[FordGuy1985]

I was able to score the instrument cluster out of 1986 Bronco XLT at PYP, and it has the tachometer!

What will it take for me to install this and have a working tachometer? Ive searched the threads briefly and there was a lot of aftermarket, but curious before I get there if it will just plug right in? Wouldn’t that be a blessing..

I haven’t gotten to taking the dash apart yet but it’s coming as I do a full interior remodel. I’ll see what I’m working with soon.
Thank You in advance. I’ve done a lot of automotive work but never the instrument cluster. Never had a reason to until now.

 

[packagerjr]

Should swap right in. You’ll have to confirm your truck has a tech now or is wired for one. But the wiring is pretty basic for the tach circuit.

 

[miesk5]

Yo Ford Guy,

From 1985 EVTM:

●●●
From 1986 EVTM:

 

[BigBlue 94]

Should be a direct plug in. Though hopefully its from a V8. Not sure if the I6 tachometer can be reconfigured for the v8 pulses. @AbandonedBronco may know about that.

 

[Rob_64-365]

Its a good time to change out the cluster bulbs too LED's so you can see them at night, and the only other thing i would add, is to say to be very careful with the white PRNDL wire, its very fragile, and if you snap the plastic, they arent cheap to replace.

 

[FordGuy1985]

Thank You guys for all the info.
@miesk5
@Rob_64-365 yes found that out the hard way removing the “new to me” one from ‘86. I’ll be more careful with mine as I remove it.
My current shifter selection doesn’t line up correctly for the gear selection, it’s between N&D while driving, drives me crazy. Actually almost every Ford truck I’ve been in seems to be that way?

Also I found a great how to on here regarding LEDs.
Thx You @Gacknar LED bulb Upgrade for 86 and earlier Instrument Clusters

@BigBlue 94 it did come out of an ‘86 with I6.. I didn’t think about that.

to be continued.. I will switch gears to this instrument cluster tonight after I remove the front seats and carpet to make more room. I will update as I make headway.
I’ve got deadening material on the way, looking forward to a nice clean interior after a through cleaning. I’ll create another post for advice and update regarding the Interior install.

Thx again everyone!! You rock, I’d offer you some lemonade but you’d have to be near Knotts Berry Farm in Ca haha

 

[FordGuy1985]

Yo Ford Guy,

From 1985 EVTM:
View attachment 209642
●●●
From 1986 EVTM:
View attachment 209643

Extremely helpful, I love diagrams!

 

[BigBlue 94]

@BigBlue 94 it did come out of an ‘86 with V6 fuel injected.. I didn’t think about that

No v6 in any of these trucks... The 85 and 86 302 V8 was EFI but that wont matter. As long as its from a v8 it should be plug and play. The wiring is already there. And the plugs should be the same.

 

[SRWillis]

I installed a cluster w/tach from an 85 into my 81 and it was plug n play, but both were I6s. I also kept the stock bulbs, but removed the blue covers. Worked great for me, brightened things up a bunch.

 

[packagerjr]

The I6/V8 tach differences are an additional ground. Can’t remember details and a long way away from my EVTM. But should be able to make it work.

 

[BigBlue 94]

The I6/V8 tach differences are an additional ground. Can’t remember details and a long way away from my EVTM. But should be able to make it work.

Cool. I wasnt sure how they went about the programming for the 6 vs 8. On my aftermarket tach, its just a small switch.

 

[SRWillis]

@FordGuy1985 I found the info @AbandonedBronco posted about the difference between using the tach for V8 vs I6.

Next was removing the jumper nut for the V8 tachometer. There's a little 8 embossed on the circuit board. Removing this reconfigures the tach to use six pulses instead of eight. Otherwise, it would read off by 25%.

 

[FordGuy1985]

Good Evening just about midnight here but I was working away in the garage this evening and came up with a fix of my own for the white PRNDL wire.

The white plastic tubing surrounding the wire was brittle and cracked in numerous places. I was able to Frankenstein this together but it seems to be working great. @Rob_64-365

I warmed up the plastic end piece that attaches to the PRNDL bracket in order to pull the wire through, with the heat gun I was able to stick a 5/64 drill bit through and pushed the wire out.

I pulled the cracked plastic tubing off and replaced it with 5/32 silicone tubing from doorman I had laying around. Good ‘ol CA emissions. Thx you daddy newsom…

Before I reinstalled the wire I drill out the hole I originally warmed up with the 5/64 bit and used a tiny tie wire to pull it through the silicone tubing and through the newly drilled hole on the bracket.
I

Of course as I’m writing this I don’t have the photo of the final install as it started raining and the cover went back on right away. Update to come, hopefully with the leds installed. I figured I’d make sure this cluster works before worrying about bulbs.
PS this fix was a pain in the ass, will see how it holds up. Cut the tubing to size before installing the wire, it’s tough stuff.

I did check to make sure the Instrument cluster worked. It plugged right in and the tach is working. Cold start in the photo so she’s idling high. But I’ll verify how accurate the tach is soon enough. I swapped the battery portion and the mileage portion over from the old cluster as well. Final photos to come when the rains gone.
P.S. I removed the jumper nut as recommend.
@SRWillis Thx

Thanks Again for the help everyone!

 

[BigBlue 94]

Good Evening just about midnight here but I was working away in the garage this evening and came up with a fix of my own for the white PRNDL wire.

The white plastic tubing surrounding the wire was brittle and cracked in numerous places. I was able to Frankenstein this together but it seems to be working great. @Rob_64-365

I warmed up the plastic end piece that attaches to the PRNDL bracket in order to pull the wire through, with the heat gun I was able to stick a 5/64 drill bit through and pushed the wire out.
View attachment 209701
I pulled the cracked plastic tubing off and replaced it with 5/32 silicone tubing from doorman I had laying around. Good ‘ol CA emissions. Thx you daddy newsom… View attachment 209702
Before I reinstalled the wire I drill out the hole I originally warmed up with the 5/64 bit and used a tiny tie wire to pull it through the silicone tubing and through the newly drilled hole on the bracket.
I View attachment 209696
View attachment 209699
View attachment 209700

View attachment 209706
Of course as I’m writing this I don’t have the photo of the final install as it started raining and the cover went back on right away. Update to come, hopefully with the leds installed. I figured I’d make sure this cluster works before worrying about bulbs.
PS this fix was a pain in the ass, will see how it holds up. Cut the tubing to size before installing the wire, it’s tough stuff.

I did check to make sure the Instrument cluster worked. It plugged right in and the tach is working. Cold start in the photo so she’s idling high. But I’ll verify how accurate the tach is soon enough. I swapped the battery portion and the mileage portion over from the old cluster as well. Final photos to come when the rains gone.
P.S. I removed the jumper nut as recommend.
@SRWillis Thx
View attachment 209707
Thanks Again for the help everyone!

LOL i just realized that little white tube looks exactly like some that LEGO makes... They are 3.2mm and come in 8-9 inch lengths.

 

[packagerjr]

Just for posterity there’s an excellent thread in cleaning and maybe saving tachs on FTE under the Tech Tips in the 80-86 forum. I tried with my original but wasn’t successful. Some folks have been.

 

[FordGuy1985]

Just for posterity there’s an excellent thread in cleaning and maybe saving tachs on FTE under the Tech Tips in the 80-86 forum. I tried with my original but wasn’t successful. Some folks have been.

Thx @packagerjr I will check it out. Ive been looking at examples of different colors guys have painted the needles as well. This instrument cluster has turned into quite its own little project haha

 

[Rob_64-365]

Oh man, i wish I would have thought of that, I prefer repair over replace, on just about everything on my older cars. Good tip on that for future PRNDL line breaks!

 

[BigBlue 94]

For posterity, Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish works EXTREMELY well on any of the black ABS plastic on the dash and cluster. Also works great on the clear bits. Ive used it on the lamp cover on the retractable underhood lights. Takes them from hazy yellow to a bright clear.