I hope I can get this working as my problem if I can get a new gauge from Ford or ebay will be which one do I need. I have a parts manual on CD that shows five different part numbers that vary by production date. I have already confirmed some years ago when the gauge was working correctly that the gauge set in there isn't the one prior to 9/89 (although the car was made in
8/89) which used a different sender (midrange on the gauge for the earlier one was 56 ohms) .
There are no numbers on gauge set that match part numbers but the whole cluster is labelled in black felt pen on the white plastic surround something like "MV-1 Test Inst 68K" which I assume suggests it was a prototype or new type instrument cluster fitted at 68 km or perhaps even 68,000 km. I will 1st be trying the one that goes from 9/89 to 6/91 although Ford New Products Engineering owned the car to 1992 so it could also be the 6/91 to 2/92 set or even the 2/92 onwards set. Most things on the car including the even original plastic centre caps on the mags are labelled in beige paint or black felt pen "MV-1".
The joys of owning an ex prototype. Though with luck Titan Ford's parts guys might find an NB annotation on their online parts catalogue as they occasionally have.
The car is essentially mostly a mix of NA and NC Fairlane parts with a few bits from other model Oz and US models thrown in. The original ECU computer (since died and replaced by me) in self diagnostics mode identified it as a 6 cylinder Thunderbird so I suspect the multipoint Electronic Fuel Injections was a modified version of that on the 6 cylinder T bird and they just copied and modified the ROM software in the ECU. It appears at one time it had front as well as rear self levelling suspension (disconnected air lines were still in place running to the top of the front shockies). The only other odds parts that as I can remember that aren't NA or NC parts have been tie rods ends, bypass hose, and some of the auto gearbox internals (some solenoids in vertical rather than horizontal positions - it appears to be the first 4 speed auto fitted to an oz made Ford). When I had to rebuild the motor I also found that although the head was stamped 3.9 L, the engine bearings and the crankshaft were different and it apparently was stroked by Ford from 3.9 L to 4 L. Luckily ACL also knew about it and had several sets of bearings to fit. In fact many aftermarket makers recognise and list NB parts (some even list an NB II suggesting there might be another although more likely the just assumed there was an NB model equivalent to the EB Series II Falcon). However, Ford refuse to acknowledge the model exists.
According to Ford despite what's on the compliance plate, I simply have a mislabelled NA (they have even offered to change the compliance plate for me - an offer I politely declined) . It might be because when I asked DOTARS (who issue compliance plates) that Department advised that it was illegal plate had never been authorised by them for use on a production vehicle for sale to the public. I also chased up its rego history and it was always registered as an NB model by Ford. Ford do acknowledge the car is one of their ex prototypes and say hat it should have been scrapped rather than sold. There are two reason why it might have been sold: a) it appears to have been abandoned at a Ford dealer in Geraldton while on an around OZ test drive and the dealer simply got tired of it taking up space (the evidence is it blew a head gaskets that was replaced just before it was sold but it also has 1992 upholstery and carpets fitted so perhaps it got caught in a flood or something) and b) it was sold at the when Ford were claiming they were at risk of closing the OZ operations and they were selling off all sorts of surplus assets.
Titan Ford parts staff have been very supportive though. They have taken an interest in the car and been very helpful in ID ing parts as required. As far as they can ascertain my car is also the only NB, or mislabelled NA, that escaped into the public domain.