tach conversion
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,027
Likes: 9
From: Manchester, CT USA
Lot's of us have done this, myself included. After I did it I've heard people talk about needing the correct year cluster for your truck due to a circuit change on the board behind the gauges. I got lucky on my first try so it seems.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 566
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From: Mobile, Alabama
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 973
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From: Texas
I did mine. I also got a 95 tach that worked fine in my 93. The only difference is that there is an air bag light and a anti-theft light at the bottom left hand side of the cluster next to the left turn light. The amp light is moved to up by the check engine light, and the fuel reset light is gone as compared to my 93. I didn't really check to see if the lights worked on the 95 because i didn't want to buy light bulbs if they were burnt out, but all the gauges worked perfectly.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 84
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From: lehigh acres
well the reason i ask is i see the horror story about the guy blowing his alternator ever 30 minutes and after i replaced mine the battery died i mean it was old but its still unnerving i guess its just me being worrysome
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: lehigh acres
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Des Plaines, Illinois
Not so long as you have the proper year's cluster. The swap is total cake.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Wendover, NV.
Here is my experience with this cluster swap.
My truck, 1996 F-250 4X4 460
First cluster: Stock with no tach.
Second cluster: out of a 1997 F-250 with tach
Third cluster: out of a 1994 Lightning with 120 MPH speedo
Fourth cluster: out of a 1996 Mustang GT
The '97 cluster swapped in with no problem. The only prob. I had with the lightning cluster was the "abs" light stayed on at all times and the speedo needed recalibrating. Never got around to recalibrating it. I just did the math and knew that if it read 66 mph I was going 60 and pulled the bulb for the abs light.
I have to give props to Frederic for his write-ups on his cluster swaps. They realy helped with the mustang cluster swap.
My truck, 1996 F-250 4X4 460
First cluster: Stock with no tach.
Second cluster: out of a 1997 F-250 with tach
Third cluster: out of a 1994 Lightning with 120 MPH speedo
Fourth cluster: out of a 1996 Mustang GT
The '97 cluster swapped in with no problem. The only prob. I had with the lightning cluster was the "abs" light stayed on at all times and the speedo needed recalibrating. Never got around to recalibrating it. I just did the math and knew that if it read 66 mph I was going 60 and pulled the bulb for the abs light.
I have to give props to Frederic for his write-ups on his cluster swaps. They realy helped with the mustang cluster swap.