Tach Solution?

[vangremlin]

I finally found an 80-86 Ford F150 tach to try out.  It doesn't look bad, but the style isn't as close a match as the 87-91 pictured earlier.  It will also be more work to make it fit, as there will be a gap on the top or bottom, and the lip on the tach will have to be cut off.

[El Matador]

I don't like that style at all.  It looks totally out of place next to the round speedometer.

It may be more acceptable if used beside the square face speedometer, but even then it's iffy.

[vangremlin]

I don't like that style at all.  It looks totally out of place next to the round speedometer.

It may be more acceptable if used beside the square face speedometer, but even then it's iffy.

I agree.  The other style is such a close match and an easy install that there is no reason to go with this version.

[vangremlin]

It may be more acceptable if used beside the square face speedometer, but even then it's iffy.

Here is what that might look like.  The round tach, round speedometer are definitely the way to go.

[Whuntmore]

There are at least two ford trucks at the calgary PnP that have the first tach shown in this topic. 

I might snag them both.  I like the looks of the first one, but I'm not crazy about the second one.  Only my opinion though... 

[vangremlin]

Looks like I'm ready to move forward with the install of the Ford tach.  I've got it attached to the instrument cluster, using #8 speed nuts.  I had to do a little adjusting but I think they will hold fine.  I could only install them on 3 out of the 4 posts, you can see them in the first picture.  The second picture is the ready to install product.  Hopefully I'll have some time to put it in tomorrow!

Oh yea, since I currently have the square style speedometer, I'm swapping out the entire instrument cluster.  I tried "rolling" back the replacement speedometer but it would take forever to reverse 20,000 miles, even using a drill.  So it looks like I'll be adding a bunch of miles in no time!

[Prafeston]

So are you going with the orange needle too?

Bummer about the miles...with my Eagle sitting at 39k it would take FOREVER to roll back on just about any cluster I could find!

[vangremlin]

Finished the swap of the Ford tach.  Its looks really good, and I like the round speedometer a whole lot better than the square one that was in the Eagle before.  I'll do a How To write up in the next couple of days. It really isn't that hard to do.

So are you going with the orange needle too?

Bummer about the miles...with my Eagle sitting at 39k it would take FOREVER to roll back on just about any cluster I could find!

Yes, I taped an orange LED to the light guide on the new tach so the needle is orange when the lights are on.  I may change it so its wired to the ignition so its orange whenever the car is running. 

And I found a way to change the odometer in the TSM, but it requires taking the speedometer apart, and I didn't want to mess with it.  So I missed seeing my car roll over 100,000 miles!

[Prafeston]

Looks great. It's a shame you can't get your speedo needle to light up orange too!

[vangremlin]

Looks great. It's a shame you can't get your speedo needle to light up orange too!

I agree!  That's why I picked up a whole instrument cluster from a truck with that tach.  I think it would fit nicely, but I would have to figure out the electronics for some of the gauges plus how to mate the Ford speedo with the AMC speedo cable.  I could probably have one custom built, or maybe find an adaptor.  The instrument cluster face is pretty much an exact match for the Eagle.

[68AMXGOPAC]

The biggest pain with rolling back the miles would be to take the whole thing out again.
I have done several of the " roll backs", I used to put 50-60,000 miles a year on my Nissan work pick-ups,anything to keep them under warrenty for a couple years.
I would put a piece of scotch tape across all the numbers before removeing the roller from it's cradle , then roll   the ones back you want. It's tedious and small work.
I remember thinking that drill trick would work, lol, what a joke.
The tach looks great.I thought, why not just get a new replacement Ford one - till I looked up the prices - yikes !!!

[vangremlin]

It's tedious and small work.

The tach looks great.I thought, why not just get a new replacement Ford one - till I looked up the prices - yikes !!!

Yea, when I realized the amount of effort it would take to roll it back, I quickly decided that it wasn't worth it.

They are pretty cheap in the junkyard.  Let me know if you're interested, I'll pick one up for you the next time I go.

[priya]

And I found a way to change the odometer in the TSM, but it requires taking the speedometer apart, and I didn't want to mess with it.  So I missed seeing my car roll over 100,000 miles!

As my car has had a major restoration including a new motor I wanted to do this too but I couldn't really understand what the TSM was saying and after examining the speedometer it appeared the odometer couldn't be removed without breaking it.

[68AMXGOPAC]

Hmm, I have a brand new NOS instrument cluster.I will look it over.I know on other cars it involved opening up the pinch tab on each end of the center roller pin and just lifting the whole set out as one......

[HappyPappy]

Here is how I rolled back the miles, have to remove the trip mils cluster and play with it to get the right numbers up. It's a pita to get them to line up, but it can be done. Have to make a long stiff wire to get the clips back in place. Have fun!!!