F-600 cluster

[averagef250]

Did Ford ever use a tach from the factory in an F-600/500 cluster? Was thinking they might have used a shaft driven tach maybe? It'd be something cool for me to watch out for anyway.

I think I'm going to go with the chrome big truck cluster in my '70. I recently found a mechanical tach drive setup for the cummins. Think it'd be cool to mate that with a factory Ford diesel tach if they ever made one in the 600 dash.

[customcrewcab]

there was somone here who had a mechanical driven tac out of a f600. i will look and see if i can find where it was posted

[averagef250]

Very good news! I'll try to search for it myself.

[FORDification]

Yes, most of the panels I've seen had factory tachs in them...and yes, they were mechanical units driven off the distributor. Unfortunately an FT distributor won't fit an FE, so you'd either have to buy an expensive mechanical-drive distributor or convert it to electric. There's a member here who did just that (the conversion).

However, these tachs only go up to 4K, which might be OK in a lightly-driven street truck, but otherwise I would think you'd want something that read a little higher in the RPM range.

[mljjones67]

That wold be perfect for the 4bt conversion

[fmartin_gila1]

Try to find any F or C 600 or larger with a 477 or 534 in it and there should be what you want. Most Truck Junkyards should have a few. Old Fire Engine, or Utility Company Units from the 60s to the 90s.
Fred

[FORDification]

That wold be perfect for the 4bt conversion

Hmmm....you're absolutely right!

[averagef250]

Kieth you're the man! 4000 RPM is perfect for a souped up cummins tach! I'm not going to turn mine past 3200.

Putting a tach on a diesel is a clean deal if you go shaft drive. The Cummins engines have a tach drive adapter that screws into the timing cover to replace the oil fill spout over the IP gear. There are a half a dozen different ways to put oil in a cummins so I'm not concerned about losing my fill spout.

I know what I'm looking for now. If anyone runs across one let me know! I'd prefer the gauges to be in nice shape, but I can rechrome the bezel if it's pitted.

Thanks!

[FORDification]

I've got several of them that I don't need. Pay the shipping and you can have one. PM me the details. I think I might be at the shop again tomorrow, so I can grab it then.

[mljjones67]

Keith if you have an extra one after Dustin gets one I will take one.

[FORDification]

Keith if you have an extra one after Dustin gets one I will take one.

I'll have to look, but I'm pretty sure I can help you out. Stand by...

[71PA_Highboy]

I have been looking at getting the Vacuum gauge on the other side to be rebuild as a pressure gauge dso that I can monitor turbo boost... I think the 3 would be the best setup for a 4bt....



Eric

[Manny]

Am i mistaken or is the sw there for stewart warner instruments????

[71PA_Highboy]

You are not mistaken.

hth,

Eric

[Hawkrod]

Guys, there is also an electronic 4500 RPM tach from 78 and 79. I got mine from an F600 with a 370 and it is designed to work with Duraspark. I have not figured out the wiring yet as I got it on a fluke at a scrap metal dealer who "does not sell parts" (I begged and he gave me the cluster, I must have been pretty sad looking!) so I did not get the wiring but I did pop the hood and check. Below are pictures. Hawkrod