Factory Tach question.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Nova Scotia
Factory Tach question.
I wanted a factory tach for my '83 F100 so I have just purchased a factory gauge cluster with a tach from a 1983 Ford F series truck. It should arrive by mail in the next week or so.
My question is, can I install the whole gauge cluster in my dash? Will it plug into my existing wiring harness? Or do I have to remove the tach from the new cluster and install it into my existing dash. If so, how do I wire it up?
Would appreciate any help on this topic.
Cheers,
Big Red
Nova Scotia
Canada
My question is, can I install the whole gauge cluster in my dash? Will it plug into my existing wiring harness? Or do I have to remove the tach from the new cluster and install it into my existing dash. If so, how do I wire it up?
Would appreciate any help on this topic.
Cheers,
Big Red
Nova Scotia
Canada
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Factory Tach question.
Most likley the factory tach guage cluster has a speedometer with a trip meter, that makes it worth swapping in too...
It will be a plug and play operation if you have oil and amp gauges, if you have idiot lights, you'll have to start wiring.
If I can get my scanner up and running tonite, I'll scan in the wiring schematic...
BTW, I'm formerly from NS...
Evan
It will be a plug and play operation if you have oil and amp gauges, if you have idiot lights, you'll have to start wiring.
If I can get my scanner up and running tonite, I'll scan in the wiring schematic...
BTW, I'm formerly from NS...
Evan
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From: Nova Scotia
Factory Tach question.
Evan,
That would be great... I have idiot lights in my dash now. I also have another dash unit with gauges but no tach. So, by combining the two I might make it work.
I would appreciate the wiring diagrams as a reference. Send them to me by email.
Where and when did you live in Nova Scotia?
Big Red
'83 F100 LWB 302 auto
That would be great... I have idiot lights in my dash now. I also have another dash unit with gauges but no tach. So, by combining the two I might make it work.
I would appreciate the wiring diagrams as a reference. Send them to me by email.
Where and when did you live in Nova Scotia?
Big Red
'83 F100 LWB 302 auto
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From: Virginia
Factory Tach question.
If you do a search (which works good now by the way) in this forum, I seem to remember a guy wrote in on putting a jumper in somewhere to make the tach work for a six cylinder or a eight cylinder truck. He may be able to help with some of the other questions too if he is still around.
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From: Nova Scotia
Factory Tach question.
Well I did a search other posts for information and found lots but I have a few questions.
I have idiot lights instead of gauges and without taking my dash apart and refering to the Haynes manual, I should have the 14 pin conector on the dash plug...bummer. This means I can't plug in the cluster with the gauges and tach which needs the 18 pin plug. However, I think I can wire in the tach.
I see from previous posts that there are 4 posts on the back of the factory tach... here is where I think they go:
"G" > to ground
"B" > +12v supply for the light; wire to the dimmer switch
"C" > to the coil
Now the fourth post labeled "8" seems to be a mystery... where does it go?
I have idiot lights instead of gauges and without taking my dash apart and refering to the Haynes manual, I should have the 14 pin conector on the dash plug...bummer. This means I can't plug in the cluster with the gauges and tach which needs the 18 pin plug. However, I think I can wire in the tach.
I see from previous posts that there are 4 posts on the back of the factory tach... here is where I think they go:
"G" > to ground
"B" > +12v supply for the light; wire to the dimmer switch
"C" > to the coil
Now the fourth post labeled "8" seems to be a mystery... where does it go?
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From: Memphis, TN
Factory Tach question.
Originally posted by Big Red
"G" > to ground
"B" > +12v supply for the light; wire to the dimmer switch
"C" > to the coil
Now the fourth post labeled "8" seems to be a mystery... where does it go?
"G" > to ground
"B" > +12v supply for the light; wire to the dimmer switch
"C" > to the coil
Now the fourth post labeled "8" seems to be a mystery... where does it go?
BTW, I think the 8 terminal goes to power on V-8 applications and ground on I-6s, but I'm not sure.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Factory Tach question.
The 8 terminal is grounded on V8 applications, and left ungrounded on 6 cyl ones.
Steve: This is not so on the idiot light trucks, they have only a 14 pin instrument cluster connector, compared to the "standard" 18 pin one.
Big Red: as soon as I get my stupid scanner working, I will get the wiring diagrams scanned in for you.
If you want to get the guages installed and working, you will need a new plug for the cluster and a new oil pressure sending unit. There'll be a bit of wiring have to be done too, I did this swap once, but, it's been a while.
I just moved from NS last June, Lived in Antigonish for the last 4 years, and, in Cape Breton previous to that.
Evan
Steve: This is not so on the idiot light trucks, they have only a 14 pin instrument cluster connector, compared to the "standard" 18 pin one.
Big Red: as soon as I get my stupid scanner working, I will get the wiring diagrams scanned in for you.
If you want to get the guages installed and working, you will need a new plug for the cluster and a new oil pressure sending unit. There'll be a bit of wiring have to be done too, I did this swap once, but, it's been a while.
I just moved from NS last June, Lived in Antigonish for the last 4 years, and, in Cape Breton previous to that.
Evan
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11
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From: York
Factory Tach question.
I know when I tried to put a Tach in my 84 F150, it had the larger connector on it. I could not get it to work for the life of me. I finally traced everything back to not having a jumper (ground) wire that is located on the wiring harness behand the radio. I got the housing from a wrecked truck that has the connections for the dome light on the drivers side of the truck. I used the wires and ends from this pigtail (so to speak) to make a ground connection using factory plugs. It works great now. The connector that goes into the back of the cluster should work, but you should get the the connectors and run them as if you were hooking up an aftermarket tach. Just trace the cooper pathways back to where the plugs is placed into the cluster. If there are pins there it should not be much of a problem.I hope I could help
Let me know how you make out.
Bob
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