Factory Tachometer Question
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
Factory Tachometer Question
I have a 1982 F150
IT originally came without a tachometer.
If I purchase an instrument cluster with a tachometer that has the correct circuit print (red), will I have to do any wiring in the engine bay?
Or will the tachometer start reading right away?
Thanks
IT originally came without a tachometer.
If I purchase an instrument cluster with a tachometer that has the correct circuit print (red), will I have to do any wiring in the engine bay?
Or will the tachometer start reading right away?
Thanks
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: Southside, AL
That is what I did in my 83. It came with guages but no tach. From reading the threads in the sticky at the top of the forum, if your cluster came with guages it is plug and play but if it just has warning lights the process is more involved. I hope this helps.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
This is the first time I have heard about the number of grounds. How exactly do I count the grounds?
I am assuming that it is where you plug the cluster in.
I am assuming that it is where you plug the cluster in.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
From the factory, the grounding is handled within the wiring harness. I installed a factory tachometer from a V8 equipped truck in the dash of my son's 1984 with 4.9L six cylinder [equipped with gauges, not idiot lights] and it worked like a charm without additional wiring.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
Okay cool thanks, 1986f150six.
I purchased the entire cluster because I wanted a tach, my speedometer needle was broken, and the shift indicator assembly was not functioning.
The cluster should arrive in two days. If it doesn't work correctly, I can use the old circuit and hard wire the tach.
Thanks
I purchased the entire cluster because I wanted a tach, my speedometer needle was broken, and the shift indicator assembly was not functioning.
The cluster should arrive in two days. If it doesn't work correctly, I can use the old circuit and hard wire the tach.
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 2
From: Marysville, WA
One other thing, under the hood, check next to the Duraspark box for a two wire plug. It has one black and one green wire. Trucks without tach usually do not have the wiring going from this plug to the engine. If you do not have it, the green wire goes to the coil negative terminal, and the black goes to engine ground.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
ill have too look at the house today after work I have the diagram but for the 8 cyl both grounds are used. otherwise how would ford use the same tack with a different number of coil pulses from the 2 different engines.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
That definatly makes sense Matt. The ebay description did not clarify weather or not the cluster came from a 4.9 or 5.0.
I just found a thread... hear is the infrimation...
A V8 coil fires 33% more often than a 6cyl, or the 6 cyl fires 25% less than a V8, whichever way you want to look at it.
V8 @ 2,000 RPM = 8,000 coil fires
I6 @ 2,000 RPM = 6,000 coil fires
On the back of the tachometer, there are two grounds. One is marked with an "8" and the other is a "G". The V8 application makes use of both grounds. The 6 cylinder does not use the "8" ground. All of this is handled by the original wiring.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=942555
I used copy and paste, sorry I haven't figured out how to quote on my iPhone.
I just found a thread... hear is the infrimation...
A V8 coil fires 33% more often than a 6cyl, or the 6 cyl fires 25% less than a V8, whichever way you want to look at it.
V8 @ 2,000 RPM = 8,000 coil fires
I6 @ 2,000 RPM = 6,000 coil fires
On the back of the tachometer, there are two grounds. One is marked with an "8" and the other is a "G". The V8 application makes use of both grounds. The 6 cylinder does not use the "8" ground. All of this is handled by the original wiring.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=942555
I used copy and paste, sorry I haven't figured out how to quote on my iPhone.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
vintageracer31
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
9
Jun 17, 2018 09:10 PM
Szoob
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Feb 2, 2004 09:58 AM
pikiluvi
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Nov 23, 2003 06:30 PM