86 Gauge cluster swap

[Mr.Oz]

Son has a 86 with the 2.8L V6 (looking for a 3.4L, tossing on a 32/36 Webber carb) . Has anyone changed out the gauge cluster with one that has gauges? Right now it has dummy lights and a huge fuel guage, which is pegged past F. I was wondering if we could swap in one of the gauge clusters that have the tach you can reset.

[Eagle]

If you get a cluster from a 4.0L you won't need to reset the tach -- six cylinders is six cylinders, and the tach doesn't care if the engine is a V6 or an I6.

 

What you need to be aware of is that Jeep changed the way the speedo cable attaches to the speedo head, either between the 1986 and 1987 model years or midway through the 1987 model year. The old ones have a metal clip at the top end of the cable that's held onto the speedo head with a screw. The later ones (basically 88 thru 90) have a white nylon retainer that you just squeeze to release. You can use either, but if you use the late version you'll need to also replace the speedo cable.

[Dillithium]

Fuel gauge past the F mark usually indicates an open circuit, check the wiring outside of the tank first.

[Mr.Oz]

would it be "hit and miss" with the sensors?  I guess I would need to find the wire diagrams from this 86 and what ever I pull the new cluster out of to figure the correct wiring.

[Eagle]

There are no changes needed to the wiring. At the cluster, it's plug-n-play.

 

Your oil pressure sender and your engine temperature sender are simple on/off switches. You will have to replace those two senders with the ones for use with gauges.