4500 Tach with 4 Terminals

https://www.ebay.com/itm/80-86-DIESEL-FORD-TRUCK-TACHOMETER-BRONCO-GAUGE-INSTRUMENT-CLUSTER/184223135713?hash=item2ae48df7e1:g:FyYAAOSwqwReeNAQ

Does this also work with I6?

Max

No. That one is for Diesel engines. It will not work... I tried.

Max wrote

Does this also work with I6?

Max

Hi Max,

I am not sure if the diesel tach will work on a gas engine, but the guys on here will know for sure. If it is any help to you, I have a low km 4500 RPM gas tachometer that I will sell for less than the one on Ebay. If you currently do not have a tachometer, then I'm not sure how you wire it in, but it can be done.

Edit: Mr. David here beat me to it, but I had a feeling that the diesel tach would not work on the I6.

Max,

Here is a picture of the 4500 RPM gas tachometer that I have. It has 44,000 original kms on it. Also, I didn't think of it until after, but since you have an American market truck in Germany, I also have an extra Kilometer speedometer if you want or need one.

In order to use a tach in a non-tach cluster you first have to have gauges not lights.
IIRC should also be 81 on up as 80 has different wiring for the gauge cluster.
If you meet the above besides the tach you need the printed board for gauges and tach.

There are 3 printed boards:
Non-gauges
Gauges no tach
Gauges with tach.

I was able to add a tach to my 81 gauge only cluster by adding the printed board for Gauges with tach and the tack. They also say you may have to plug a wire in the engine bay by the left fender, I did not have to do this.
Dave ----

Hello Rembrant,
that's really great with the offer.
How much do you want for the speedometer? You can also write it to me by mail.
I don't need the Kilo-Speedo, I think the mile version is much more authentic.

I'll definitely think about it.
Thank you
Max

FuzzFace2 wrote

In order to use a tach in a non-tach cluster you first have to have gauges not lights.
IIRC should also be 81 on up as 80 has different wiring for the gauge cluster.
If you meet the above besides the tach you need the printed board for gauges and tach.

There are 3 printed boards:
Non-gauges
Gauges no tach
Gauges with tach.

I was able to add a tach to my 81 gauge only cluster by adding the printed board for Gauges with tach and the tack. They also say you may have to plug a wire in the engine bay by the left fender, I did not have to do this.
Dave ----

Ohh, okay, i have the non gauges version.
The wiring is no problem but the Lights are it.
I like the non gauge

Max wrote

Hello Rembrant,
that's really great with the offer.
How much do you want for the speedometer? You can also write it to me by mail.
I don't need the Kilo-Speedo, I think the mile version is much more authentic.

Understood on the miles per hour Speedo. I thought I'd mention it just in case as I have a couple spares, and they're not really worth anything.

I'll message you on the 4500 RPM tachometer.

Max, I am running a four lug 4,500 rpm gas tachometer in my 1981 with the 300 six. I had to isolate the “8” lug from the printed circuit film to get it to read correctly on the 6 cylinder. After doing that it matched what the tach dwell meter says that I had hooked up in the engine bay.

Ford F834 wrote

Max, I am running a four lug 4,500 rpm gas tachometer in my 1981 with the 300 six. I had to isolate the “8” lug from the printed circuit film to get it to read correctly on the 6 cylinder. After doing that it matched what the tach dwell meter says that I had hooked up in the engine bay.

Hey Jon, I believe Max has one of the early (1980) clusters that have the warning lights. Do you know if a factory tach can be installed in one of these clusters? It looks like the main plug is right where the tach goes in these clusters? Unless they were different in 1980...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-1986-Ford-F150-Truck-Bronco-Instrument-Cluster-Gauges-Speedometer-OEM/264667162596?hash=item3d9f6467e4:g:eGwAAOSwNvBebRac

I'm obviously not Jonathan, but I think I can answer the question

Rembrant wrote

Hey Jon, I believe Max has one of the early (1980) clusters that have the warning lights. Do you know if a factory tach can be installed in one of these clusters? It looks like the main plug is right where the tach goes in these clusters? Unless they were different in 1980...

I'm obviously not Jonathan, but I think I can answer the question: No.  Two reasons.  First, as you pointed out the plug is in the spot where the tach is to go and there are no holes for the tach to connect to in the printed circuit.  Second, there is a circuit that is needed for the tach that isn't in the connector - the ignition signal.

There is a way around this, although it is tedious.  He could swap in a cluster with gauges and change out the senders for the gauge style.  But Max has already said "I like the non gauge."  However, there are several signals that are needed for a gauge cluster with tach that are not in the wiring harness for a cluster with lights.  I haven't created a list, but since one has 14 pins and the other has 18 pins on the connector you can see that there are probably 4 not included.  So the 14 pin connector would have to be swapped out for an 18 pin connector and additional wires run to bring the other circuits to the cluster.

I know there are people who would like to do that if someone would take the time to create the how-to for it.  And I'd be willing to help chase down and document what circuits are missing.

Hello,

@Cory, many thanks for selling the great 4500rpm Tach.

My plan is now to organize a speedometer housing from a scrap yard in Germany. The shipping costs would be much too high from the USA. The technology is then to be put into this modified housing. The best would be an 80s case, but I won't find that in Germany, so it will be one of 81-86.
Therefore I have to look for an 80s printed circuit.

It is important to me that I do not break my original part.

Max

Max wrote

@Cory, many thanks for selling the great 4500rpm Tach.

Happy to know that it arrived safe and sound.

The 1980 instrument cluster wiring is a bit foreign to me, but I know the connections are different between an instrument cluster with gauges and one with only warning lights.

If by chance you wanted a 1981-1986 cluster, I do have a couple extras and would be happy to send you one...or just the empty shell for the instruments if it is any help. The part itself would be free, but you'd have to pay for shipping. I also have an extra 1981-1986 printed circuit for a factory tachometer, but one of the snap connectors is broken where the ICVR plugs in. It can probably be repaired if you're handy with that kind of stuff. In any case, if you want/need the stuff it is just collecting dust, so it's yours if you want it.

By the way, I have seen pictures where guys have added factory tachometers and just ran wires directly to the tachometer's posts rather than find the correct printed circuit. So this is an option also. I have no personal experience with it, but have seen others do it.

Hello Cory,
thank you for the super great offer. I wrote you an email.

Its not easy to say what is better,
to modify a 80s Cluster to fit a Tacho (move the connector and cut an hole in the middle for Tacho)
or to take a 81- cluster, putt the two warning Lights in it and modify the wiring/connector to a 80 connection.

I am familiar with electrics and have a lot to do with it professionally.

Rembrant wrote

By the way, I have seen pictures where guys have added factory tachometers and just ran wires directly to the tachometer's posts rather than find the correct printed circuit. So this is an option also. I have no personal experience with it, but have seen others do it.

This is the way i want to go.