Well, I saw the hole where the sensor was supposed to go on the engine I took out. Looked with a flashlight this afternoon and didn't see the hole anywhere on the car. I'll take a closer look at it again tomorrow. Looks like a tough place to get to. My SD still had the original engine, and finally, at nearly 729K miles, I figured it was just time. Broken valve guides replaced at 703K, new timing chain and some other things done. Finally she just got to the point where she would barely move and just barely got me home on the last trip. She was just too tired to go on! Rattling that sounded like it was coming from the bottom end pretty much made the decision for replacement. Replacement engine supposedly only has about 130-140K on it (no documentation, no proof of that mileage), so hopefully it will last a while. Trying to get the cooling system working right, but otherwise just getting the speedometer/odometer working (my fault, I failed to remove the sensor before I pulled the engine and stripped the wires out of it), and getting the tach working, transmission adjustment (it shifts a little too smoothly for my taste), and a transmission fluid/filter change, I think we'll be set. Gave her a bath today, and she's still a pretty sight!

@mach4 - I saw your signature line (I need to get mine set up). How did the 380SL diesel conversion work out? I drove one of those cars many years ago (it was actually given to me as a loaner for two days when I had my 300SDL in the shop), and it was a great little car. That's the only one I've ever driven. I also like the Ford diesel pickups. Never had a Power Stroke like you have, but my old beater that I use on our cattle farm is one of the first 7.3L diesels, a 1988 F250, built in late 1987. Had an aftermarket turbo on it when I bought it, and it's a great machine!

@ toomany MBZ, I was wondering about that as well. My car is a 1984 year model (built Sept. 1983), and I wonder if I couldn't spot that hole for the sensor because maybe it was slightly moved in the engine I put in. I'm not 100% certain on the year model of the replacement engine. I'd assume it has to be pretty close. I'll take a closer look tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help.

Attached Thumbnails

   

@ vstech - Honestly, I'm not completely sure about the year model of the engine I bought. I had a 1982 transmission in the car hooked to the original 1984 engine (late 83), but I don't suppose that had anything to do with it. Are older (pre late 83) sensors mounted somewhere else?

Honestly, if it means pulling the engine to switch something, I'll just do without the tach. I have never done anything this major in my life. Working in a cramped 100-year-old garage with limited lighting and space, that's completely out of the question, lol! It was nice, with all those miles, that everything still worked (including the tach), but no way I'm pulling this thing again!

Thanks much for the input!