Factory style Tach? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**MikeB** · 04-30-2024, 05:29 PM

What have you all used for a factory style tach, printed circuit, and lens? I shortened my column a while back and can't fit a tach on it anymore, except for a small one. I do have the white wire connected to the HEI and instrument panel connector.

**pjmoreland** · 05-01-2024, 01:16 PM

I have been retrofitting factory-style tachometers into gauge clusters a fair amount lately. In my opinion, the reproduction lenses have goofy looking font, and some of them have the green paint on the wrong side which causes them not to illuminate well at night. My recommendation would be to hunt down an OE tach lens. If you're unable to find one, then another option is to modify your original lens by removing the dummy tach design from the lens (Purple Power degreaser takes the silk screen print off nicely). I can make you a tach decal that gets applied to your lens and looks very close to factory.

Intellitronix makes a printed circuit that is made in the USA. You can find them on eBay at a reasonable price.
https://www.intellitronix.com/produc...flexible-board
https://www.ebay.com/itm/186410506305

The Counterpart brand makes a nice factory style tachometer. Some of the reproduction tachometers have locating tabs that are too big to fit in the OE notches in the back tin, but the Counterpart brand fits well without any modifications. GMCPauls sells the Counterpart brand. You can get an 8k tach from NPD, if interested. It is also Counterpart brand.
https://www.npdlink.com/product/gaug...1969&year=1969

**MikeB** · 05-01-2024, 05:30 PM

That's just the kind of information I was looking for!

I'll probably go with the 5K tach from GMC Paul's and the Intellitronix printed circuit. I don't know what the chances are of finding a good OEM lens, so I may end getting a decal from you.

Can't start anything until later this month, so I'll get with you then.

**MikeB** · 05-01-2024, 05:39 PM

PJ, the printed circuit in your link works with factory gauges and tach, right?

How is it different than the one I have that works with gauges? I don't see any electrical connection points for a tach.

**pjmoreland** · 05-01-2024, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeB

PJ, the printed circuit in your link works with factory gauges and tach, right?

How is it different than the one I have that works with gauges? I don't see any electrical connection points for a tach.

Electrically speaking, it is identical to the standard non-tach printed circuit for a factory gauges cluster. It has some extra length to it in the middle though so that it can span over the tach housing that protrudes off the back of the cluster. The trapezoidal opening in the middle of the printed circuit is for the separate tach harness to pass through and plug into the back of the tach. You can order a tach harness from the usual parts vendors. Here's one with an HEI connector already installed:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29433275617...NYu3BWkgYkBBA0

**pjmoreland** · 05-01-2024, 05:57 PM

On a side note, member 70shortfleet can modify your tins to work with a factory-style tachometer. This involves cutting a hole in the back tin and cutting and forming a lip on the front tin.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=792563

Here's how I do these modifications for the gauge clusters I build:

https://youtube.com/shorts/0GzBrGi_a0Y?feature=shared

https://youtube.com/shorts/rUqBiEJ99aU?feature=shared

https://youtube.com/shorts/QPzylsrfP-w?feature=shared

Myself · 05-01-2024, 06:24 PM

Second Gen Camaro tach use to be a thing. I always thought they looked pretty stock "ish".

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=251017

**MikeB** · Yesterday, 11:38 AM

Looks like the job is a lot more complex than I would have guessed!

slikside · Yesterday, 02:27 PM

Sub'd!

Great info!

04-30-2024, 05:29 PM	#1
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,430	Factory style Tach? What have you all used for a factory style tach, printed circuit, and lens? I shortened my column a while back and can't fit a tach on it anymore, except for a small one. I do have the white wire connected to the HEI and instrument panel connector. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 34 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 23 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

05-01-2024, 01:16 PM	#2
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,289	Re: Factory style Tach? I have been retrofitting factory-style tachometers into gauge clusters a fair amount lately. In my opinion, the reproduction lenses have goofy looking font, and some of them have the green paint on the wrong side which causes them not to illuminate well at night. My recommendation would be to hunt down an OE tach lens. If you're unable to find one, then another option is to modify your original lens by removing the dummy tach design from the lens (Purple Power degreaser takes the silk screen print off nicely). I can make you a tach decal that gets applied to your lens and looks very close to factory. Intellitronix makes a printed circuit that is made in the USA. You can find them on eBay at a reasonable price. https://www.intellitronix.com/produc...flexible-board https://www.ebay.com/itm/186410506305 The Counterpart brand makes a nice factory style tachometer. Some of the reproduction tachometers have locating tabs that are too big to fit in the OE notches in the back tin, but the Counterpart brand fits well without any modifications. GMCPauls sells the Counterpart brand. You can get an 8k tach from NPD, if interested. It is also Counterpart brand. https://www.npdlink.com/product/gaug...1969&year=1969

05-01-2024, 05:30 PM	#3
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,430	Re: Factory style Tach? That's just the kind of information I was looking for! I'll probably go with the 5K tach from GMC Paul's and the Intellitronix printed circuit. I don't know what the chances are of finding a good OEM lens, so I may end getting a decal from you. Can't start anything until later this month, so I'll get with you then. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 34 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 23 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

05-01-2024, 05:39 PM	#4
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,430	Re: Factory style Tach? PJ, the printed circuit in your link works with factory gauges and tach, right? How is it different than the one I have that works with gauges? I don't see any electrical connection points for a tach. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 34 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 23 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

05-01-2024, 05:57 PM	#6
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,289	Re: Factory style Tach? On a side note, member 70shortfleet can modify your tins to work with a factory-style tachometer. This involves cutting a hole in the back tin and cutting and forming a lip on the front tin. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=792563 Here's how I do these modifications for the gauge clusters I build: https://youtube.com/shorts/0GzBrGi_a0Y?feature=shared https://youtube.com/shorts/rUqBiEJ99aU?feature=shared https://youtube.com/shorts/QPzylsrfP-w?feature=shared

05-01-2024, 06:24 PM	#7
Myself Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern Arkansas Posts: 1,128	Re: Factory style Tach? Second Gen Camaro tach use to be a thing. I always thought they looked pretty stock "ish". http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=251017

Yesterday, 11:38 AM	#8
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,430	Re: Factory style Tach? Looks like the job is a lot more complex than I would have guessed! __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 34 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 23 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

Yesterday, 02:27 PM	#9
slikside Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego Co. Posts: 1,147	Re: Factory style Tach? Sub'd! Great info! __________________ 1972 Chevy C-10, SWB, Fleet, 350/350, PS, PB, all stock, Survivor.



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