Gauge Cluster & Tach Question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

RuralRoute C-30 · 03-20-2011, 12:05 PM

I understand earlier clusters, 70's, are not compatible to the 80's. Amp vs volt gauge and the speedo, 100mph vs 85mph, appears to be what visually designates the two besides the volt/amp difference and circuit board differences that exist.

Yet my question is this: Can one take a tach and the smaller fuel gauge from the earlier or any cluster and put in an 80's cluster? Would it work? (think 85...I am

)

Seems there are more earlier tach clusters for the 70's than the 80's I see on ebay, so I'm asking, since I am soon back to taking my gauge cluster out once again to update my dash and interior. If I can just swap out my fuel gauge for a tach and install the small fuel gauge where I have no clock anyway, is this an option, or is that circuit board the master controller?

Basically the simple question is: Are the gauges themselves interchangeable except for the volt and amp gauges that are definitely different? Will the circuit board "notice" the difference if I install a tach and a "new" fuel gauge if I leave the other gauges alone?

Figure this question is about as clear as mud so bear with me.

Mark

RandyP · 03-20-2011, 12:50 PM

It's been asked 100 times before, best info you can find to learn up on it all, is: http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...achometers.htm

RuralRoute C-30 · 03-20-2011, 12:56 PM

Thanks for the link, forgot about that one.

A gray hair moment.

Mark

80chevyshortbox · 03-20-2011, 02:12 PM

i bought a gagecluster at a swapmeet and it had a tach idk what year of truck its out of but any way i ended up taking the tach and fule gage and i swaped it in to my original gagecluster. it seems to work fine.

cluster from swapmeet

my original cluster with the tach and the fule gage.

**Zoomad75** · 03-20-2011, 10:47 PM

I've installed a volt gauge in my 75 cluster that had an amp gauge in it to start with. I bent back the tabs that the amp gauge used to connect the gauge to the printed circuit. With those out of the way I ran external wires for the power and ground to the new volt gauge. It works just fine.

The only thing I don't like when mixing the early and late versions is the different font to the numbers. Not having them match makes it look like you cobbled it together from other vehicles. It just doesn't look finished. One could fix that by using some type of gauge overlay to make them match.

b454rat · 04-07-2011, 07:24 AM

Nothing special. The clocks are getting harder to find, but still some out there.

Anything with a tach in it used to be worth money, not sure what the going rate is now.

sumran · 04-07-2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outrider 52

I am helping liquidate a salvage yard with several '73/'87 Chevy trucks...
Dan

We could help. What are friends for?

bmchevy1979 · 04-07-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80chevyshortbox

my original cluster with the tach and the fule gage.

not to thread jack but where did you get the 140mph speedo

bmchevy1979 · 04-07-2011, 10:48 AM

never mind looked a little closer

RandyP · 04-07-2011, 10:48 AM

It's not a MPH speedo, it's a KMH speedo. Go up to Canada.

Jonboy · 04-07-2011, 11:08 AM

The mechanical oil pressure gauge was from 73-77, for all trucks with gauges. 73-75 used an amp gauge, 76-77 had voltage gauges, and all used 100 MPH speedometer. Not overly rare, should bring $30-60 depending on condition.

GmtGmt · 04-07-2011, 03:20 PM

i want a canadian speedo and a diesel tach from a mid duty truck

03-20-2011, 12:05 PM	#1
RuralRoute C-30 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: East Central Illinois Posts: 511	Gauge Cluster & Tach Question I understand earlier clusters, 70's, are not compatible to the 80's. Amp vs volt gauge and the speedo, 100mph vs 85mph, appears to be what visually designates the two besides the volt/amp difference and circuit board differences that exist. Yet my question is this: Can one take a tach and the smaller fuel gauge from the earlier or any cluster and put in an 80's cluster? Would it work? (think 85...I am) Seems there are more earlier tach clusters for the 70's than the 80's I see on ebay, so I'm asking, since I am soon back to taking my gauge cluster out once again to update my dash and interior. If I can just swap out my fuel gauge for a tach and install the small fuel gauge where I have no clock anyway, is this an option, or is that circuit board the master controller? Basically the simple question is: Are the gauges themselves interchangeable except for the volt and amp gauges that are definitely different? Will the circuit board "notice" the difference if I install a tach and a "new" fuel gauge if I leave the other gauges alone? Figure this question is about as clear as mud so bear with me. Mark __________________ 1985 Chevy C-30 Hydraulic Dump Bed 2001 Saturn SC2 (go to work car) 2010 PT Cruiser (wife's car) "Reality is just a hallucination brought on by lack of alcohol." Last edited by RuralRoute C-30; 03-20-2011 at 12:08 PM.

03-20-2011, 12:50 PM	#2
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Gauge Cluster & Tach Question It's been asked 100 times before, best info you can find to learn up on it all, is: http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...achometers.htm __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

03-20-2011, 12:56 PM	#3
RuralRoute C-30 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: East Central Illinois Posts: 511	Re: Gauge Cluster & Tach Question Thanks for the link, forgot about that one. A gray hair moment. Mark __________________ 1985 Chevy C-30 Hydraulic Dump Bed 2001 Saturn SC2 (go to work car) 2010 PT Cruiser (wife's car) "Reality is just a hallucination brought on by lack of alcohol."

03-20-2011, 02:12 PM	#4
80chevyshortbox Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: lethbridge Posts: 269	Re: Gauge Cluster & Tach Question i bought a gagecluster at a swapmeet and it had a tach idk what year of truck its out of but any way i ended up taking the tach and fule gage and i swaped it in to my original gagecluster. it seems to work fine. cluster from swapmeet my original cluster with the tach and the fule gage.

03-20-2011, 10:47 PM	#5
Zoomad75 K5Camper Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 1,513	Re: Gauge Cluster & Tach Question I've installed a volt gauge in my 75 cluster that had an amp gauge in it to start with. I bent back the tabs that the amp gauge used to connect the gauge to the printed circuit. With those out of the way I ran external wires for the power and ground to the new volt gauge. It works just fine. The only thing I don't like when mixing the early and late versions is the different font to the numbers. Not having them match makes it look like you cobbled it together from other vehicles. It just doesn't look finished. One could fix that by using some type of gauge overlay to make them match. __________________ Rob Z. 1975 K5 350/465/205/D44/12b 4" lift on 35's- RIP 1991 K5 8.1L/NV4500/241/D44/14b FWC Camper

04-07-2011, 07:24 AM	#6
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,469	Re: Gauge Cluster & Tach Question Nothing special. The clocks are getting harder to find, but still some out there. Anything with a tach in it used to be worth money, not sure what the going rate is now. __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 4” SAS 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 6" SAS

04-07-2011, 10:48 AM	#9
bmchevy1979 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 707	Re: Gauge Cluster & Tach Question never mind looked a little closer __________________ <Brandon> 1974 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 350sbc/SM465/NP205, dana44 front, corp 14bolt rear with 4.10s and a powertrax locker, custom rear bumper 400sbc in the works. 1981 GMC C1500 stepside 250i6, 3spd, 12bolt with 3.08s 2.5/4drop on 15x10 with 275/50r15 81 GMC C3500 cab-chassis dually with utility bed 350sbc, Sm465, 14bolt with 4.10s nv4500 getting ready to go in 1979 Chevrolet K5 R.I.P. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=434096 1976 Chevrolet C10 R.I.P. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=434195

04-07-2011, 11:08 AM	#11
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Re: Gauge Cluster & Tach Question The mechanical oil pressure gauge was from 73-77, for all trucks with gauges. 73-75 used an amp gauge, 76-77 had voltage gauges, and all used 100 MPH speedometer. Not overly rare, should bring $30-60 depending on condition. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

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