Is the truck wired for the Tac, even if the truck doesn't have one? Could I swap in an instrument cluster with one? Asking cause I had a Taurus that used the same harness for all their models.

 

You can swap it right in if it's 1981 or higher, and has gauges already. If you have idiot lights it will not swap without some wiring changes.

 

^ Exactly. Just did this swap not long ago. As long as the truck has full sweep gauges, you're good. Found a instrument cluster with a tach and tripometer (and other gauges of course) on eBay. Took the old one out and plugged the "new" one in. No problems.

 

***Unless it's a tach from a diesel.

I found this out today. Found a complete 1985 F250, 6.9, T19, 4x4. Such a shame they decided to scrap it.

Anyhow, got the sliding back window + seal, radio, bezels, T19 shift lever + T19 shift tower *I didn't know T18 was a different tower which is what I need*, complete cluster with tach etc etc.

Plugged the cluster in and the tach don't work.

I have the 300 engine......

 

That's a what I'm looking for, a diesel cluster a/tac. I'm running a separate tac, but I want to declutter the dash area of extra gauges hanging off of everything.

 

You must have a special tach for diesels. They run off some sort of sensor or the alternator. The factory diesel tach runs off a sensor mounted in the top of the injection pump drive gear housing. The sensor reads the teeth on the pump gear to calculate rpm. That's why it will not interchange with a gas tach, which runs off the negative coil wire signal.

 

And he should have said that in his first post or it would not work.

Maybe you can work a deal with Firehawk as he has one for a diesel.
Dave ----

 

Yeah maybe, Once I find a gas tach I'll remove the diesel one.

Who knows though, leaving it installed my have ruined it.

 

Only one currently on eBay. It is higher priced than others I have seen. Keep looking as they do show up from time to time. Since your truck has the 6 cylinder engine, keep in mind the 4500 RPM tachs from a F600 or F800 with the gas engine [370] will work just fine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tachometer-...EAAOSwl5Jb7jVl

 

That's good to know and I will keep an eye out for them.

I'll wait for a used one to show up at a wrecking yard.

Would like a low RPM one for sure.

 

This is mine while cruising [please excuse the glare]. Take a close look at the odometer [how many digits?]

 

So you took this pic while you were going 75 mph down the highway?

 

Yes.... I am ashamed of myself.

 

Where r the pics of your truck? I have an 86, I6,4wd,4 spd

 

Hey look, his charge gauge is working. That is about all you will ever see out of it. You may not see that if you move your head toward the pass side.