Ok guys and gals I just picked up a gauge cluster with tach from a 90 F250 351W. I want to put it in my 88 F150 302 which came without a tach. If I remember correctly everything is there correct? If not what do I need to go back to the junkyard for?
Trav

 

You're good this is a direct swap.

 

sweet guess I need to go back and get the other one for our 89 F350.

What paint do I use for the needles? I want to clean it up and paint the needles nice and perty before I throw it in there.
Trav

 

The needles are translucent, no reason to paint them unless you want to change the lighting color. then you would use something to tint them, you would not want to use regular paint.

 

They are really faded so I wanted to paint them so they look good. I guess I will have to look for something to tint them (and ya I kinda want a different lighting color.
Trav

 

The needles are clear plastic with a painted back side. You WILL want to use regular paint, model paint and brushes work good. Use a hobby knife and some sandpaper to remove the existing color, then repaint with any color. As far as the color to use, I'm not really sure. When you pop the black cap off of the center of the needle, you will be surprised at just how orange they used to be.

 

Ya one of the needles looks brand new but the others are faded. I will have to tear into it. Thanks guys
Trav

 

You may have to jumper a resistor to get the oil pressure gauge to work properly. '88 should have used a variable resistance oil pressure sender while the '90 should be one of the first years to use an oil pressure switch with a resistor on the cluster to drive the gauge to a steady position.

 

you know the tach is a separate gauge you can put into your cluster rite?

just take it apart, remove the blank panel and put the tach in.

 

I don't have a blank panel everything is completely different from my cluster arrangement to this one. I think Tom is thinking of 80-86s.
Trav

 

nope. this is from a 88 gas job. i used the speedometer from this cluster in a 90 F-150, these are spares for anyone that needs them.

when you take the cluster apart, the gauges just plug in. each one is a separate unit.

 

Will have to look at that but I mine as well just replace the whole cluster since my gauges are faded anyways. I really just wanted to roll the miles to my miles so I don't play a guessing game.
Trav

 

when you look at the cluster you do not even realize they are separate until you take it apart.

and i bet there is nothing wrong with the gauges themselves, it is usually the clear plastic cluster cover that gets discolored/cloudy that causes the gauges to look faded.

 

Ok will check that out but I am pretty sure it is the black backing of the cluster that is faded not the clear plastic cover.
Trav

 

The cluster should look like this:


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