Questions about gauge cluster

[Superman]

My 1985 Ranger doesn't have a tach on the gauge cluster...would like to have one. I don't know whether to go buy a tachometer or see if a later 80s Rangers tach gauge cluster will work in mine?

 

[cody93]

the tach from a different gauge cluster will work as long its the same motor i believe

 

[adsm08]

I think I saw on here somewhere that the harnesses for the tach and non-tach clusters were different. Someone tried with several known good clusters to plug-n-play it and it didn't work.

Can't remember where I saw that though. I might go grab me one and try it just for the sake of being able to say one way or the other from my own experience.

I'd buy an aftermarket one personally.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I bought and installed an aftermarket tach in both my 2000 Ranger and my '95 F-150. I'll never understand why it isn't standard equipment if you have a manual trans.

Wasn't hard to wire up at all and aftermarket ones tend to be more accurate than stock.

Now my choptop got a gauge cluster swap to one with a tach. Plug and play all the way, but for some reason I want to say that some of the first gen style trucks it isn't that easy to swap clusters. The only reason why I swapped clusters in the choptop? The cluster was free. lol.

 

[adsm08]

Well, just for funsies I'll head down to the yard tomorrow, if the weather holds, grab one, reset the miles to match my truck, and pop it in. See what happens.

The issue may have been for the 83 to 85s though.

It's also possible that the failures in question were caused by trying to use a 2.8 cluster on a 2.9 or vice versa.

 

[adsm08]

Rained last night. Couldn't get back up to the ones that have the tachs. Try again next week.

 

[redxlt]

gauge cluster

I bought a gauge cluster for my 86 xlt. It has a tach in the cluster. My cluster does not that is installed on the truck. I was told I cannot get it to work. If you have the parts I can sell this cluster to you . If interested e-mail me at wpccgrad@hotmail.com Thanks