Tach Installation?
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Might be cheaper/easier to install an after-market diesel tach; you probably can find OEM tachs only at wrecking yards, plus you'll need the sending unit. If it doesn't work, you're stuck with it.
Steve
Steve
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 198
Likes: 1
From: Kansas
You'll need a sensor for tach to oerate. It's located in the IP housing, up by the oil fill cap. If your truck has a plug in the housing you can just install the sensor. If the plug is not in your housing you'll need to locate a housing with the sensor. You remove the inst. cluster and replace with cluster with tach. You may find a cluster that has printed circuitry on the pack for the tach, some may not. Either one will work. The one with circuitry requires 2 wires added to the back to go to the sensor. The one without circuitry requires 4 wires.
I replaced my entire inst. cluster. You can just replace the tach and keep your old cluster, I think. I wanted the trip meter feature on the '85 cluster so I changed the entire cluster and when I did I replaced the lights with #154's. They're about 30% brighter then #196's!
I replaced my entire inst. cluster. You can just replace the tach and keep your old cluster, I think. I wanted the trip meter feature on the '85 cluster so I changed the entire cluster and when I did I replaced the lights with #154's. They're about 30% brighter then #196's!
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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DW -
Thanks for the info! I kinda wondered if the printed circuit setup on the back of the IP wouldn't be the same for tach and non-tach. Sorta like all trucks having the 4WD light. Non 4WD trucks simply don't have a bulb & socket installed. The circuitry is there, the wires exist in the wiring harness, and the pins are installed in the connector(s). In looking at the schematics, I see that the wires exist in the '85 harness. I haven't checked under the hood for the connector. From your description, it seems pretty straightforward. I'll start hitting the parts yards around here looking for 'organ donors'!
I'll try the bulb swap idea. At my age, things seem to be dimming naturally, so a little extra light is a GOOD thing! 8-D Used to be, when you checked the light bulbs isle at Auto Boys or Pep Zone, there was a Wagner or GE catalog there that gave you wattage ratings. Pretty convenient for researching what you needed. Now, no catalogs and no info at the counter, either. This really helps!
Thanks for the info! I kinda wondered if the printed circuit setup on the back of the IP wouldn't be the same for tach and non-tach. Sorta like all trucks having the 4WD light. Non 4WD trucks simply don't have a bulb & socket installed. The circuitry is there, the wires exist in the wiring harness, and the pins are installed in the connector(s). In looking at the schematics, I see that the wires exist in the '85 harness. I haven't checked under the hood for the connector. From your description, it seems pretty straightforward. I'll start hitting the parts yards around here looking for 'organ donors'!
I'll try the bulb swap idea. At my age, things seem to be dimming naturally, so a little extra light is a GOOD thing! 8-D Used to be, when you checked the light bulbs isle at Auto Boys or Pep Zone, there was a Wagner or GE catalog there that gave you wattage ratings. Pretty convenient for researching what you needed. Now, no catalogs and no info at the counter, either. This really helps!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 198
Likes: 1
From: Kansas
Dave,
The row of bulbs at the top which are for the bright lights, turn signals, brake.... don't use the bright bulbs there. Leave the #196's. You don't need that blue light shining THAT bright while driving at night. Same with the turn signals, etc.
If you don't find a tach send a PM. I got 2 when I was searching and don't need but one! I sure makes the truck more pleasurable to drive.
len
The row of bulbs at the top which are for the bright lights, turn signals, brake.... don't use the bright bulbs there. Leave the #196's. You don't need that blue light shining THAT bright while driving at night. Same with the turn signals, etc.
If you don't find a tach send a PM. I got 2 when I was searching and don't need but one! I sure makes the truck more pleasurable to drive.
len
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...oid=50079&.jpg
My 86 had the plug for the tach sensor already there.
The wires were there to the insturment cluster in the harness.
A new pickup coil was about 60 dollars at Ford.
I only had to change the cluster and plug the harness into it, then it all worked.
If the cluster does not have a tach, it probably does not have the printed circuit on it either.
My 86 had the plug for the tach sensor already there.
The wires were there to the insturment cluster in the harness.
A new pickup coil was about 60 dollars at Ford.
I only had to change the cluster and plug the harness into it, then it all worked.
If the cluster does not have a tach, it probably does not have the printed circuit on it either.
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by ford350
Where do the wires from the sensor go?
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