Just bought a 1995 reg cab, short bed, Eddie Bauer package F150 with the 4.9 and a 5 speed. The only thing missing that I would like to have is a tachometer and a real working oil pressure gauge instead of the "idiot gauge".

I have seen on another forum a how to by Steve83 on how to convert the oil pressure gauge to a working gauge by shorting a resistor behing the oil pressure gauge and by replacing the oil pressure sending unit with a NAPA part # OP6091. This seems to be a simple enough project that I could do it myself.

My main question though is in regard to the tachometer. Is there a difference in the Ford factory tachometer for a 6 cylinder equipped vehicle versus a V8 equipped vehicle? I know that with aftermarket tachometers you have to modify them to work properly, but is there a difference with Ford factory tachometers for a 6 cylinder engine versus a V8 engine?

Just would like to know before I go "parts searching and recycling".

 

the aftermarket tacks are wired slightly different for 6cly if im not mistakin and mine also has a switch where you can select how many cly you have..

 

I knew the aftermarket tachometers had either a switch on the back or wires you cut to make it work for 4,6, or 8 cylinder engines. My question is really in regard to the factory tachometers for these vehicles.

I am curious as to what the factory tachometer uses for its measuring signal, whether it receives its signal from the coil itself or if it uses a crankshaft, camshaft, or distributor position sensor reading. If the factory tachometer uses a signal from the coil, then there would be a difference between the 6 and 8 cylinder factory tachometers (6 firings versus 8 firings per revolution); if the factory tachometer uses a signal from the crankshaft, camshaft, or distributor position sensor, then there shouldn't be a difference between tachometers, as one rotation of the crankshaft, camshaft, or distributor is the same regardless of how many cylinders the engine has.

If there is a difference in the factory tachometers, and the 6 cylinder one is as rare as snow in August in Phoenix, then the aftermarket one would definitely get the nod. But if the factory ones are the same, and I do know where a few tach gauge clusters are, then I would definitely go with the factory setup. But then again, the aftermarket ones have a shift light and redline, and a bigger face. Decisions, decisions ......

 

There is no difference in the V8 vs. I6 factory tach modules for a 95. The difference is in the powertrain wiring harness which you do not change when going from non-tach to tach

 

Thank you, StrangeRanger, for that information.

I thought that the signal for the factory tachometer came from a source other than the coil itself, like a camshaft or crankshaft position sensor that would be used by the on board computer, but just wanted to make sure.

Now I can go purchase that tachometer equipped gauge cluster and begin that weekend project of switching to a tach equipped cluster and making the oil pressure gauge into a real gauge instead of the "idiot gauge". I'll also swap the PSOM between clusters.

One project down, others to follow ......

 

I'm pretty sure that the cluster is not interchangeable among all 93-96 trucks. I'm not sure what years match a 95. Best bet is to limit your search to 95s unless someone else can clarify or your boneyard can confirm the interchange.

 

I just hope they have the Hollander Interchange manual, that should tell me what interchanges. If not, I'll keep to the '95 model year as best I can. Then again, there is that "learninng experience" thing of trying to make things work that someone else says shouldn't, but for some reason you made it work (carbed 300 I6 in a '55 F100 with 289/302 crossmember and stock 300 engine mounts comes to mind about now).

Then again, an aftermarket tachometer and vacuum gauge in some type of mounting system isn't that bad ...... If I have to I guess I could live with that.