge cluster (the other was a jumping speedo). When I got mine from ebay, all I did was clean the main plug-in contacts with contact cleaner and cotton *****. I didn't do the complete clean up by taking off the circuit sheet, but it probably wouldn't hurt. I squirted a little grease in the speedo plug-in, then reconnected everything and good-to-go!! Just think, you'll have some extra gauges to hang on to for spares or to pass along to a needy Ford guy (possibly on this site). The only thing you need to remember is to avoid a 1980 cluster which has a green circuit sheet. The one for your year will be red, and there is conversion advice for the 1980 one on this site if you can't help but get a 1980 one.
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Update:
Found a used cluster with tach on ebay. Got it the other day and took it apart and cleaned it up and replaced all the bulbs with LEDs. Took the old cluster out and put the new one in. Fired up the truck and the tach and all the gauges work. I checked all the top lights to make sure they work and they did, but I wasn't getting any lights to come on for the gauges. I had this problem before changing the cluster out too. I tried swapping all the gauge LEDs out into the top row of lights into the turn signal slot and they all work, so it's not the lights themselves. Then I figured it was the headlight switch so I just got done replacing that and still no gauge lights. Any ideas?
Found a used cluster with tach on ebay. Got it the other day and took it apart and cleaned it up and replaced all the bulbs with LEDs. Took the old cluster out and put the new one in. Fired up the truck and the tach and all the gauges work. I checked all the top lights to make sure they work and they did, but I wasn't getting any lights to come on for the gauges. I had this problem before changing the cluster out too. I tried swapping all the gauge LEDs out into the top row of lights into the turn signal slot and they all work, so it's not the lights themselves. Then I figured it was the headlight switch so I just got done replacing that and still no gauge lights. Any ideas?
