Can you RR a clock assy from another gauge cluster and install in your own or do you need to swap cluster assemblies?
Has anyone installed a small clock movement in a gauge cluster that does not have a stock clock?
1980 F350 Ranger XLT

EDIT - I thought the center section was for a clock but looking at used units on ebay it is for a tach. How hard would it be to install tach from another cluster? Would the wiring be present or is it a different harness? Are the factory tachs accurate or would aftermarket be better?

 

The only factory clock option of which I'm aware was not part of the gauge cluster. It was to the right of the gauges, at the top above the radio and heater controls.

https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/digital-clock.html

 

Some of these details may help:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tock-tach.html

The wiring in your 1980 is something of an oddball, so all details may not apply, but it should give you some ideas. Does your truck have gauges or idiot lights? There will be some differences in the wiring harness. I'm not sure if you can physically install a factory tach if the cluster has gauges.

I added a factory tach to the stock cluster (gauges, not idiot lights) on my '84. It works great and has performed flawlessly for over 20 years.

 

First question:
The clock can be added to any truck.
You will need a clock bezel that has the cut outs for the clock or some have cut the openings open on the non-clock bezel.
Also note there are I believe 3 different plugs on the clocks that would match the different years of harness in the trucks.
You can use any clock in any year truck once you know the wiring of the truck & clock and just replace the plugs.

I added a clock, from Ebay, to my truck but cant remember what I did for the plug?
I do know I had to figure what each wire color did both on the truck & clock side.
I think my clock may have come with the truck side plug pig tail and I may have spliced it into the truck harness?

Second question:
As pointed out your 80 maybe a strange bird and never had a factory tach?
The truck side of the wiring should be in place and IIRC may need to plug a wire in for it to work.
This is what I found when I installed a factory tach in my 2 of 1981 F100 that has gauges.
I was able to get a tach from a member with the printed board for a tach & gauges.
Swap the 2 on to my gauge cluster and it worked.

Now if you have gauges and tach but no printed board you can get one from LMC
They list them for lights only
Gauges only
Gauges with tach.

I have not checked if it is on the money for RPM but I dont use it for anything much more than for speed in the dark as I cant see the speedo needle on the high way, used the wrong paint
Dave ----