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Hello guys. I normally spend a lot of time in the 40's and older section but I just bought a 1972 F-250 that has a few issues.
1st
Speedometer set up I don't think is Ford but an aftermarket of some kind. Looks like some kind of harness with a sensor aimed at the driveshaft. Way out of whack and not sure how it would possibly turn the odometer. I understand that there was some change made to the instrument cluster in 1972, sort of a first gen circuit board? Should there have been a traditional cable going to the transmission?
2nd
Alt gauge is not working and may have something to do with the dash cluster. Thoughts?
3rd
I need to see a detailed photograph of the throttle linkage at the top, driver's side of the intake manifold. Not sure this one is correct.
I would say the speedo is after market as both of my 81 F100's used a cable from trans to gauge and they both had different transmissions, SROD & T18
I also installed a NP435 in place of the T18 all had cables.
I think it was not till mid 90"s that Ford stop using a cable for speed.
What transmission dose the truck have?
Amp gauge never moves in any of the 80's trucks and guys new to the trucks ask the same question, its normal.
Throttle I cant help you with, 80's uses a cable.
Can you post up a picture of what you got?
Dave ----
Congratz on your bumpside. Throw some pics up of the new truck and some of your problem pieces. I have a 70 f250 and 72 f250 to compare speedometer cables to if get a pic. The circuit board on the back of the instrument panel changed after 69. Fordification says there was a one year only for 70 and then changed again in 71. On my 70 and 72, they are both the same. And, yes there is a traditional cable running to the tranny. How can you tell your ammeter isnt working? I do not have any pics of the old bell crank throttle linkage. I ended up converting to a straight rod linkage for both trucks. Some pics will help figure it all out though. Good luck.
Congratz on your bumpside. I do not have any pics of the old bell crank throttle linkage. I ended up converting to a straight rod linkage for both trucks. Some pics will help figure it all out though. Good luck.
I believe the bell crank was to stop the throttle giving more when a motor mount broke.
The way the bell crank was set up from what I could see being a rod went to the firewall it kept the throttle at level you had it if the motor moved around.
With cables you dont have that issue and no way with the drive by wire the new cars & trucks have.
Dave ----
Thanks guys. I have owned one or more Ford trucks from 1961-1972, some 40's, 30's, 20's and teens. I bought this recently to haul various toys to shows but it needs a small amount of TLC. It was strong enough to haul my old explorer home. I will post more on the throttle linkage soon. As you can see it is a 250, stretched with a 350 rear end. This conversion was probably done years ago for dragster and race car needs.
Looks good. I like your mirrors. I have a set of the 3 arm bigger mirrors on both my trucks. I like your mirrors better for my 4x4 though. From your picture, it all looks straight. Looks like you have a pair of old dodge hub caps on the front as well. I have four of those on my 70 f250 that I got from my dads 92 dodge.
Here is a couple pics of my old one from my 70 f250. It started getting all wore out so I replaced one of the pieces with a bolt to tighten it up. Then I eventually went to a straight linkage. All three of the rods to that linkage have always had bends in them since I got the truck in 96.
This is what I ended up going to.
This is a 4bbl holley and this 390 engine is in my other truck now. I have a almost identical setup on the 360 which is in the truck in the pic. If there is nothing wrong with your linkage, it will be fine.
I didnt specify it but I left out that the 360 has 2bbl with straight rod setup.
Last edited by 1browski; Aug 16, 2022 at 05:24 PM.
Reason: missing info
Well that helps, every other truck similar was cable, not linkage. I guess mine is fine, will need to do some fine tuning/adjustments. Now I have to figure out why the amp guage is not working and post some photos of the speedo setup.
