as rare as hens teeth.
 

Today I see this 82 or so 3/4 ton truck on a flat bed and its going to the crusher. Instinct says to pull over climb up and check it out. Low and behold it had the tachometer guage cluster. I couldnt believe it. I've seen maybe no more than 4 of these in person. They seem more rare than the ones on 67-72's. How often do you guys see them?

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

never seen one

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

Me neither, except on here.

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

Tach clusters aren't too hard to find...not like factory pickup bucket seats and the tracks! :)

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

I haven't seen that many either. Maybe 3 of them ever. I have a set from an earlier truck. Not sure what year they are from. Maybe a 78-79 as far as I can tell. Mine don't look like that, they have the blue lines on them, that's why I believe they have to be 78 or 79. That, and the fact that the oil pressure gage is electronic instead of mechanical.

I believe that all of the tach gages are rare. You just don't see all that many of them no matter what year of truck they came from. From what I've been able to find out, the later ones like the set that you have are even more rare than the ones like mine. That was a very nice score! Good thing that you looked! You never know where those tach gages might turn up! :metal:

I had been looking for a set like yours since I bought my 86. The set that I have was given to me by a friend of mine. I have been told that they will work in my 86, but will look incorrect for the year. I don't really care about the look that much as long as they work! As soon as I figure out exactly what year of truck that mine came from I'm going to order the harness that I need for it since the harness didn't come with mine.

One more thing that do know about the tach gage is that the 6 cylinder and the V8 are different since the 6 revs up at a different speed than a V8, and the tach will read incorrectly as a result. I don't know how to tell by looking whether a set came from a 6 or V8 truck. Maybe someone else here knows how to tell the difference since they all look identical.

I have been told that these gages were also used in C-60 series trucks. I don't know if that is true for sure or not, but if it is, it would be another source to find these tach gages. Maybe somebody here knows if this is true or not as well. ...Joe

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

If I could change anything about my truck, it'd have a 4-speed on the floor, a 350 instead of a 305, and a FACTORY TACH! :)

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

good find breh... lemme know if you wanna get rid of it lol... I can pick it up in november lol.

when I go back home, Im gonna be diggin thru my fav old junkyard for stuff to ship to myself :D

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

From what I understand, more heavy duty trucks 3/4 and up with manual trannys got the factory tach, very few auto trans ever had them.

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

Not all of them did because I was in a truck day before yesterday I was in a 78 3/4 that was a 4sp and it did not have a tach.

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

and to think I could have had a 78 or 79 shortbed with sport bumpers, sport mirrors, buckets, and tach dash... for $1200.. Body needed work and wasnt the cleanest truck I had ever seen but for options alone it would have been worth it.. oh well.. Only one I have ever seen in person though..

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

super nice

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

I had one in my 81 4x4 camper special 1ton 4speed that I bought for a parts truck. I sold the cluster for 150.00. Did you get the wiring I guess it is very important to grab the wiring for the Tach.

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

I cut all the harness from behind the plug a ways. this truck was getting a car loaded on top of it so my time was very limited.

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

If I remember correctly the fellow that bought it said there was a stint in the wire and it will not work without it. I am sure you could purchase one, if it is needed I am not sure just going buy what I was told? Great find though it is nice to have a storey behind the parts you build you rig with! I don't think that they are rare but it does take some time to find them, anything that takes time and effort is worth $$
Any one know about the Tach wiring for sure?

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

There is a filter to prevent electrical spikes that is usually attached to the firewall right behind the distributor. There is a wire coming out of both ends; one connects to the "TACH" terminal on the distributor, and the other goes to the tach. These are not pickup only, they can be found on most GM V8 cars with a tach.

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

It's not required to have the filter to operate. I don't on my 79 SB. All you need is 3 wires: 12v ignition hot, ground, and a lead to the tach terminal on the distributor.

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

man i wish i could find one of thee for my 76 crewcab....for now im not gonna use a tach, but if i found one lie this, id get ti if i could

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

These are the wiring harnesses that I ws referring to earlier. They show them for several different years, just click on the one that you need. ...Joe

http://www.brotherstrucks.com/products.asp?dept=748

They only show up to 1982. Did they quit offering the tach as an option after 1982?

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

they are not that rare. but they are few and far apart. my mama truck had one and my truck got one and i bought one for my other truck. i want on for a 84 and i be done

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

You said it was headed for the crusher. So, did they crush the truck or not??????? With the gauges still inside?

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Every time I get in my 77 Cheyenne...;)

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

Showoff! ;)

Re: as rare as hens teeth.
 

funny
just tonight
i happen upon a car show as i was driving down the highway.
looking for a possible 67-72 mixed in. yes one i'll post that soon W/ pic
anyway he mention some parts he has. a dash cluster w/ a tach woodgrain
i havn't been to his place yet to see it. or if i want it. what would be a fair price
he mentioned being in an upcomming issue of a popular truck magizine not sure of the name.
i will try to watch for it.