gauge cluster
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Joined: Mar 2006
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gauge cluster
i am looking for info. i have a 1982 f150 it came out with 6 cyl. someone put 302 in it. i want to change oil/charge light to fact. gauges and also put tach in. the pigtail on mine is not as wide as i have seen on others. what do i need to do
THANKS ERIC.
THANKS ERIC.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
You need to change the main harness and fuse panel (for ease of swaping) in the dash with one, out of a truck with the guage option. Preferably the same year as the truck for ease of swaping, plug and play.
It's not all that difficult of a job, but it would take me about a day to do, knowing what to expect.
You can't really use your Idiot light harness, cause the wiring is different, resistor wires removed or rerouted, wires missing etc...
You will need to change the senders as well, and possibly the harness extention for the ignition coil and distributor if the tach and oil and tempurature wires are missing or different.
Then you will need to get the guage cluster you want.
If you get a different year Main Harness, you may have to change the connectors to where some of the harness extentions plug into it, such as the chassis harness, Radio Harness, courtesy light harness, etc.. This can be done, by getting the harnesses out of the donor truck or by just getting the connectors and swaping wires into the new connectors. You don't have to splice wires, just match the wires to the main harness in the new connectors. Most connectors come apart so the wires can be removed and transplanted when needed.
If you got any questions feel free to ask.
Hope this helps.
It's not all that difficult of a job, but it would take me about a day to do, knowing what to expect.
You can't really use your Idiot light harness, cause the wiring is different, resistor wires removed or rerouted, wires missing etc...
You will need to change the senders as well, and possibly the harness extention for the ignition coil and distributor if the tach and oil and tempurature wires are missing or different.
Then you will need to get the guage cluster you want.
If you get a different year Main Harness, you may have to change the connectors to where some of the harness extentions plug into it, such as the chassis harness, Radio Harness, courtesy light harness, etc.. This can be done, by getting the harnesses out of the donor truck or by just getting the connectors and swaping wires into the new connectors. You don't have to splice wires, just match the wires to the main harness in the new connectors. Most connectors come apart so the wires can be removed and transplanted when needed.
If you got any questions feel free to ask.
Hope this helps.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 0
From: Niceville, FL.
I doubt it's worth the trouble, the factory gauges aren't that great in my opinion. The wiring, connectors and the voltage regulator are different (at least on '83s). My advice is buy a triple gauge (oil pressure, temperature, and ammeter) set and install. Get a good one with mechanical oil pressure and temperature gauges for best results.
