For the better part of three decades, Scott Drake Enterprises has kept the high-quality reproduction parts coming to classic Mustang enthusiasts. One of the latest examples is the reproduction Rally-Pac for '65-'66 Mustangs.
For the ever-popular Rally-Pac, Scott Drake acquired the tooling from another manufacturer that had been reproducing the vintage tach and clock clusters for a long time. Drake has taken an already terrific product and made it better with more features and available colors than before. You can now get Electroluminescent (EL) tachometer and clock faces in your Rally-Pac if that's what you need to match an EL instrument panel. Instead of an old-fashioned electromechanical clock movement, you get a reliable quartz movement with less battery drain and on-time performance.
"The needs of today's enthusiasts are growing quite diverse as they build and maintain their vintage Mustangs," Scott Drake tells us. "Whether it's a restoration project, a custom build, or a routine maintenance to a daily driver, our team takes great pride in offering the finest engineered parts for every project." Drake added that not only are these Rally-Pacs accurate in every detail, they exceed original Ford engineering standards.
Scott Drake Rally-Pacs have a powdercoated finish for outstanding durability. Available colors include white, black, aqua, dark red, bright red, light blue, parchment, Ivy Gold, and satin chrome. You get high-pressure zinc die-cast construction for exceptional quality and longevity. Both 6,000 and 8,000 rpm tachometers are available for V-8 applications, with a 6,000 rpm unit available for six-cylinder Mustangs.
The Scott Drake Rally-Pacs are easy to install thanks to included instructions. We're adding the "high-profile" Rally-Pac, as used with 5-dial instrumentation, to a '66 Mustang in process, so not everything is installed yet, including the instrument panel.
This is the Scott Drake Rally-Pac...
This is the Scott Drake Rally-Pac in white with EL faces to match our instrument panel. You've got to appreciate the detail. It lights up in an easy-on-the-eyes green or blue, which is easy to read day or night.
It is important to understand...
It is important to understand what makes the Scott Drake Rally-Pac function. Clock power comes from the courtesy light circuit, which has power all the time. Underdash harness installation begins here with courtesy light power. Power goes to the clock first, then back to the courtesy light door switch (driver's side). This means the clock is also on the courtesy light fuse. Be sure to disconnect your battery before starting the installation.
These two underdash harness...
These two underdash harness leads get us instrument light power. Pull out the headlight switch and the blue with red stripe wire provides Rally-Pac lighting power. The black lead/eyelet attaches to the ground screw behind your Mustang's instrument panel. When you dim and brighten instrument lighting, Rally-Pac lighting corresponds accordingly.
Safely tie the underdash harness...
Safely tie the underdash harness as shown to prevent chafing and short circuits.
These are the plugs from the...
These are the plugs from the underdash harness. The Scott Drake Rally-Pac plugs into these with ease. The red triplex plug is instrument light power. When you order the EL Rally-Pac, it does not get instrument light power from this plug. Instead, it gets its power from the EL instrument light circuit at the instrument panel. Black is ground. Blue is clock power from the courtesy light circuit.
These are the leads from the...
These are the leads from the Rally-Pac. From left, black is ground, green with red wire goes to the negative side of the ignition coil (distributor side), blue is clock power, and black female is switched ignition power that leads to the power post on the ignition switch. Switched ignition power operates the tachometer. Those smaller two-pin plugs are for Rally-Pac EL faces. They are tied to the EL instrument cluster faces.
Here's the Rally-Pac to underdash...
Here's the Rally-Pac to underdash harness connections. Note the clock power and ground connections. When you have EL faces, the red triplex plug isn't used. Not shown here is the switched ignition lead (black).
This is the steering column...
This is the steering column bracket with rubber insulator. Carefully set the Rally-Pac on the column just below the collar and center it. Take care not to scratch your column paint. Install screws and lock washers, taking care to watch wire harness routing.
Tighten the self-tapping screws...
Tighten the self-tapping screws using a 5/16-inch socket. Alternate sides until uniformly snug.
The Rally-Pac wiring harness...
The Rally-Pac wiring harness conduit is fitted and marked next. Drill a 1/16-inch hole at the dashboard, making sure the conduit ends at the bottom for best results. Install the provided screw. The Rally-Pac wiring should be routed between the steering column and fresh air control.
These two-pin connectors are...
These two-pin connectors are for the Rally-Pac's EL faces, with each lead going to each face. These connectors are tied into the EL instrument panel connectors and are controlled both by the headlight switch and EL controller.
Here's our installed Scott...
Here's our installed Scott Drake Rally-Pac with EL faces. Because this is a Mustang in process, we don't have the instrument panel installed, nor are we able to operate the EL feature yet. At this point, we would normally reconnect the battery, then check clock and tachometer for proper function. Set the clock by pulling out on the knob, just like an original Mustang Rally-Pac.