Unusual Dash Configuration, 1971?

[Boss1Ray]

It is very common for 71

71 with insumentation group came with clock and center gauges

tach was another option

The salesman's guide book (Feb 71 REVISION) for '71 is on the Wiki.

http://www.7173mustangs.com/thread-1971-ford-mustang-facts-book

It states under options:

Instrumentation Group (Includes tachometer, trip odometer, and triple instrument pod(oil, amp, temp) STD on Boss 351; N/A with 250 CID 1v engine)

Mach I Sports Interior option includes OIL AMP and TEMP guages in center console portion of instrument panel.

and... Electric clock located in the left instrument cluster.

OK this helps a lot... so If you wanted tach you had to have the Instrumentation Group.

Ray

 

[midlife]

The customer did say he had a Mach, and was converting to a tach-dash cluster configuration after he found a complete tach dash.

For those who aren't very interested in the "red-headed step-children", the standard rule is that 71-73's were all the same and very little difference between them. What a crock the common wisdom is when you look behind the curtain just a tad.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[detritusmaximus]

Sooo..... to add to this thread and thereby bring it to life again, I picked up a clock/speedo cluster today. The clock has the four idiot lights around it. Now I've read thru the threads about this and it seems to make sense, sort of.

A: Tach option gets center gauges and console clock

B: Dash Clock/Speedo is of two different configurations:

1-with one idiot light and with center gauges

2-with four idiot lights and no center gauges

C: No Dash Clock/Speedo with four idiot lights where clock/tach would be.

Now for the confusing part(?), my book says (Mustang Recognition guide) shows the dash clock as an option in '71, but states it came in the '73 Grande. Does the phrasing mean it became standard in the Grande in '73?

Then, to make it really confusing it shows a black and white pic of a dash clock and a console clock. The pic appears to be a factory type pic, not something years later at a show or something.

 

[71_resurrection]

My 1971 Grande has the Clock/Speedo with four idiot lights and no center console gauges. Not sure if it helps at all... I know this post is old.

 

[OMS]

I have had several 72 grande's.

Only one had a clock in the dash - most had the 4 lights

 

[Boss1Ray]

My 72 convertible has Tach, trip odometer with center guages and no clock. It was ordered with the "Instrumentation Group"

http://www.7173mustangs.com/thread-1972-mustang-facts-book-rev-1-72

Ray

 

[cudak888]

Wouldn't the addition or omission of a full console in the order of the car have an effect on whether it would come with the clock in the left side of the dash cluster or not?

-Kurt

 

[Boss1Ray]

From our facts book posted on our WIKI:

"CONSOLE

...The console contains a large-size storage compartment with a padded lid which also serves as a center armrest. It also houses a large ash tray and an electric clock..."

Because so many have added concoles to their cars, for me at least it gets confusing as to what configuration is correct.

Ray

 

[Mister 4x4]

Wow - I might have to rethink getting my clock/speedo cluster converted to a tach/speedo set-up by The Rktmn. Since mine only has the single brake indicator light in the clock (because of the center gauges), I gotta wonder if putting a 4-light cluster in it's place will mess up the function of the gauges.

 

[kcmash]

Mine was born an H code Mach 1 with the clock in the dash, the triple gage center stack above the radio, and a full length console with a special "Mach 1" block plate in the clock hole on the console.

I had Midlife add the the tach connection to the harness.

 

[detritusmaximus]

Wow - I might have to rethink getting my clock/speedo cluster converted to a tach/speedo set-up by The Rktmn. Since mine only has the single brake indicator light in the clock (because of the center gauges), I gotta wonder if putting a 4-light cluster in it's place will mess up the function of the gauges.

I think you may have touched on a secondary issue, the printed circuit film on the back. That might be the key to your swap. We need to take good clear pics of the printed circuits for each type and compare them.I suspect the clock/speedo unit (1 and 4 idiot lights) and the no clock/no tach (4 idiot lights) unit have identical housings and the printed circuits are different.

 

[zaxwax]

Wow - I might have to rethink getting my clock/speedo cluster converted to a tach/speedo set-up by The Rktmn. Since mine only has the single brake indicator light in the clock (because of the center gauges), I gotta wonder if putting a 4-light cluster in it's place will mess up the function of the gauges.

I think you may have touched on a secondary issue, the printed circuit film on the back. That might be the key to your swap. We need to take good clear pics of the printed circuits for each type and compare them.I suspect the clock/speedo unit (1 and 4 idiot lights) and the no clock/no tach (4 idiot lights) unit have identical housings and the printed circuits are different.

I too had the odd left side clock, gauge cluster combo. They only sell 2 repro printed circuits (tach and non tach) but I was able to use the non tach version in conjunction with the RCCInnovations tach. The tach itself does not use the printed circuit in any way. The printed circuit supplies power to the 3 lights that illuminate the tach as well as the 4 warning lights. Since I only had the brake warning light I left that and Bob supplied me with 3 light sockets without lights in them to function as blanks. The tach has 3 wires, hot, ground and a tach wire that went straight to my MSD box.

While you've got it all apart, I'd recommend switching all the dash lights to LEDs (I think they are 194 base but not sure) and pulling out the blue diffusers. (they will break the tabs when you pull them so there's no going back) Also it's worth redoing the headlight switch while you're in there. I didn't do it, but you might also consider swapping out the 12-5v regulator that is attached to the back of the printed circuit. If you switch to LEDs remember they are polarity sensitive so trace the leads on the circuit and bench power your cluster so you know which LEDs need to be switched. Don't switch them with the power on just in case you short it.

What you want is definitely doable though, the RCCInnovations tach is great. I just sent my amp meter back to bob to have it converted to a voltmeter.

best of luck.

 

[73Vert302]

How rare is this clock? I have not seen it in any of the pictures of interiors of the 73 Mustang.

 

[cudak888]

How rare is this clock? I have not seen it in any of the pictures of interiors of the 73 Mustang.

Pinto donor clock. Also used in some full-size Fords and offered in a version with chrome trim and a "Cartier" badge slapped on it in 1978/79 Lincoln Continentals.

-Kurt

 

[73Vert302]

How rare is this clock? I have not seen it in any of the pictures of interiors of the 73 Mustang.

Pinto donor clock. Also used in some full-size Fords and offered in a version with chrome trim and a "Cartier" badge slapped on it in 1978/79 Lincoln Continentals.

-Kurt

Meaning it was swapped out? and couldnt have come from the factory that way?

 

[OMS]

How rare is this clock? I have not seen it in any of the pictures of interiors of the 73 Mustang.

That is not original to the 71 - 73 Mustang

 

[73Vert302]

Thanks...someone did a pretty good job fitting it in there then...looks factory. Thats why I was confused.

 

[cudak888]

Thanks...someone did a pretty good job fitting it in there then...looks factory. Thats why I was confused.

The clock shell is very similar on the two. Makes the swap simple.

-Kurt

 

[midlife]

I have a refurbish-able 71 underdash harness that is non-tach with the 3 gauge cluster that someone turned in as a core, if any one is interested.

 

[detritusmaximus]

Wow - I might have to rethink getting my clock/speedo cluster converted to a tach/speedo set-up by The Rktmn. Since mine only has the single brake indicator light in the clock (because of the center gauges), I gotta wonder if putting a 4-light cluster in it's place will mess up the function of the gauges.

I think you may have touched on a secondary issue, the printed circuit film on the back. That might be the key to your swap. We need to take good clear pics of the printed circuits for each type and compare them.I suspect the clock/speedo unit (1 and 4 idiot lights) and the no clock/no tach (4 idiot lights) unit have identical housings and the printed circuits are different.

I too had the odd left side clock, gauge cluster combo. They only sell 2 repro printed circuits (tach and non tach) but I was able to use the non tach version in conjunction with the RCCInnovations tach. The tach itself does not use the printed circuit in any way. The printed circuit supplies power to the 3 lights that illuminate the tach as well as the 4 warning lights. Since I only had the brake warning light I left that and Bob supplied me with 3 light sockets without lights in them to function as blanks. The tach has 3 wires, hot, ground and a tach wire that went straight to my MSD box.

While you've got it all apart, I'd recommend switching all the dash lights to LEDs (I think they are 194 base but not sure) and pulling out the blue diffusers. (they will break the tabs when you pull them so there's no going back) Also it's worth redoing the headlight switch while you're in there. I didn't do it, but you might also consider swapping out the 12-5v regulator that is attached to the back of the printed circuit. If you switch to LEDs remember they are polarity sensitive so trace the leads on the circuit and bench power your cluster so you know which LEDs need to be switched. Don't switch them with the power on just in case you short it.

What you want is definitely doable though, the RCCInnovations tach is great. I just sent my amp meter back to bob to have it converted to a voltmeter.

best of luck.

I have a feeling the non-tach printed circuit is used on both non-tach versions of the instrument cluster. Probably the wiring that would be in the main plug for the three idiot lights made redundant by the center gauges is simply not there as it now goes to the center gauges.