Just got a 97 ford f150 4.6 standard trans. the speedo seems to be out about 10 miles per hour. Also although it is a stanard there is no tach on the dash panel . any help would be appreciated

 

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Sorry what I was wondering is if I can get a instrument panel with a tach does it just fit in? or do I have to buy an after market tach. thinking the speedo problem might be the speed sensor I know its on the trans but how do you test it?

 

Unsure of whether or not you can, but am wondering, why is it so important for you to have a tach? I mean, to go through all that trouble.

 

Get an instrument cluster from a 97 or 98 only. the 99-up will not work.

 

hmmn. your speedo is reading 10 mph off? Did the previous onwer do any modifications to the truck, like rear gears, or Under/oversize tires? these will throw off your speedometer.

 

doesnt look like gears were changed and the tires on it now are the same size as in the door post. If the tires were changed speedo calibrated and then changed back that could do it I suppose but how do I calibrate speedo? note the odometer is not digital. This is driving me nuts lol

 

I try to talk to the previous owner if possible and ask him if he did this , easier to do that then start from scratch. As for recalibrating, i havent done this yet on my truck but will be soon. Ford svt parts sells a unit thats a speedometer recalibrator, ive seen it in there parts cataloge before, but not sure how much it is. Yours is a standard trans , so dont qoute me on this , but i think that the speedometer gear inside the trans can be changed, or at least on my old mustang i did it. It was a T45 manual. Ford svt sold the parts at the time i had the car. Hope this helps

 

Does your truck have anti-theft system? If so, Ford will need to reprogram the system before the truck will run, if has anti theft and you replace the instrument cluster. Just a thought.

Dave P.

 

On a 97 you do not have to worry about the security system. That only effects 99 and later model trucks. 97's have mechanical odometer, so by using a cluster from either a 97, or 98 w/tach, it will be a direct swap. Same 2 plugs on back of cluster, just plug and play. You can even use a cluster from an automatic. The gear selector just pops out by 2 clips. I would be willing to bet your trucks speedo was calibrated for bigger tires. On 97's it is calibrated with a plastic toothed gear located in the tailshaft of the transmission. They are color coded. Check with a dealer and they can tell you what color it should be for your tire size. They are a $10 or less part.

 

I've got my original gear for 235's and 3.55 gears if you want it.