97 guage cluster with tach

[dsharpKC]

I have found conflicting info on doing a gauge swap can someone who has done this set me straight on what i can put in a 97 ranger 2.3 manual?

or even better if you have one to sell that would be awesome!

 

[srteach]

Basically, any cluster from 96 through 98 will work for sure. Some slight changes are required for 93-95 and 99-01 clusters. I had to move wires between plugs when I put a 94 tach in my 96. They all mount the same, have the same inputs (in different locations sometimes), and operate the same.

 

[dsharpKC]

are the explorer 96 through 98 straight bolt in's as well even if they are from a bigger motor?

 

[srteach]

4 cylinder motors must use a tach from a 4 cylinder, 6 cyl from a 6 cyl. Displacement size does not matter as long as it is the same number of cylinders. The reason is that the tach counts revolutions based on number of spark signals per revolution. I believe that there is a board on the cluster that can be changed, but it is easier to get the correct 4 or 6 cylinder tach.

Other than the number of cylinders, they bolt in easily.

 

[dsharpKC]

do they make 4cyl explorers every one i found online and at u yank it is a 4.0 V6??? Why did they ever make a manual with no tachometer its really annoying

 

[85_redranger]

Not entirely true bout needing the same motor i just used a 95 explorer cluster with tach in my 2000 ranger it works fine for me there is a write up in the tech library bout swapping the odometers out trust me it's not nearly as hard as it seems in the write up it just takes a little time. i was kinda scared at first but once i got into it the process was purty quick