Stock tachometer question...

[5.0]

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My truck is a 1997 that had a 2.3 engine. It had no factory tach, so I grabbed a cluster from an unknown year and engine Explorer with a factory tach and it worked great.

The 5.0 I'm using is from a 1992 Thunderbird, and of course has a distributor.

I'm working on the factory 302 wiring harness and the tach wire has a 1.8k ohm resistor in it.

Do I need to remove the 1.8k ohm resistor? Will the factory tach work with my older engine?

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[Teddyzee]

Is your engine fuel injected? Did you wire the V8 Harness Tach signal to the Ranger harness?

If so, do this:

Okay, so I re-pinned the stock tach in my '97 (formerly 4.0), using the first post in this thread:

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54840
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Posted by BrianB31
Don't laugh it can be done and it's a lot easier than you think. I was wondering why Ford would build 4 different clusters for the Explorer and Ranger and come to find out they didn't. The cluster is the same over all the vehicles (plus the prndl on the auto trans units) After looking over the print for the cluster and the EVTM for the Explorer and Ranger tmosko and I found how they make a V6 into a V8 cluster.

Here's what you do. I'm using a 1999 Ranger EVTM for reference

1, Get your dash apart and disconnect the cluster
2, If you have a EVTM turn to the Instrument cluster section.
3, Locate Pin 8 on wire connector C216 (Black/Yellow Wire)
4, Use a very small flathead screwdriver to release the pin from the connector housing
5, Find Connector C214 (largest of the 3 for cluster)
6, Install the wire removed from C216 into slot 16 on C214. This slot is currently vacant.
7, Put everything back together and fire it up. You're done!!


We've tested this on tmsoko's truck and it works great. Now for the unlucky ones, like myself, who had 4 bangers I have to dig a little more. I don't think we have a wire in pin 8 on C216. We may have to spice a ground off another source.
I know this will work on all vehicles '98 and newer. I don't know where the '96 and '97 Rangers got their tach signal. Check your EVTM for your truck and the explorer.
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Simple, simple, simple.

Pics:

Pulled pin 8 from C216

Installed it in slot 16 on C214 (far left):

My tip of the day- put the cluster back in place top side first.

And a short video, complete with screeching serpentine belt. It seems accurate.


I installed the ABS bulb while I had it apart. The ABS wires were cut due to the lowering, but I'll repair those when I install the Traction Lock.

 

[5.0]

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Thanks, I'll try it and see what happens when I get it fired up. Yeah, it's still fuel injected, and I have the V8 tach wire to the tach wire in the Ranger harness.

What about the 1.8K resistor in the V8 tach wire? Should I leave it there?

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[5.0]

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What about the 1.8K resistor in the V8 tach wire? Should I leave it there?

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The reason I'm wondering about this is because there is a 4.3k ohm resistor in the instrument panel for the tach.


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[Teddyzee]

It was a non-issue for me. I changed nothing other than the one wire in the plug.