factory tach/100mph speedo

[Alias137]

Well, here are the pics. I didn't have much of a chance to clean the cluster up, just a quick wipe with a damp cloth. As you can see, the paint is kind of faded on the gauges. I think I'm gonna use the temp gauge I already have, as it has actual temp. numbers instead of only the "C" and "H". Also, the cluster mounting holes have broken as you see in the pictures. I don't want to buy another whole cluster for the housing.

[Alias137]

Here's a few more.

[Alias137]

Here's the last of them. I probably already posted all of these, but they show where the mounts have been broken.

[Alias137]

I guess I can't go wrong for 40 bucks. There are 2 or 3 more sets there too. I don't know if they are all from the same years or not. I'll check them out if get back there in the next few days or so. I'm loving this salvage yard. They have about 20 or 30 square bodies there. I picked up a door off of a suburban the other day. Full power door-complete with switches and panels-60 bucks.

[b454rat]

If there is more of the tach dashes, get every one of them and put them on evilbay or sell them here. I had one like yours that sold for just shy of $200.

[motornut]

i put a factory tach in my 81 lemans from a wrecked 86 grand prix,the cluster setup is opposite to the the trucks,but would the just the inside of the tach fit?could it be the same? i have old pics from doing the cluster over,will post

[b454rat]

A tach will fit in a non-tach cluster, just need to cut a hole in back it to clear.

[motornut]

hard to say if it's the right size......the tach i ran a wire to it threw the fuse box ,wire harness,sorry old pics thought i had a better one.......repinned the idiot lights to the center of the cluster,put small gauges in where they were before........just wondering would they look factory like /fit the hole?don't think i have them any more

[Alias137]

Just bench tested the tach--it works! It is very responsive too. I guess I'll consider myself lucky.

[old Rusty C10]

Originally Posted by b454rat

If there is more of the tach dashes, get every one of them and put them on evilbay or sell them here. I had one like yours that sold for just shy of $200.

I totally agree that they do bring alot of money BUT please bear in mind that if you want to sell items here (or want to buy or ask what things are worth) you must be a subscribing member. There is a link in the sticky section at the top of this forum where you can subscribe.

[Alias137]

Hey guys,
So I finally got around to installing my factory tach. I will explain what happened to maybe have a few of you avoid the same problems. I got the tach and cluster as a whole unit to install into my 86 GMC. The cluster was from an 80 dually. I thought it would match right up-long story short-it didn't. My seatbelt light wouldn't go off, high beam indicator was on only during the initial acc switch, left turn signal wouldn't turn on and right wouldn't turn off. The oil pressure gauge was very jumpy (probably just a bad gauge though). So here is how I remedied the problem. Since I knew my circuit board worked fine before I replaced it with the one from the 1980 truck, I decided to re-install it. I cut a hole in the back of my cluster from the 86 and clipped off the fuel gauge prongs (clipped them off enough so they would stay in but not interfere with the tach). I soldered 3 conductor 16 ga. shielded wire from the old fuel gauge prongs to the new fuel gauge. Done and done. I don't really know how to do all of the re-pinning, and this seemed to be the most logical solution. Everything works as it should, so that's good. I painted the needles flourescent red with tamiya model spray paint. I also found some replacement led's that brightened up the panel (after painting the inside white). The led's were a deal by the way. I paid .99 each, and they directly replace the incandescent stockers. If anyone is interested, I got them from ledlight.com and they are part number 78569W short round. I don't work for them or anything, just took me a long time to figure it out, so I thought I'd pass it along. Beware though, they are polarity sensitive-so if they don't work, turn it around. Anyway here are a few pics- and thanks for the help!

[JohnC]

Looks good man! Well worth the investment.

[joe231]

cool!!

[willett]

not to jack any threads here, but how did you get your gauge plastic so shiny bob?

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by Alias137

I thought it would match right up-long story short-it didn't. My seatbelt light wouldn't go off, high beam indicator was on only during the initial acc switch, left turn signal wouldn't turn on and right wouldn't turn off. The oil pressure gauge was very jumpy (probably just a bad gauge though). So here is how I remedied the problem....

You went about that the hard way. All you need to repin the connector is a small screwdriver and a meter. Just find the questionable circuit test it and move it where it is supposed to go, you can tell by tracing the printed portion on the guage.

To repin it, put a small screwdriver or awl in the pin slot, compress it and pull it out the back. Then move the offending ones where it goes until you get them all correct. Shouldn't take more than 30 minutes most of the time..

BTW based on your Bezel, was your truck a Diesel previously?

[Alias137]

It's that easy? I didn't think the way I did it was too hard either. Not factory correct.... but. No it wasn't a diesel, it is a gmc sierra classic with a stock super chocked down (thanks to the awesome California bueracracy) standard 350. What about the bezel makes you think it was a diesel?

[86swb]

Yep, the 80's tachs are hard to fine. I got mine a long time ago here on the board. The 80's tach have the 85mph gage and the 70's has the 100mph. There are not too many of the 80's out there so that is why the highter price.

[48cj2a]

Anyone know if the 80 cluster w/tach will work in a diesel. Like to upgrade my CUCV M1009 to a gauge and tach cluster.

I read on another forum that the tach signal is picked up from the alternator.

[b454rat]

I have a tach dash that is supposedly out of a diesel truck from the 80s. It has the same wires off the tach as a gasser, but the tach reads to 4k and no redline instead of 5k and yellow and redline.

I want to swap a Cummins into my truck, I'd like to find out how to hook a tach up to the alternator myself or of some other way.

[48cj2a]

Check out this thread on steelsoldiers.com: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/newrepl...reply&p=542916


Not sure if this is adaptable to the factor tach: http://www.egauges.com/pdf/AutoMeter/148i.pdf

[BamaDave]

This is an older thread but I really want to do this to my truck. If anyone knows where to find a cluster like the one Alias137 found(85mph/5000RPM), I sure could use the help. I have a 86 2wd s.classic.