Tach Solution?

[vangremlin]

There was another thread on options for replacing the tach, and I posted a picture of a tach from a Ford F-150 1980-86.  I went to junkyard today, and saw one of that style, also shown below, but I also found one from a 1987 Ford truck.  Someone had already pulled the instrument cluster from the truck too, so it was no work to get it out.  Cost of the tach = $5.99 plus tax.

Anyway, it looks like that may be a great option for replacing all those non-functioning tachs.  The second picture shows it side by side with the Eagle tach, and the 3rd photo shows it at the back of the instrument cluster.  Needs to be trimmed to fit inside but that should be easy.

1986 Ford instrument cluster with tach (somewhat rectangular)




1987 Ford tach (left) and Eagle tach (right)



It will need some trimming to fit in but it looks like a good fit

[eagleman]

By golly you may be right.Looks like a great fit and solution to the tach problem!

[El Matador]

That's a great looking tach, and to the untrained eye it would look completely stock.

One problem, though... if it came from a truck, wouldn't it be calibrated for a V8?  I'm assuming this came from a full size like an F-150.

[Whuntmore]

Not if it came from a ford with the I6 300 engine.  

Now, it's too bad the faceplace screw holes don't sit in the same place for both tachs, then you might be able to change the faceplates, and then nobody would ever know.

I've tried to take the needle off (in the hopes of doing that someday) but that little sucker just wouldn't pop off...  I don't know what the trick is...

That is a great solution though... Thanks for sharing that.  Eggs to Van! 

[vangremlin]

One problem, though... if it came from a truck, wouldn't it be calibrated for a V8?  I'm assuming this came from a full size like an F-150.

The donor truck had the I6, but the tach works for either.  It has a jumper if you want to use it with an 8 cyl.

First I'm going to check to see that it works - could be from the same manufacturer as the AMC tachs and dead as a doornail 

[El Matador]

Just did some research.  Looks like the 300 six cylinder was more common in these trucks than I thought.  Not all of the F-150s had a tach, but this same tach was used for five years ('87 to '91) so it should be a relatively easy find.  Ford only sold about half a bazillion F-150s.

For '87 to '91 Ford F-150, my local Pick-n-Pull currently shows 11 in stock. 

I'm somewhat of a purist, but only to the extent that parts used should look original.  They don't necessarily have to be original.  If this turns out to be a viable solution, I just might have to start stocking up on these.

[vangremlin]

For '87 to '91 Ford F-150, my local Pick-n-Pull currently shows 11 in stock. 

I saw at least 3 or 4 more of these tachs.  Now that I know they fit, I might go grab a few more since they are pretty cheap.

These tachs are designed to be backlit.  I suppose they'll work fine with the standard Eagle instrument panel lighting, but I think it would be pretty cool if I can figure out how to do the backlighting.  Some small LED's might do the trick.

[ammachine390]

Awesome thread.

You could also paint the needle a white/cream color, and then it would be hardly noticeable that it wasn't original.
But if you want to use the backlit lighting, then that might not be an option, as usually the needles glow too.

[Whuntmore]

Now, it's too bad the faceplace screw holes don't sit in the same place for both tachs, then you might be able to change the faceplates, and then nobody would ever know.

The "0" is in different positions so a faceplate change wouldn't work. Nice try though.

Ahhh, yes, I see that now... too bad huh?  Well, it's only a thought.

[rohnk]

So why are al the Eagle tachs no good? I just bought a full IP of the auction site which includes a tach.

If it is something electrical, I may be able to take a look at one and figure out what is wrong unless someone already knows.

[priya]

Rohnk, here's one non-electrical reason why eagle tachs go bad:

http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=38141.0

[Whuntmore]

I've had those tachs apart, and there's something in the needle's mechanism that is weak (or faulty).

They have a shortened lifespan.  AMC could have gotten a bad batch of tach's, or the tach's were poor to begin with.

[rohnk]

I was looking at that instrument cluster on Ebay too, Rohn.

Hope I didn't steal it from you!

[Prafeston]

No, I decided not to bid on it...i'm spending too much money.

[vangremlin]

I temporarily wired up the Ford tach to test it out today, while it was sitting on my fender.  You can see that it works very well, and it tracks the LED tach I currently have in my Eagle.  I've realized the tach would not be centered in the tach opening in the Eagle - I don't think it will look bad, but not perfect.  I'll probably go to the junkyard this weekend and grab an 80-86 Ford tach just to compare and see how that would look.

Oh, by the way, the soundtrack in the first part of the video is provided by AWOL Nation, then I turn the radio off, and the sound is pure AMC 258.