90 Burb tachometer question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

miket · 12-26-2004, 12:52 AM

Hello--

My father owns a 90 GMC Suburban 1500 4X4--350 auto. The gauge cluster has everything except a tach and the two largest gauges are speedo and gas. I would like to retro fit a tach where the gas gauge is and move the gas gauge to one of the smaller, open spaces that isn't used. My questions is, was an OEM tach available in that era on any GM vehicle that would match his others and be approximately the same size as his gas gauge? I would also need the smaller gas guage too....anyone have any comments or suggestions?

**special-K** · 12-26-2004, 12:03 PM

No tachs in 80`s-up.But I was wondering if ckusters from earlier model 73-ups would swap-in.I know the dash changed in`81.But cluster seems the same.

miket · 12-26-2004, 01:19 PM

hmmmmm....wasn't there a deisel? I really don't want to swap to a completely different cluster...

**special-K** · 12-27-2004, 01:08 AM

No,the 6.2s never had tachs.

red450ih · 12-27-2004, 03:44 AM

1981 or 82 was the last year for the factory installed tachs. A friend here has an 81 with factory tach. The tach and fuel gauge both have 1980-91 style font/markings. Maybe this will help.

Keith

**special-K** · 12-27-2004, 09:50 AM

That`s good to know.There is a tach-dash for 81-87(81-91 Blazers,Burbs,&3+3s).I still want to know if anyone has used an earlier panel on a later truck.They look the same.W/o measuring or trying to fit it,I can`t tell.Just curious.

red450ih · 12-27-2004, 02:14 PM

they will physicaly fit, but the wiring changed every other year until 81 when they are the same untill 91.

Keith

**special-K** · 12-28-2004, 10:19 PM

Ok,do you know if any diesel equipped vehicles had tachs?If not LTs,maybe a Medium-Duty could come with them.Ya think?

red450ih · 12-30-2004, 02:21 AM

Not sure if any medium truck came with a Tach with Diesel engine, If I were to bet the farm I would say no. If they did, it would have been cable driven.

Keith

1976K5CHALET · 12-30-2004, 11:37 PM

I have seen a few go on ebay that were for 81-87's...
Crosy on this board is the expert...hands down.
And you could goto www.tachman.com for more info...there is a diff between the 6 cyl-8cyl-diesel tachs....even though they look the same....and then there are the c60's and up that had a fuel gauge in the tach and sometimes if equipt with air brakes a dual air psi gauge in the clock small fuel gauge location....

DW

raskolnikov · 12-31-2004, 01:00 PM

I hope this helps a little...
The website 'slosh.com' includes a number of posted suburban pamphlets among otherassorted GM truck stuff. Upon studing the literature, I found that a tach wasn't offered as a factory option in the 82-91 suburban. The pamphlets posted there indicate that Factory tachs at this time were offered in the S-10 and el camino gm trucks, but I don't know what size those were, and how the clusters of those vehicles compared with the Suburban's.
However, I recently posted here about seeing a curious Suburban 'municipal package' vehicle advertised and sold on EBAY. It was an '85 K20, formerly a Fire department vehicle in PA. There were pictures posted in the advertisement, and an interior one revealed a low rev, 5000 rpm factory tach where one normally finds the 5 inch gas gauge in our Suburbans (with the the gas gauge where the optional clock would otherwise be found)!
Therefore, maybe a tach was available, but only as part of a GM special package order not readily available to the public.
At any rate, IMHO, I have no idea why the cluster was not set up as you, and many others, have proposed. It seems natural to have a tach-maybe the decision not to offer one had something to do with the HEI ignition system. I've heard that only electronic tachs will work with the GM HEI system, and maybe this technology wasn't available or available cheaply enough 15-20 years ago (?)
As an aside, I've installed an in-dash, Z-series, low-rev, electronic Autometer tach, measuring 2 1/16 ", in my Silverado cluster where the optional quartz clock was. I bought the tach from Summit for around $100, and installation was relatively painless.
BTW Miket, where are you in Seattle? My wife and I lived out there for about 6 years while she was at the UW. We lived in Ballard. Go Huskies!

miket · 12-31-2004, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raskolnikov

I hope this helps a little...
The website 'slosh.com' includes a number of posted suburban pamphlets among otherassorted GM truck stuff. Upon studing the literature, I found that a tach wasn't offered as a factory option in the 82-91 suburban. The pamphlets posted there indicate that Factory tachs at this time were offered in the S-10 and el camino gm trucks, but I don't know what size those were, and how the clusters of those vehicles compared with the Suburban's.
However, I recently posted here about seeing a curious Suburban 'municipal package' vehicle advertised and sold on EBAY. It was an '85 K20, formerly a Fire department vehicle in PA. There were pictures posted in the advertisement, and an interior one revealed a low rev, 5000 rpm factory tach where one normally finds the 5 inch gas gauge in our Suburbans (with the the gas gauge where the optional clock would otherwise be found)!
Therefore, maybe a tach was available, but only as part of a GM special package order not readily available to the public.
At any rate, IMHO, I have no idea why the cluster was not set up as you, and many others, have proposed. It seems natural to have a tach-maybe the decision not to offer one had something to do with the HEI ignition system. I've heard that only electronic tachs will work with the GM HEI system, and maybe this technology wasn't available or available cheaply enough 15-20 years ago (?)
As an aside, I've installed an in-dash, Z-series, low-rev, electronic Autometer tach, measuring 2 1/16 ", in my Silverado cluster where the optional quartz clock was. I bought the tach from Summit for around $100, and installation was relatively painless.
BTW Miket, where are you in Seattle? My wife and I lived out there for about 6 years while she was at the UW. We lived in Ballard. Go Huskies!

Thats great news! I need to investigate that.

By the way, I live in Issaquah----if you haven't been here in 6 years or so, you might be surprised at some of the growth. Ballard is a nice place.

aggiedave98 · 12-31-2004, 09:49 PM

i actually have a guage cluster that has the gas gauge as one of the 4 small gauages and the tach in the large spot on the right where the gas gauage normally is. a guy gave it to me when I sold my tires/rims and he was an hour late...

i haven't looked into putting it in yet. i put a temp guage in one of my 4 small openings so I don't have a place for that if I put this in. Ff somebody really wants it, make an offer. I can take a pic if you want.

miket · 12-31-2004, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aggiedave98

i actually have a guage cluster that has the gas gauge as one of the 4 small gauages and the tach in the large spot on the right where the gas gauage normally is. a guy gave it to me when I sold my tires/rims and he was an hour late...

i haven't looked into putting it in yet. i put a temp guage in one of my 4 small openings so I don't have a place for that if I put this in. Ff somebody really wants it, make an offer. I can take a pic if you want.

Dibs...post a pic (or email it to me) please I am interested.

miket · 01-06-2005, 12:36 PM

Hey Guys--I need to get ahold of aggiedave regarding his bezel---does anyone know how to reach him? I don't have his email which---I sent him a pm but have not heard back...anyone know him?

aggiedave98 · 01-07-2005, 12:30 AM

sorry for the delay... don't get on much during the week...

just tried to upload, but the 640x480 pix are 150k each... i'll PM you asking for your personal email...

Dave

miket · 01-07-2005, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aggiedave98

sorry for the delay... don't get on much during the week...

just tried to upload, but the 640x480 pix are 150k each... i'll PM you asking for your personal email...

Dave

YGM

miket · 01-08-2005, 12:34 AM

Hey guys----FWIW---I found out a tach was available on the 90 Suburban 2500. The option code was 8A8. It was where the big fuel gauge normally sits and the fuel gauge gets moved to the smaller opening.

aggiedave98 · 01-08-2005, 12:40 PM

Mike,

Email me your address so I can send it!!

Dave

12-26-2004, 12:52 AM	#1
miket Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,466	90 Burb tachometer question Hello-- My father owns a 90 GMC Suburban 1500 4X4--350 auto. The gauge cluster has everything except a tach and the two largest gauges are speedo and gas. I would like to retro fit a tach where the gas gauge is and move the gas gauge to one of the smaller, open spaces that isn't used. My questions is, was an OEM tach available in that era on any GM vehicle that would match his others and be approximately the same size as his gas gauge? I would also need the smaller gas guage too....anyone have any comments or suggestions? __________________ FocuzTech Performance Evergreen Protective Coatings Gatorhyde...the best kept secret in spray in bed lining & protection

12-26-2004, 12:03 PM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	No tachs in 80`s-up.But I was wondering if ckusters from earlier model 73-ups would swap-in.I know the dash changed in`81.But cluster seems the same. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-26-2004, 01:19 PM	#3
miket Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,466	hmmmmm....wasn't there a deisel? I really don't want to swap to a completely different cluster... __________________ FocuzTech Performance Evergreen Protective Coatings Gatorhyde...the best kept secret in spray in bed lining & protection

12-27-2004, 01:08 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	No,the 6.2s never had tachs. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-27-2004, 03:44 AM	#5
red450ih Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Nashville, Tennessee Posts: 225	1981 or 82 was the last year for the factory installed tachs. A friend here has an 81 with factory tach. The tach and fuel gauge both have 1980-91 style font/markings. Maybe this will help. Keith __________________ GMC

12-27-2004, 09:50 AM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	That`s good to know.There is a tach-dash for 81-87(81-91 Blazers,Burbs,&3+3s).I still want to know if anyone has used an earlier panel on a later truck.They look the same.W/o measuring or trying to fit it,I can`t tell.Just curious. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-27-2004, 02:14 PM	#7
red450ih Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Nashville, Tennessee Posts: 225	they will physicaly fit, but the wiring changed every other year until 81 when they are the same untill 91. Keith __________________ GMC

12-28-2004, 10:19 PM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Ok,do you know if any diesel equipped vehicles had tachs?If not LTs,maybe a Medium-Duty could come with them.Ya think? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-30-2004, 02:21 AM	#9
red450ih Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Nashville, Tennessee Posts: 225	Not sure if any medium truck came with a Tach with Diesel engine, If I were to bet the farm I would say no. If they did, it would have been cable driven. Keith __________________ GMC

12-30-2004, 11:37 PM	#10
1976K5CHALET Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 610	I have seen a few go on ebay that were for 81-87's... Crosy on this board is the expert...hands down. And you could goto www.tachman.com for more info...there is a diff between the 6 cyl-8cyl-diesel tachs....even though they look the same....and then there are the c60's and up that had a fuel gauge in the tach and sometimes if equipt with air brakes a dual air psi gauge in the clock small fuel gauge location.... DW __________________ Doug Wright aka K5NUTT over @coloradok5.com Owner of http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChevyK5BlazerChalets Certified K5 Nut

12-31-2004, 01:00 PM	#11
raskolnikov Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: cape cod, ma Posts: 4	Special package tach? I hope this helps a little... The website 'slosh.com' includes a number of posted suburban pamphlets among otherassorted GM truck stuff. Upon studing the literature, I found that a tach wasn't offered as a factory option in the 82-91 suburban. The pamphlets posted there indicate that Factory tachs at this time were offered in the S-10 and el camino gm trucks, but I don't know what size those were, and how the clusters of those vehicles compared with the Suburban's. However, I recently posted here about seeing a curious Suburban 'municipal package' vehicle advertised and sold on EBAY. It was an '85 K20, formerly a Fire department vehicle in PA. There were pictures posted in the advertisement, and an interior one revealed a low rev, 5000 rpm factory tach where one normally finds the 5 inch gas gauge in our Suburbans (with the the gas gauge where the optional clock would otherwise be found)! Therefore, maybe a tach was available, but only as part of a GM special package order not readily available to the public. At any rate, IMHO, I have no idea why the cluster was not set up as you, and many others, have proposed. It seems natural to have a tach-maybe the decision not to offer one had something to do with the HEI ignition system. I've heard that only electronic tachs will work with the GM HEI system, and maybe this technology wasn't available or available cheaply enough 15-20 years ago (?) As an aside, I've installed an in-dash, Z-series, low-rev, electronic Autometer tach, measuring 2 1/16 ", in my Silverado cluster where the optional quartz clock was. I bought the tach from Summit for around $100, and installation was relatively painless. BTW Miket, where are you in Seattle? My wife and I lived out there for about 6 years while she was at the UW. We lived in Ballard. Go Huskies! __________________ 1986 c-20 suburban eaton posi Two-tone, pin-striped and proud Last edited by raskolnikov; 12-31-2004 at 01:06 PM.

12-31-2004, 09:49 PM	#13
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	i actually have a guage cluster that has the gas gauge as one of the 4 small gauages and the tach in the large spot on the right where the gas gauage normally is. a guy gave it to me when I sold my tires/rims and he was an hour late... i haven't looked into putting it in yet. i put a temp guage in one of my 4 small openings so I don't have a place for that if I put this in. Ff somebody really wants it, make an offer. I can take a pic if you want.

01-06-2005, 12:36 PM	#15
miket Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,466	Hey Guys--I need to get ahold of aggiedave regarding his bezel---does anyone know how to reach him? I don't have his email which---I sent him a pm but have not heard back...anyone know him? __________________ FocuzTech Performance Evergreen Protective Coatings Gatorhyde...the best kept secret in spray in bed lining & protection

01-07-2005, 12:30 AM	#16
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	sorry for the delay... don't get on much during the week... just tried to upload, but the 640x480 pix are 150k each... i'll PM you asking for your personal email... Dave

01-08-2005, 12:34 AM	#18
miket Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,466	Hey guys----FWIW---I found out a tach was available on the 90 Suburban 2500. The option code was 8A8. It was where the big fuel gauge normally sits and the fuel gauge gets moved to the smaller opening. __________________ FocuzTech Performance Evergreen Protective Coatings Gatorhyde...the best kept secret in spray in bed lining & protection



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01-08-2005, 12:40 PM	#19
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	Mike, Email me your address so I can send it!! Dave

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