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 Post subject: Later model stock gauges
PostPosted: March 8, 2010, 11:42 pm 
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My motor is from a 91 S-10. I'm dropping the TBI for carb so I'll be swithing to an 82 distributor. I've been studying gauge options and I've found that not only are the late 90's to about 03 stock S-10 gauge clusters very good looking, they can be had for $25-$50. Do you think they would be compatible? I'm sure that cosmetically I can make it work and I think the speedo will work, I'm wondering mostly about the tach.

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PostPosted: March 9, 2010, 7:30 pm 
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The tach isn't a problem. In fact, replacing a capacitor (usually labelled c103) on the circuit card will calibrate the tach for an 8, 6, or 4 cylinder.

The speedo requires the DRAC/buffer unit and a 40 tooth reluctor in the trans to read the correct speed. The 40 tooth is standard for the 90s. I don't know if it is the same all the way to 2003.

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PostPosted: March 9, 2010, 10:46 pm 
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For $50 it might just be worth buying one to see if it would work. I'd hate to build a dash and have to replace it but maybe I could mount the cluster without really installing it. This cluster is from a 99 (I think) and it's $24 + $13 shipping.


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PostPosted: March 10, 2010, 11:58 pm 
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I'm thinking about trying something similar on my build. I'm thinking I can go to a junkyard and find a decent looking cluster, it just has to be from a 6 cylinder vehicle and have a Ford speedo cable end. I'm going to use an MSD ignition box with a tach output, so I might need one of their tach adapters to make that work.
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PostPosted: March 11, 2010, 11:09 am 
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Check ebay, there are 44 for an S-10. Priced From $25-$100. Even had a couple new (0 miles).

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PostPosted: March 24, 2010, 8:45 pm 
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Here' what I found at the junkyard today. I think the speedo is from a 90 Mustang, and the tach is from a 96 Taurus. I got the speedo needle from the Taurus to make them match. I wanted a mechanical speedo that would work with my cable, and I chose the Taurus tach because it had a v6 like my locost and I wanted one that went to 7000 rpm. $35 for both, and the odometer should be pretty easy to reset.

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PostPosted: March 24, 2010, 9:26 pm 
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If your transmission uses an electronic speedo sensor you should be good for anything. The instrument cluster just takes that electrical signal from all the sending units and uses it to move the needle. At worst, you'd have to play around with some resistors to get it working right, but it can be done. My biggest recommendation is find a way to figure out the wiring and pinouts for the gauges, if you know what each trace on the board is for it will (obviously) make the whole process a lot easier.

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PostPosted: March 24, 2010, 10:15 pm 
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My transmission has a cable for the speedo. The back of the tach has all the pins labeled for me, it shouldn't be too hard.
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