Dash Tach Question

[jeff2761]

I have a 96 Ranger with the 2.3 4 cyl engine. It has the basic gauge package and I'd like to get a factory replacement with a tachometer. There are several on ebay with various prices. Will gauges out of an Explore fit? If so, which years will fit in the 96. Also, where would I go to get the sending unit. Would this be a fairly straightforward swap? Thanks.

 

[Mutant Pony]

Well, there is no sending unit. It reads off tach wire from the ignition. Your truck may be wired all the way to the instrument panel already. The tach itself needs to be from a 4 cylinder.

 

[Vonrak]

I've heard engine size does and doesnt matter on many postings. But I can say that I have a 95 2.3 4cyl manual trans, I just put in a white face gauge that was pulled from a 99 4.0 auto trans Sport Trac. Everything worked fine with no modifications except for my temp guage. I needed to pull the temp guage from my old speedo and put it in the newer one.


Vonrak

 

[jeff2761]

So does anyone know what vehicles other than a Ranger gauge cluster will directly swap into a 96 Ranger? Which model Explorer?

 

[Mutant Pony]

The engine size doesn't matter, the number of cylinders does.

 

[jeff2761]

Will a gauge cluster from an Explorer fit?

 

[lilrebelranger67]

if you can find a 2.3l 95-uhh...........99??? exploder then you my freind have found a gold mine. or maybe just a really really slow grocery getter

 

[MAKG]

It's not so much engine size that matters. It's whether or not the ignition has a waste spark (4.0Ls do, 2.9Ls don't), and whether or not the ignition is distributorless (likewise), and precisely where in the ignition circuits the tach tap is.