I ran across a cool gauge cluster the other day, and was wondering if a FORD tach and speedo would be compatible w/ GM stuff. Also, the speedo has a digital odometer, and the tach (I think) has a digital compass/clock. Could these be set up to work in our cars? Are these functions run from the car's computer, or probably from sensors that could be pulled?

Any help would be appreciated,

MILT

 

Possible, but i would not count on it.

 

why would yopu want the gay ford gauges anyways who wants gauges that only show normal instead of stating numbers

 

ford has a diff baud rate (signal speed) and calbration than gm on some of there stuff.

thanks
anthony

 

Just want to use tach/speedo units. Sorry if that's "gay," but I am just trying to throw in some unique touches to a car project.

ILT

 

sounds like blasphemy, lol. Might be cool though, any pics of the gauges?

 

Have thought about some other type of GM guages. They would be more compatible.

 

the tach will be the problem areah, because i think on late model fords the computer receves the tach signal and then the computer sends the signal to the tach. the speedo will work with a dakota digital buffer box though.

you need to find out how the gauge (tach) is wired (direct or through the comp.). if it is direct wired, it might work depending on how new of a car it is out of.

hope this helps.

thanks
anthony

 

what set of gauges are they anyways....i'm gonna make a WILD guess, just for the hell of it.............T-bird digital dash?

 

Ford part...BLAHH.

 

No, not digital gauges--I can't stand digital gauges. They're actually from a Cougar. They look much like Ultra-lite gauges from Autometer. I know it'd be cheaper to just get autometer ones, but the whole temp/direction thing would be kinda neat to have. I figured the speedo could be converted, but yeah, I was guessing that the tach would be the sticky point.

Oh, for those guys who couldn't stand ford gauges in a GM car, take a look at the early Camaro dual pointer gauges--those are the ugliest/cheapest looking pieces of crap ever.

MILT

 

i am guessing you are talking about the new cougar gauges (front driver). if that is the case, i am very sure the computer does control the tach signal, and all other gauge signals for that matter. if you are talking about the last rear drive cougar clusters,(i have 2 of them laying around at work) then it would be a little easier, but again, you are going to have to use buffer boxes to convet the buad rate.

if you really want the gauges, talk to autometer and just get the electronic guts for the diff. gauges and install those onto the gauge set. that way you have the look if the cougar cluster, but everything is calabrated to work with the gm signals. the only problem with that is the cost of the components and the cost of having them calibrated to be accurate with the face plates.

good luck
anthony

 

Yeah, their the new Cougar ones. Definitely not worth the trouble. If it was going to be easier, then they might have been worthwhile.

MILT