Full gauge cluster

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 28, 2016 | 07:22 AM

idealtrucks

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 1,297

Likes: 34

From: S/W Virginia

Full gauge cluster

Good morning,
Am I correct in thinking that the wiring harness is different on the trucks with full gauges vs warning lights? I guess it's not as easy as changing out the cluster and sending units, right?

Oct 28, 2016 | 07:31 AM

ultraranger

Lead Driver

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 6,399

Likes: 40

From: El Dorado, Arkansas

If you're referencing the Ford F500-up Bumpside/Dentside big trucks, the instrument cluster is a direct connection into the main wiring harness on '67-'69 model F100-F350 trucks.

On a '70-'72 F100-F350 trucks, the connector and a short length from the main wiring harness would have to be cut from a '67-'69 F100-F350 or F500-up donor truck to connect the big truck cluster to the main harness of a '70-'72 model truck, since '70-'72 has a printed circuit board cluster and not a hard wire cluster. --although, I did have a printed circuit board cluster that came out of a '78 model F600. It resides in Connecticut now.

Oct 28, 2016 | 07:34 AM

idealtrucks

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 1,297

Likes: 34

From: S/W Virginia

Actually I was referring to a cluster out of an F100. With printed circuit.
Some have the warning lights lights, and some have the guages (oil and amp I think).

Oct 28, 2016 | 08:35 AM

ultraranger

Lead Driver

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 6,399

Likes: 40

From: El Dorado, Arkansas

In that case, yes. A full instrument cluster will not work on a wiring harness that's designed for a cluster that has idiot lights.

You'll have to have the cluster harness designed for full instrumentation to make it work.

Oct 28, 2016 | 08:53 AM

orich

Lead Driver

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 7,592

Likes: 10

From: **** hole San Jose ca.

Quote:

Originally Posted by idealtrucks

Actually I was referring to a cluster out of an F100. With printed circuit.
Some have the warning lights lights, and some have the guages (oil and amp I think).

This is why some guys just use the aux add on aftermarket under dash mounted gauges for the oil, water temp & amps sets.
Orich

Oct 28, 2016 | 09:01 AM

idealtrucks

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 1,297

Likes: 34

From: S/W Virginia

Thank you all. I do have the aftermarket underdash ones. Would like to have them originally in the dash, but won't be changing out wiring harness

Oct 28, 2016 | 11:44 AM

orich

Lead Driver

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 7,592

Likes: 10

From: **** hole San Jose ca.

Quote:

Originally Posted by idealtrucks

Thank you all. I do have the aftermarket underdash ones. Would like to have them originally in the dash, but won't be changing out wiring harness

The gas gauge was about the only thing that worked good until the float went bad. Then the speedometer started bouncing. This when many of us bought custom replacements. Or we build or own. Which, I did two time as this is my last one which not to hard.
I'm using a electronic speedometer so it can corrected for any speed & odomer with any size tires