Camaro tach problem

[gregbr]

For those Camaro tach experts....I finished the gauge mod of installing a Camaro tach in my cluster. By the way, the needle from a spare fuel gauge for the truck will fit the Camaro tach, it's about 1/8" longer though. Anyway, my tach reads very high while the truck is running, must be from a v-6. Anybody know how to convert it to v-8 or do I have to buy another one?? Thanks, Greg

p.s. I added the Camaro volt meter also. Not the best match, but better than the amp gauge.

[Longhorn Man]

I like the needle idea....makes it almost look like it belongs there.
I read somewhere that you can add something inline that'll make it read properly, but I honestly have no clue what nor how.
Hopefully it'll jar some one's memory though.

Good job on the install.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Get ahold of byrd (I think thats his name????)he is pretty good with the guage clusters.....

[70c10]

Nice job Greg!

[gregbr]

Thanks

[byrd]

Dam greg that does look good!! Lamar would be the one to answer this one, hopefully him will chime in. My knowledge is strickly stock truck gauges, for my electronics needs, I use Lamar . Randy

[70GMCer]

"Lamar" on this one........

[tnblazerk5]

not to change the subject here but how did you change the needle on that ? i guess what i am askin is how do they come off the tach and fuel gauge with out hurting any thing ?

[lamar]

Try a camaro tach filter. I've never ran into this problem berfore, but some camaros had a tach filter inline. That would be my best guess. How is it hooked up? I've seen some guys hook them up a little different. I always hook them up to test them the same way they are wired in the camaros. I'll try and find a picture and post it if I can find it. Let me know if this helps. Lamar.

[dennislbrooks]

excellent

[badpeanut]

Originally Posted by tnblazerk5

not to change the subject here but how did you change the needle on that ? i guess what i am askin is how do they come off the tach and fuel gauge with out hurting any thing ?

Yes, more details please!

[lamar]

To remove the needles, I use a small tool I made that. It is simple to make and works great, I'll get a picture and post it for you. Lamar.

[gregbr]

I just used my pocket knife and gently rolled or twisted the knife to roll the blade under the needle center. Be carefull, it has a very tiny shaft. but I think it looks much better. To put it together, I hooked up 12 volts to the volt meter and tach 12v terminal off the amp gauge, then hooked up the coil terminal to the HEI tach terminal, set the still apart gauges in the dash, turn the ignition to ON, tap the tach shaft lightly to make sure it is back all the way, then set the needle to 0, and gave it a slight tap in the center. You can probably do this in your shop using a car battery, just jumper the coil terminal to the 12v terminal while you set the needle. I found out my battery charger will NOT work to do this, it was way off. With this wiring I only have 1 wire to connect coming off the cluster, and I installed a connector on it so it can be unplugged to remove the cluster next time.

lamar, the other tach works fine connected the same way, so it's something in the circuit boards that is different. After taking both apart this morning, I don't see how to combine the 2 since they have different board types. The needles are also different, so they can't be interchanged either. From what I see, if you want to use the truck style needle, you have to get the camaro tach with the long needle (has orange across the black center button). Greg

[gregbr]

Update: I put on a better picture at the top, it also shows the long needle I keep refering to. I found another camaro tach with the long needle and it had V8 wrote on it, but everything on the circuit board is the same as the one I have installed. However this tach don't work. The only difference I see on these tachs is the red line....the one installed is brownish at 4000 then red at 4500 & up, where the one marked V8 only has red at 4700 & up.

Lamar, I think you are right!! Can you tell me where the filter is & what it looks like? I might need to buy a couple. Greg

[53burb]

I have seen those filters on EBay before. I believe all GMs used them. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TACH-...spagenameZWD1V & http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CAMAR...spagenameZWDVW...I'm sure there are others cheaper...

[lamar]

This is the tool I made to remove the needles with out breaking them. Hope this will help. Well pic is to large to up load, if anyone wants to see it send me your email address. Lamar.

[PICKMUP]

I was building these years ago. The 7K tach is better for a hot v8 and if your truck is fast, the 130 mph speedo fits too!
If you can find a unit out of a 71 Z-28 the tach goes to 8K and the speedo to 150mph.
Sorry about the lousy pics. It is hard to shoot these in the truck.

[72BLUZ]

pickmup i like that steering wheel!!!

[badpeanut]

Originally Posted by 72BLUZ

pickmup i like that steering wheel!!!

I agree. I understand it is a late '80s through early '90s Chevy/GMC full-size pickup and S10 steering wheel with an aftermarket horn button, but I've never seen aftermarket horn buttons available anywhere.

[CEE1NG_RED]

Was the problem resolved? If so, any how to's with pics??? Last, how do you remove the needle/pointer???

[JMac11]

Been a long time but seems like on my Camaro the tach would almost me at about -600 when the key was in the ACC or run position without the motor running.