Rally gauge cluster installation (1st gen)

[boozehero]

I have the factory tech manual specific to the year of my truck. It has a wiring diagram in the back of it - yours should also.
It shows the "W" and "U" engine options. The W engine is the 2.6 IIRC and those trucks had a tach and the gauges.

When I installed the tach cluster, the pins are all the same for the unit, but the tach signal wire wasn't there. I ran a white wire (correct color) for the tach from the negative side of the coil to pin #7 which had no wire. I traced the printed circuit on the tach board and it went to pin #7.
So... Tach works properly.

When you receive the tech manual, you will also notice that there is a white (I think I remember) wire on the alternator which triggers the warning light. If I'm not mistaken, that will have to go to the ammeter hot side (white and brown wire) the other side of the gauge is grounded.

You can also find the pin on the gauge cluster connection that goes to the oil pressure warning light and use it for the OP gauge lead.
The OP sending unit is specific for a gauge. Your stock sender is either on or off. It goes on at about 4 LBS of oil pressure or less. It will peg the gauge when the engine is running.

Anyway, good luck and post pix if you can.

[RatsoMX]

I have the factory tech manual specific to the year of my truck. It has a wiring diagram in the back of it - yours should also.
It shows the "W" and "U" engine options. The W engine is the 2.6 IIRC and those trucks had a tach and the gauges.

When I installed the tach cluster, the pins are all the same for the unit, but the tach signal wire wasn't there. I ran a white wire (correct color) for the tach from the negative side of the coil to pin #7 which had no wire. I traced the printed circuit on the tach board and it went to pin #7.
So... Tach works properly.

When you receive the tech manual, you will also notice that there is a white (I think I remember) wire on the alternator which triggers the warning light. If I'm not mistaken, that will have to go to the ammeter hot side (white and brown wire) the other side of the gauge is grounded.

You can also find the pin on the gauge cluster connection that goes to the oil pressure warning light and use it for the OP gauge lead.
The OP sending unit is specific for a gauge. Your stock sender is either on or off. It goes on at about 4 LBS of oil pressure or less. It will peg the gauge when the engine is running.

Anyway, good luck and post pix if you can.

I appreciate all the helpful information you've supplied us on this subject. I'm also in the process of adding the console gauges and the Tach/Speedo cluster to my '84 4WD D50. Fortunately I've saved quite a few NOS parts that I purchased back in the early '90's. But, I was never quite clear on how to accomplish the conversion.

One thing I wanted to ask, do you know what would be involved in converting over to the intermittent windshield wipers? I had them in my 2WD '84 Sport, and it was so much nicer than the cheapo two speed wipers currently in my 4X4.