ramair351 10 Report post Posted January 27, 2013 Hi does anyone know what it takes to install a factory tach cluster into a 70 mustang? buy a used cluster and get a wiring harness? thanks -pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miketyler 15 Report post Posted January 27, 2013 Hi Pete - Welcome to 1969stang.com. :) I did this same thing on my 70 Mach. You can modify the pinout on the plug on your existing harness. Here's a good write up on it but there are better illustrations out there. Be ready for the sticker shock of the tach cluster BTW http://www.boss302.com/tach.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted January 27, 2013 great thats a big help. tach clusters seem to be 3-400 it seems. i was thinkin of the dakota digital setup, but thats nearly a grand. so the oem route seems more reasonable. -pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miketyler 15 Report post Posted January 27, 2013 $300-400 might be a little low but if you can find them for that price than thats great. I would like to see them come down. I have seen delusional dealers out there that are at $800-$1k for an unrestored cluster. One particlar dealer has been running just the temperature gauge for a tach cluster for $399. It has been on eBay for maybe a year now and has yet to sell. The last two unrestored tach panels I saw on eBay went for over $500ea. When I first got my car back in 2010 and decided I wanted factory tach, I found both tach and clock panels for $600. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cayenne06 10 Report post Posted January 28, 2013 great thats a big help. tach clusters seem to be 3-400 it seems. i was thinkin of the dakota digital setup, but thats nearly a grand. so the oem route seems more reasonable. -pete That sounds low for a reconditioned cluster. I bought one last year and converted my non-tach car. Used the wiring diagram listed above. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmlay 80 Report post Posted January 28, 2013 I was watching one sell this week & it went for $700. Wonder what the ebay fees were... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted January 29, 2013 great thats a big help. tach clusters seem to be 3-400 it seems. i was thinkin of the dakota digital setup, but thats nearly a grand. so the oem route seems more reasonable. -pete well a few years ago before i bought a mustang , i remember seeing them at a swap meet for 3-4 hundred. but the years fly by as we get older. if they are approching 7 bills now, i am definately going the aftermarket route with a dakota or auto meter cluster, and get some modern gauges. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EastYorkStang 65 Report post Posted January 29, 2013 Look into a JME cluster. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miketyler 15 Report post Posted January 29, 2013 (edited) I wouldn't necessarily give up hope based on our conversation. I too like the factory look and bet if you are patient you can find one. You may need to cast a wider net in your searches. If I didn't get a factory tach, I was seriously considering a hood tach. Edited January 29, 2013 by miketyler Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted January 29, 2013 If I didn't get a factory tach, I was seriously considering a hood tach. same here, i'd consider a hood tach too. anyone have one they have good/bad opinions on? I just hate staring at that RH pod and wishing there was a tach there instead of some dumb gauges. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted January 29, 2013 Look into a JME cluster. i have looked at them.. do you have one or have any experience with them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaleRider 12 Report post Posted January 29, 2013 I've got a hood tach and like it. I also had tach in 1970 Mach I owned and was good with that also. Consideration on hood tach is they are expensive also. $300 thru Drake. Consideration with dash tach conversion is expense and if you have aftermarket steering wheel you have to consider size - could block gauge view. Before I had hood tach I just monted a a black one to steering column and it looks pretty good. Matter of fact still have it on car. Can't have too many tachs :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted January 30, 2013 what do you guys think of this one? it seems more inexpensive than other hood tachs i've seen. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-DODGE-CHARGER-HOOD-TACH-DIXCO-STYLE-8000-RPM-/350612690899?fits=Year:1970|Model:Mustang&hash=item51a22517d3&item=350612690899&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miketyler 15 Report post Posted January 30, 2013 I think they have dropped. I have seen them in black. I would bet that's the same one all the parts houses are selling. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaleRider 12 Report post Posted January 30, 2013 (edited) what do you guys think of this one? it seems more inexpensive than other hood tachs i've seen. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-DODGE-CHARGER-HOOD-TACH-DIXCO-STYLE-8000-RPM-/350612690899?fits=Year:1970|Model:Mustang&hash=item51a22517d3&item=350612690899&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr Thats a good price. I just looked at CJ pony they are $400 there now. No way would I pay that. Here is a picture of my car with tach. I know they are not everybodies cup of tea but I like the look. Edited January 30, 2013 by PaleRider Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jwscarab 20 Report post Posted January 31, 2013 I was watching one sell this week & it went for $700. Wonder what the ebay fees were... Tell me about it!! That would be about 12% or $84. Then another 12% for the shipping charge. Maybe $4. Then paypal fees - Maybe $22. So thats $110 for ebay/paypal fees. No wonder the parts prices are high. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stangs-R-me 121 Report post Posted January 31, 2013 what do you guys think of this one? it seems more inexpensive than other hood tachs i've seen. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-DODGE-CHARGER-HOOD-TACH-DIXCO-STYLE-8000-RPM-/350612690899?fits=Year:1970|Model:Mustang&hash=item51a22517d3&item=350612690899&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr That's the type of hood tach that was used on GM cars ... GTO / Firebird and probably others. Personally, I like this "lower profile" style better than the taller more rounded and "correct" Ford accessory one. Guess I did not know that Mopar used this GM style too. I actually had an O.E. '69-70 GTO hood tach that I found in a junk yard back in the 80's and it almost went on my '69. However, I'm 99% sure it either said "Pontiac" or "GTO" on the face and a friend of mine with a GTO ended up buying it from me instead ... I was not all that keen of drilling holes in my hood anyway. In the later 80's I found a complete factory Tach Cluster & underdash wiring harness at a swap meet (IIRC cost was around $200 back then) and that is what is in my car to this day. Doug Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted February 1, 2013 yes i like this ebay one too, looks like a lower profile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted February 3, 2013 http://www.ebay.com/itm/251221105600?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2661 this looks interesting Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jwscarab 20 Report post Posted February 3, 2013 Are you looking for a factory wood grain tach dash, or a factory standard interior black tach dash? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted February 3, 2013 Are you looking for a factory wood grain tach dash, or a factory standard interior black tach dash? I would be interested in either style Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jwscarab 20 Report post Posted February 3, 2013 Hi Ramair. I tried to PM you but it said you dont accept PMs. Shoot me an email at jwscarab@yahoo.com. Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve69 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2013 (edited) Edited February 4, 2013 by Steve69 not enough info Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramair351 10 Report post Posted February 4, 2013 looks great! stock speedo with white face overlay, and phantom auto meter gauges? how much fabrication was there? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nabendroth 20 Report post Posted February 5, 2013 The last two unrestored tach panels I saw on eBay went for over $500ea. The one that actually went for I think it was $545 or something like that I saw on eBay had the wrong speedometer in it. It had the non-tach speedometer on it. Almost bought it but noticed that and I decided not to get it. The tach dash speedometers have an extra trip on the top of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites