DzienManche

Yeah I think tomorrow I’ll get to micro center and see if I can’t source one. Assuming it’s on the board that the screw posts are sticking out of on the type 1 pic above? I hate that it’s all welded and sealed, but the spring should be ok because it still moves when current it passed.

If I knew what kind of resistor I needed I may be able to just solder it on no problem. Lol

Yeah, sorry I included a picture of the tach from the newer cluster that I have that has other gauge issues. My stock one everything works perfectly fine except the tach

Yeah, I tried installing that newer cluster into mine everything else fits. It’s just the gas gauge is broken and I think a couple other gauges have issues when trying to use that one.

Yeah it’s non adjustable. But if it’s as simple as just needing to resolder something I can handle that

I know I probably have a problem with my decameter, but I’m trying to diagnose and see if it may be an electrical issue instead. When I start my truck, the needle goes all the way and maxes out and stays there until I turn the truck off. Which makes me think there may be a Short or something weird going on electrically. All of my other gauges work but I’m trying to find a diagram for the connection in my 86 for the instrument cluster. Any help is greatly appreciated! I wish I could find a drop-in tachometer that isn’t an upgraded one. I have a newer cluster, but the tachometer has a bunch more different connections and stuff, mine does not have an adjustable screw for the potentiometer. That would make life so much easier.

Weber kit?

I was recommended to take a look at upgrading my factory carb on my ‘86 XLS. I know nothing on what to look for but they had said a 4 barrel but don’t know where to start. Can anyone link ones that would work for my 2.8L v6? I’m looking into engine swapping but don’t know if the carb is the weak link on drivability. What’s my price range on it?

The tach pic is what I'm working with on the old cluster, the second one is the back of the "newer" cluster with the adjustable Tachometer. It was in the truck and running ok. I think there is just some issues with a couple of things. There are slightly different pins on the back but I was going to swap them again just to see what was and wasn't functioning. maybe move the stock gauges over if I can. I just don't want todrop over $250 for a new cluster just to get a tachometer that works from 86. I can't find any substitutions either.

I think so? Why would I have to change out the speedo cable though? I think this other cluster I have just threads right on. Unless you are meaning to completely change the speedo of that to keep my mileage accurate? I think the gas gauge on the other one was faulty or something. I'll try to drop the old into the "newer" one tomorrow and give that a shot and see if things will work. It's an automatic, so I don't really need the tach to work, it would just be nice to have a fully operational cluster lol.

Yeah I mean there is movement and I can feel resistance when the car is on and I try to move it, testing to see if there is tension. I have an '86 XLS. The tach can spin freely when not connected. When I turn the ignition the tach goes from under 0 to max and stays there until the car is off. Not sure if the battery being continuously connected and disconnected while I had other electrical work going on may have affected it. I was reading that it may be getting too much power? I don't have wiring diagrams for the rear instrument panel connector to test voltage, I'm not sure what goes to what. All my fuses are fine and I have full functionality of all the components on the cluster, so idk if maybe the wires are just messed up.

Everything on the cluster is operating nice enough. The only problem is that I think the spring or something is wrong with the tachometer. I don't want to blow $250+ on a full cluster just to rip out the tacho. Some mechanic swapped the cluster out with a later model XJ or MJ cluster, but there are several gauges that just flat don't work on that one. I tried to use it as a donor and pull the tachometer out of it to swap... but No dice. I think it's 87+. Any thoughts or lines on a new one that can drop in to my stock cluster?

I know this is an old post. But I finally got my toolbar removed and broke a few welds from shotty repair work. Are you still making/selling the rollbar mounting brackets? I would love to purchase a set if so. My wheel well brackets are ok if that will bring cost down, but if it’s too much of an issue I’ll just replace them with new too so the bolt patterns and thread pitches match with the new front brackets

That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. That’s perfect. You’re talking about the Camaro 3.4 I mentioned above? That would be incredible and the pricing of those engines isn’t terrible either. Assuming I can find one locally ha. Thanks for the help

I'd be in for 4

You think my 3speed automatic will be sufficient? If I don't have to look into getting a newer/nicer trans that would be super sweet. I doubt it will be a direct bolt match but finding a bell adapter for it would probably be easier than having to retool and fab other solutions with a different one. If that's what you're saying

I’ll take a look again tomorrow, this is an older picture before I cleaned up the engine bay. Will be easier to see now

Not sure where that would be, but the original sticker included it under the XLS options that came with it. I was the computer and switches on my indicator lever too

I have cruise control on my rig.

Oh sweet deal. Thanks for the info!

Ah. Makes sense. So yeah I’d probably want to upgrade the trans if I move to a 3.4 ha. On one of the articles I found I think they were reusing a 5 speed manual. Not sure what to look for or if I should try to grab the trans out of the Camaro I take the engine from

In my 2.8L ‘86 Comanche I have what appear to be two soup can looking things on the left of the engine with tubes coming out of them. I looked a few different places and can’t find anything on them. Any one help a brother out with an explanation on these?tucked under other hoses and tubing but there are two of them.

I'm probably just going to go with the Camaro 3.4L after doing more digging. Hopefully I can find a good deal on one with a new trans too. My vin said it’s a 4 speed but everyone keeps telling me it’s a 3

I saw a video that some people are using a 5.3L Chevy engine too

Heyo, I was searching up and down the interwebs and on the forums only to find a few mentions of engine swaps. I was thinking of getting a parts list together for what I will need in order to get a budget in mind for upgrading my MJ from the old stock '86 2.8L V6 to something with a greater than 65 MPH top speed. I know it can go higher, it just shakes and stresses at highway speeds and I don't want to push it too hard and break her. I wanted to know if anyone had a parts list (of parts that are actually still made) that I can start my work off of. I'm a mechanical novice and not sure what all goes into it, but if I can start a stock pile of parts for a newer engine in the event something goes wrong I can still have peace of mind that it is still something that can be worked on, unlike most of the 2.8L stuff. I originally wanted to keep this as original as possible, but getting some more horses under the hood is a plus in my mind for the longevity of the truck. I also want to eventually put a 3-4" lift and get more beafy tires eventually which the 2.8 wouldn't be too pleased with. Any help is appreciated. I'm on the fence about doing it myself to learn and have fun with it, but will most likely pay a mechanic to do the drop and install to avoid any issue I'd more than likely cause. But I know that definitely won't be cheap. Any info/pics of others who have done it on an '86 would be awesome. I'm no welder/fabricator so a direct bolt in would be preferred, however I know that is likely not as plausible as I think with my stupid mind. lol