Notices
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

stock instrument cluster Tachometer

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 14, 2018 | 04:50 PM
  #1  
Jeffrey Ferrell's Avatar
Jeffrey Ferrell
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
stock instrument cluster Tachometer

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.
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2018 | 05:18 PM
  #2  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
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.
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2018 | 10:37 PM
  #3  
R/S85's Avatar
R/S85
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 34
Likes: 2
^ 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.
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2018 | 11:51 PM
  #4  
firehawk618's Avatar
firehawk618
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
***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......
 
Reply
Old Nov 15, 2018 | 08:04 AM
  #5  
Jeffrey Ferrell's Avatar
Jeffrey Ferrell
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
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.
 
Reply
Old Nov 15, 2018 | 08:45 AM
  #6  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Jeffrey Ferrell
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.
 
Reply
Old Nov 15, 2018 | 10:20 AM
  #7  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,912
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Jeffrey Ferrell
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.
Originally Posted by Franklin2
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 ----
 
Reply
Old Nov 15, 2018 | 01:38 PM
  #8  
firehawk618's Avatar
firehawk618
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Jeffrey Ferrell
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.
Yeah maybe, Once I find a gas tach I'll remove the diesel one.

Who knows though, leaving it installed my have ruined it.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Nov 16, 2018 | 10:08 AM
  #9  
1986F150six's Avatar
1986F150six
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
Originally Posted by firehawk618
Yeah maybe, Once I find a gas tach I'll remove the diesel one.
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

 
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2018 | 09:01 PM
  #10  
firehawk618's Avatar
firehawk618
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by 1986F150six
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.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2018 | 10:40 AM
  #11  
1986F150six's Avatar
1986F150six
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
This is mine while cruising [please excuse the glare]. Take a close look at the odometer [how many digits?]

 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2018 | 12:45 PM
  #12  
greyghost85's Avatar
greyghost85
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,856
Likes: 1
From: Lebanon
So you took this pic while you were going 75 mph down the highway?
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2018 | 01:07 PM
  #13  
1986F150six's Avatar
1986F150six
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
Yes.... I am ashamed of myself.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2018 | 02:51 PM
  #14  
greyghost85's Avatar
greyghost85
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,856
Likes: 1
From: Lebanon
Truck pics

Where r the pics of your truck? I have an 86, I6,4wd,4 spd
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2018 | 04:52 PM
  #15  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 1986F150six
This is mine while cruising [please excuse the glare]. Take a close look at the odometer [how many digits?]

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.

 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:37 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE