F-600 Instrument Cluster into '70 F-250 CS

[MotorDog]

Okay, I have used the search option to find all I could about using a F-600 dash cluster in my truck. I have a complete set of gauges, (NO Idiot Lights), and from what I can gather, the gauges should be a plug and play thing. The plug is different on my original cluster.... yeah, I have probably missed something, (maybe a lot), so here's my Question. Can I hook the set of gauges in the F-600 cluster up by wiring them to the old original plug's wires in the truck......or How do you do this? Thanks in advance!

[fordman]

i would think you could cut the plugs and wire it in. you would just have to use the wiring manuals to find out what your dash colors do. and then trace the f600 wires to each guage. other things i have been told which probably wont help you. is that the 67-69 truck are either a direct plug and play deal or that you had to only move one wire in the F600 cluster. but i have only read that here. i have not tried it myself yet.

[MotorDog]

What I have understood through all the posts I read from searching this is that there is no problem with installing this F-600 cluster from 67 to 79 in any of the 1967 to 1972 Bumps. It is my understanding that all that is required is that you match the plug's wires on the truck to the wires on the Cluster, (Change Plugs to match or hard wire together). So, in order for my feeble understanding to become clear to me I need to find out if the color codes of the plug wires remain the same for the 67 to 72 Bumps? If not, then it is a matching up exercise, I assume. Aside from the different shape and size of the Cluster plugs on the 67 to 72 Bumps, is there any other difference in the wiring? Aside from the "purple" wire? Thanks!

[FORDification]

The color codes on the wires remained the same, though I think the F600 panel wiring had the wires in a slightly different position in the connector. No biggies, just release the wires from the connector and move them as needed.

Now, SOME F600-style panels did come with a circuit board and accompanying harness connector, but those connectors are completely different from the light-duty truck style that you're used to seeing. Unfortunately I haven't been able to nail down just yet which trucks/years got that style of wiring. (I believe the factory went to this style starting in '78.) Here's a few pics:

[MotorDog]

More things to complicate the problem.... Actually, I have a 10 inch pig tail and both parts of the plug. I was thinking this might be a good Saturday project tomorrow. I got new blue/white led bulbs for it and they really illuminate it well and make the white lettering on the black background sort of "glow" and not seem yellow as it was from the original bulbs. If I can get it all working it should be pretty sweet. I shall see..... Thanks for the additional info regarding the circuit boards on the back of some of these. I have yet to see one of those but then I have only seen three of these at all. I have two of them and am thinking of selling the second one later on. Both are Chrome/Black paint trimmed, but one doesn't have the large vacuum gauge. I am going to use the one with the vacuum gauge in my truck. When I get it in, I will post some Day and Night pictures of it for those interested.

[ok68crewcab]

Looks real good. What did you have to do sending unit wise?

[Hawkrod]

Because Ford uses a gauge standard, you do not have to do anything with the senders. Any Ford sending unit will work with any appropriate gauge. I did a 47 lincoln a few years back and found out that even then they used the exact same standard. The only difference then is because the battery was 6 volts there was no instrument voltage regulator, now that we use 12 volts they use the regulator to make the gauges work on 6 volts (actually closer to 7)! To convert an old Ford to 12 volts and use stock gauges when you convert, just slap in a instrument voltage regulator from a 12 volt Ford! Piece of cake. Hawkrod

[MotorDog]

As Hawkrod said, I used only what I already had installed on my engine. Truck originally had "full gauges" so the ammeter works just fine, as does the temp, fuel, and oil pressure. As a matter of fact, they seem to be more responsive, (quicker to move) than the old cluster. This Cluster came out of a 1977 F-700 Dump Truck. So, if you're looking, don't overlook the F-500's, and the F-700 and F-800 as well as the F-600. They all have the same clusters but some with various different gauges.

Just a Note.....I have acquired a Matching Tach but with a 4000 face. It is going out to be converted to an 0 to 8000 face and have a new VDO movement installed to replace the cable drive unit. The little Sun Pro will be going somewhere else SOON!

[fordman]

i got mine out of a F500. it doesnt have the vacuum guage or a tach . i didnt want that anyway. mine just has the speedo and the four guages. and maybe the big truck trailer light switch to blink when you are clear to get back over.

[MotorDog]

That's what is fun about these Clusters. The smaller, (F-500) trucks don't have the hydrovac brakes as a rule so no Vacuum gauge. Some did have tachs though. The Bigger trucks generally had air brakes, (Not always), so, again, no Vacuum Gauge. The Medium Sized Trucks, (F-600 & F-700) usually had hydrovac. Trying to find the Cluster you want, (need), when looking through these oldies can be quite fun......but very Frustrating sometimes. Good you got what you were looking for. It is becoming harder and harder to find these kind of old trucks....most gone to the shredder because of high scrap prices.

[fordman]

that's where i found mine. it was days away from being shredded.

[71 LONG BED]

Can you tell me where you got the LEDs and what exactly you bought? I have been wanting to replace the bulbs in mine for a while. Do the LEDs plug into the original sockets, or did you replace them also?

[MotorDog]

Sure! There is a company that sells on E-Bay. They are located in Salt Lake City, (where I live). They have 4 point colors, (red, blue, green, white, etc.) and these plug right into the sockets in the clusters in our bumps and dents. They also work in most all of the Ford cars and trucks and many others, also. The ones I got have a little circuit board that sort of wraps around the base of the bulb and is much, much brighter than the regular colored ones. They have several different models of bulbs. Plug right into the existing sockets. The color I have is a lot like these new High Intensity headlamps on the expensive luxury cars. A rich blue/white color that really illuminates the white lettering against the black background of the gauges.... They also sell decals to change the regular dent and bump cluster background from the black to white and some with colored numbers, etc. I am able to visit them and pick up in about a 15 minute city drive. If you do a search on ebay for dashboard decals, or led replacement automotive bulbs you will get their "store" and you can go from there..... Here's a Picture of both sides of the bulb showing how they are made. They have 6 leds on them, two on the end, and two on each side.
!

Hope this info helps out..........

[MotorDog]

Allright!! I just finished putting a Cargo Light switch where the original wiper switch was. Plugged the hole nicely and leaves me with a lighted switch for whatever I decide to hook up. Truck doesn't have a cargo light but then again, it has a Topper on it so..... Here's some pictures with the engine idling showing the gauges working in daylight. Still haven't figured out how to take a night picture that would show anything with my camera....If I do, I'll certainly post them.

[fordman]

try putting a finger over the flash when you take a night picture. it could work you never know.