Factory Tach Pics

[mattiez06]

Hello all, I'm new to the site and thought I would share something I thought was pretty cool. I have owned my 85 2wd short bed for 16 years now (a year before I got my license so I could restore it) and have been looking for a factory tach cluster to match my trucks vintage. After peaking in a million windows, I finally stumbled across an 80s up factory tach cluster, believe it or not in my own backyard. It came out of a wrecker and the guy who owned it said it never worked. He was running an aftermarket tach and said I could have the cluster if I replaced it. I have been stocking up on clusters and parts over the years and enjoy restoring them in my spare time, so I put a set together and swapped them out. While doing that I also noticed a bad tach signal connection, so I prayed that that might be the reason why it was not working. When I got home I hot wired the tach into my truck and it worked great, accurate within 50 rpm. I stripped it all apart and restored it with my best parts, also adding a new coated circuit board and clear lens from LMC. I also used a tip I found on 73-87.com and bumper chromed the blue part of the black bezel. This made the guage lights significantly bright but not overboard making it not look right. Once installed, the cluster looked great and worked perfectly. Eventhough my motor redlines towards 6700 RPM, it really finished the dash off. I have included a before pic of my cluster as well as another set of late 70s tach guages I have. I know where there is another 80s up tach cluster close to me that I am trying desperately to get me hands on as well as the rest of the truck. A little more faded then mine but definately restorable. Hope you enjoy. Now, if I could just find a set of factory 5 lug aluminum bullet hole wheels. Anybody?

[mattiez06]

Prob should have posted a pic of my truck. Here ya go.

[scotties truck]

man thats really cool nice job also if you look at the c60s and on they may have more of what your looking for

[trout]

I want a tack sooo badly in my truck talk bout u lucky
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[tidos76]

i got mine on ebay about 8yr ago. IMO best looking way to have a tach. I dont like the custom dashes with autometer gauges and all.
I converted mine to led a few weeks ago. right now its a little too bright. with a little adjustment it will be perfect. I actually made the leds to were they would "hotspot". I think it keeps a little of the oldschool look.

[80SPORT]

The factory aluminum wheels were very common on the 89-91 suburbans...if you watch Craiglist/Kijiji you can usually find a set ....often with a complete Suburban thrown in.

[allchevy58]

I found older style tach and fuel gauge at wrecking yard and installed in my cluster. I know where two more complete clusters are here in Reno, Nv. My son bought one of three for $240.00. I believe one is 70's and one 80's style.

[str8axle55]

Tach looks great. I just saw a couple of those wheels in a local junkyard, on a van.

[mattiez06]

Thanks for the compliments and info. Do the LED replacement bulbs fit right into the original sockets? Looks good.

If that 80s and up tach cluster is still available in Reno, you should look into it. I definately would be interested if you could get a pic. Hopefully it still works. I will keep working on my source and see if I can get the one next to me.

I will keep my eye on Craigs list for some wheels, but if anyone comes across a set, let me know.

Thanks

[SCOTI]

I love the appearance of the factory set-ups vs aftermarket (although I understand the guys that swap to aftermarket set-ups). For me, the hard part is finding the correct font per year of vehicle as I'm not a fan of mix-matching the different styles (if it's avoidable).

Nice job BTW. Looks great.

[Evil Trailblazer SS]

Originally Posted by mattiez06

Thanks for the compliments and info. Do the LED replacement bulbs fit right into the original sockets? Looks good.

If that 80s and up tach cluster is still available in Reno, you should look into it. I definately would be interested if you could get a pic. Hopefully it still works. I will keep working on my source and see if I can get the one next to me.

I will keep my eye on Craigs list for some wheels, but if anyone comes across a set, let me know.

Thanks

The guy in Reno my dad (allchevy58) is talking about that has a couple more clusters is a member on here. His name is Blake_H, he is a hell of a nice guy! I am happy with the cluster I picked up!

I already pulled the cluster apart and started cleaning everything up. I am waiting on the LED's to get here so I can retrofit everything into the new crew cab project! As long as you get a 194/168 type LED, you should be good to go!

The LED's I am using are here -----> http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED-B...22412-1-2.html

These LED's have great dimming properties and the 3-Chip SMT's last a long time and are not prone to erratic failure.

I found an Overdrive Gear Indicator almost a year ago (I am swapping to a 4L80E) so that is pictured below as well...




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[trout]

wow such lucky score

[Jonboy]

The gauges look great. Just a thought on the wheels you are looking for; they were only offered in 15x7.

[BamaDave]

since there are a couple of guys on here that have restored these gauges, what is the best color to paint the pointers on the 80 and up gauges?

[b454rat]

I picked up another this weekend. Has the fuel gauge in with the tach. It's another early one, has the Amps gauge.

I've used fluorescent orange model paint on mine, looks to be real close. But better than faded needles anyway.

[Keith Seymore]

Looks good! Excellent find -

K

[motornut]

looks very nice
I'm building up one too

[mattiez06]

Never had to paint the pointers yet because I have so many spare that I have set aside. Got to pay attention on pointer color between the 2 decades. I have also noticed that on 80s+ guages there are 2 different darkness oranges for both the pointers and the guage fonts themselves. Go back and look at the pics in the thread and you can see the differences in orange between speedo and tach.

[mattiez06]

The newer 80s have the lighter orange and the later ones the darker.

[motornut]

what i'm starting with
79 and 88
quite a difference just with fading

[Mr. 250r]

Does anyone know where to get the tach/fuel gauges Ive seen one or two my4by2s build has one I think its from a bigger truck
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[trout]

ya there in the c-60 c-70s