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Factory tach upgrade... with a V8


85_Ranger4x4

85_Ranger4x4

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I was at U-pull it and stumbled apoun a factory tach cluster in a '88 Ranger. Looked like new, so I grabbed it and took a $25 gamble.

My truck is wired kinda wierd, most of the harnesses in the cab are a E8 part number, and it took a '88 light switch... so I think most if not all of the cab wiring is out of a later truck and it all points to being the same year as the truck I pulled the tach out of.

I think I have seen threads about installing them, and converting them to work with a V8... but of course I can't find anything diffinative about it now that I have one. It has a aftermarket tach right now, so if I have to run another wire it is already ran. Worst case, I did grab the connectors out of the truck since it is kind of a PITA to get there after I find another one.

And is there a way to either switch the tach to my cluster or put my speedo on the other cluster so the odometer still is still right?
 
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85_Ranger4x4

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I will make this an educational bump.

Comparing with the '86 non-tach cluster out of my parts truck.









 
bobbywalter

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there was a shop in detroit that set them up. the later models are v8 settable factory...just move the wire

i cant remember the resistor type part to use for v8 with the gen 1 clusters. its was a radioshack thing, you run the signal to the 4cyl side with the part and it read pretty close.
 
85_Ranger4x4

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bobbywalter said:
there was a shop in detroit that set them up. the later models are v8 settable factory...just move the wire

i cant remember the resistor type part to use for v8 with the gen 1 clusters. its was a radioshack thing, you run the signal to the 4cyl side with the part and it read pretty close.
Click to expand...
I just found this, sound familiar?

The stock Tachometer will work if you don't mind it being off a little bit and not being linier. You'll have to jump a wire on back of the Tach between L2 and GRD post.
Click to expand...
http://sleepinranger.com/misc/misc.htm

Close enough for me if it really works.

Stock Tach_________________Laser Tach
500------------------------------820
1000-----------------------------1250
1500-----------------------------1600
2000-----------------------------1940
2500-----------------------------2255
3000-----------------------------2570
3500-----------------------------2935
4000-----------------------------3300
4500-----------------------------3665
5000-----------------------------4030
Click to expand...
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/f12/gen-i-tach-mod-rpms-122207.html

And how about getting it to work in a non-tach truck?
 
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Scotts87

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Can someone please tell me where "L2" is at????? I just installed the 88 cluster in my 331 ranger and as everyone knows, the tach is way off. I am wire to 12VDC + DC - and Coil Neg.

Please see attachmet for how I have mine wired.
 

Attachments

Scotts87

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Figured it out
 
85_Ranger4x4

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Scotts87

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85_Ranger4x4 said:
What did you do?

Also, did you swap dash harnesses or repin the factory connector?
Click to expand...

Here is what I did. It is not 100% accurate meaning not linear but is close. I ran new individual wires from the back post on the tach to the coil, accessory positive and ground. Did not have to re-pin the left plug at all. Did re-pin the right pin for the gas and temp gauge.

 
Last edited:
85_Ranger4x4

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It is good to know what actually does what on the tach, thanks for posting that.

I haven't gotten around to completing the pinouts, but I have quite a bit of it done. There are quite a few things mixed around on the tach side connector. My plan was to just feed the required signals in through the factory connector.







Not quite done yet, I got part of the way into it and decided it would make a good winter project.
 
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