Tach
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Freshman User
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Tach
Have a 92 F-150 with the 4.9. I am wanting to change the dash cluster to one that includes a tach. Does the 4.9 have a different tach that the higher revving V-8's? If you have a 4.9 and a tach, how high does your tach go? What is the redline on the tach? I want to ensure I obtain the proper one. Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Tucson, AZ
I have never seen a 300 6 with a tach stock, you can hook up an aftermarket one pretty easy. Don't need one of the 8,000, 10,000rpm ones, most guys just go with a 4000 or 5000rpm tach as it's not a good idea to rev a 300 past that.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Look at mine in my gallery and it's mounting location. I really like this tach, but for the lighting is not so great. I could put a brighter bulb though. Perfect for the 300 I6 and 100 rpm increments.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: S. Mississippi
I'm not sure about the newer trucks, but i'm for certain that there is a cluster from 80-86 that will directly swap into the dash that is already calibrated for the 6cylinder.
I belive that the cluster was grounded thru the wiring or something, for the 6 and ungrounded for the v8.
Good luck, i'm going to have to hunt a cluster again soon myself.
I belive that the cluster was grounded thru the wiring or something, for the 6 and ungrounded for the v8.
Good luck, i'm going to have to hunt a cluster again soon myself.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2001
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Hmmm, thats good to know. I have the 80-86 cluster but I think its from a V8. I was wondering how they might change between a I6 and a V8, you heard one was grounded and the other was not? I'd be interested in finding more info on that. The factory tach looks better than the one I have on my column.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: S. Mississippi
As far as i'm aware of it depends on your existing cluster. Does it have a full gauge lay out for all instruments or do you have idiot lights?
If you have full gauges, then just pull the current cluster and swap, everything will work on its own.
If it has dummy lights, then you will have to pull the cluster and do a bit of wiring (i think adding a ground.) Everything else is controlled in the harness i belive.
All i had to do was plug and play mine, and it worked great.
Good luck.
PS: I don't really know where i got the grounded vs ungrounded from, i just barely remember reading it from somewhere. Might not have anything to do with the amount of cyls, it might have to do with the wiring harnes.. I dunno.
If you have full gauges, then just pull the current cluster and swap, everything will work on its own.
If it has dummy lights, then you will have to pull the cluster and do a bit of wiring (i think adding a ground.) Everything else is controlled in the harness i belive.
All i had to do was plug and play mine, and it worked great.
Good luck.
PS: I don't really know where i got the grounded vs ungrounded from, i just barely remember reading it from somewhere. Might not have anything to do with the amount of cyls, it might have to do with the wiring harnes.. I dunno.
Last edited by desperado_18_2000; Aug 14, 2004 at 01:01 PM.
Elder User
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From: Colorado
My '82 (300) has a (stock) tach in the center, speedo to the left, gauges to the right. 'Same as the spares I have from an '80 F250 (300), & the '84 parts Bronco (351W). The '84 (V-8) is identical to my (stock) '82 cluster, except for the automatic gear indicator. Both go up to 6,000 RPM.
I've never given it much thought, but I didn't think the tach could tell a six from an eight. It just registers rpm's, regardless of how many cylinders. How often does #1 fire each minute? Maybe just the really old ones...
'Can't say on the "grounded vs ungrounded"...
The '84 (V-8) cluster sure looks like it would swap in straight up! I guess I'll find out if I ever have to.
I've never given it much thought, but I didn't think the tach could tell a six from an eight. It just registers rpm's, regardless of how many cylinders. How often does #1 fire each minute? Maybe just the really old ones...
'Can't say on the "grounded vs ungrounded"...
The '84 (V-8) cluster sure looks like it would swap in straight up! I guess I'll find out if I ever have to.
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Spokane WA
Originally Posted by fordflaresides
Don't need one of the 8,000, 10,000rpm ones, most guys just go with a 4000 or 5000rpm tach as it's not a good idea to rev a 300 past that.
I definatly need to look at that JC Whittney tach
Last edited by oldhalftons; Aug 14, 2004 at 02:10 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Nashville
I'm lookin' for a tach too. All aftermarket tachs usually have a 4-6-8 cyl switch on the back, they have to know the # of cylinders so the RPM's read correct. 6K rpm tach are out there, just not super common. I've actually been looking at some marine tachs made for inboard motors, you can get them surplus for $20 off eBay and can find them with a 4-6K top end. Pep Boys has a small 6k sunpro tach for $30, almost bought it the other day but found it may not work with my ignition box.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2004
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Guess I'll throw my two cents in.
You can buy a cluster with the tach on ebay (usually around $40).
It swaps right in with a fully gauged cluster.
If you have idiot lights, you'll have alot more work (senders).
I know for sure that the 70s-80s GM tachs had a switch on the back, one way if six cylinder, the other way for eight cylinder. I don't know for sure but I believe one of those directions grounds out a circuit, but that doesn't really matter.
I have a F150 cluster in storage (not for sale) if you'd like me to check the backside, I will. Steve
You can buy a cluster with the tach on ebay (usually around $40).
It swaps right in with a fully gauged cluster.
If you have idiot lights, you'll have alot more work (senders).
I know for sure that the 70s-80s GM tachs had a switch on the back, one way if six cylinder, the other way for eight cylinder. I don't know for sure but I believe one of those directions grounds out a circuit, but that doesn't really matter.
I have a F150 cluster in storage (not for sale) if you'd like me to check the backside, I will. Steve
Postmaster
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One more thought...the GM tach has posts sticking out the back that insert into the female receivers on the cluster's circuit board. If you had a clock, and not a tach, its' posts were in slightly different locations, so you had to move the metallic female parts to mate up with the clock posts. Once the female parts were in the right holes, everything worked fine.....the circuit board takes care of everything.
I suspect the Ford circuit board has the receivers already there, you either have tach or don't.....just plug and play.
Pretty sexy, eh? Steve
I suspect the Ford circuit board has the receivers already there, you either have tach or don't.....just plug and play.
Pretty sexy, eh? Steve
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
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From: Lakewood, Ohio
Originally Posted by ddaa99
Have a 92 F-150 with the 4.9. I am wanting to change the dash cluster to one that includes a tach. Does the 4.9 have a different tach that the higher revving V-8's? If you have a 4.9 and a tach, how high does your tach go? What is the redline on the tach? I want to ensure I obtain the proper one. Thanks
this link should prove helpful:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles/2003/4.php
it says that tach works with any gas engine and gives install instructions.
good luck!
Last edited by quicklook2; Aug 14, 2004 at 10:19 PM.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2001
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On the 4-6-8 dilemma. A tachometer counts the pulses off the distributor, so if its a 4 banger its counting one for every four pulses. Same for six and then 8, it HAS to be different for each unless the tach auto senses somehow. That technology was'nt available in 1980. I think there must be a different pcb for the six that connects the tach differently (it will be connected to the harness the same, the connection to the tach circuitry would be different). Unfortunately my truck isnt with me so I cant figure it out for a few months.