RE:swapping gauges

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Mar 19, 2005 | 11:17 PM

Dan7378

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From: in the double wide

RE:swapping gauges

I'm am restoring a 1978 F-150 4X4 truck.I'm also using a 1973 F-100 for a parts truck.My question is can I use the gauge cluster out of the 73 F-100 in my 78 F-150???
I'm not sure because the F-100 had a 240 inline six with the 3spd. on the column and my 78 f-150 has a 400 w/NP435 w/ NP205 t-case

Would I be able to hook the F-100 gauge cluster up and use it on my truck and the speedometer work right???

Any help please!

Thanks,
Dan

Mar 19, 2005 | 11:23 PM

olfordsnstone

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Joined: Sep 2003

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From: Other side of the sunrise

I have read here on this forum that there are some differences in the clusters. There was a post that showed actual photos to illustrate this. I would do some searches to try and locate it. I think you would find all the info you need as to whether this swap would work well for you or not.
Look up Mil1ion and send him an e-mail. He has lots of info on this.

Last edited by olfordsnstone; Mar 19, 2005 at 11:33 PM.

Mar 19, 2005 | 11:46 PM

grey77

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From: So. La.

It should work because I had a 77 f-150 and I ended up selling it because of rust and bought a 77 f-100 from my grandfather and some of the lights in his gauge cluster didnt work but the ones in my f-150 did so i switched them before i sold my truck. I think that it doesn't matter the year because the 73-79 had allmost all the same exact parts,but the printed circuit on the back might be different, but the gauge cluster its self should fit.

But to take out the gauge cluster u must take off the dash and all the little *****, and I cant seem to take the light switch **** off and just dont remember if there was some kind of clamp holding it on or what if you know how please let me know it's starting to drive me crazy because i am thinking of putting a cd player in but can't get the dash off. Hope this helped.

If you could give any help i would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

Mar 20, 2005 | 11:42 AM

76supercab2

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Cluster swap: Panels with all guages shouls swap. Panels with idiot lights should swap with other idiot light panels. Panels with idiot lights will not swap with panels with guages.

Light switch ****. There is a button on the light switch body behind the dash that will release the **** and shaft. Press the button and pull the **** out. It should come all the way out. You may want to disconnect the battery before you do this because now your lights will be on.

Mar 20, 2005 | 01:38 PM

Monster 78 F-150 4X4

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Joined: Apr 2003

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From: Norton Ohio

73 and 74 had a completly different plug style (a printed circuit swap wont work because of different plug size on the back of the case on the 73-74 cluster is different ) from 75 to 79 it would involve a cab harness swap and ignition switch swap because 78 and 79 had different ign switches than 73-77 I would recomend getting a 75 to 79 cluster also if you are going from (14 pin) dummy lights to (18 pin) gauges it will require you to change the harness in the cab and down to the alternator you will need to get a 78 or 79 harness for your truck. I swaped from 14 to 18 pin in my truck and it involved $40 for an 18 pin 78 harness, and about 3 1/2 hours to do it everything needs taken out of the dash to easily do it and you would need to get the sensors for having gauges (oil pressure and coolant temp)

Mar 20, 2005 | 06:30 PM

Dan7378

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From: in the double wide

Well the light switch ***** on my truck just twisted off.Or their is a small screw in the bottom that u gotta get out before the **** will come off.

I know the gauge cluster in my 78 f-150 worked but I would rather use the cluster out of the 73 f-100 because its speedo goes up to 100mph instead of 85mph.

Thanks for everyones help.

Dan