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[82 Silverado 4X]

A junkyard near my house has a 1980 Blazer with a Factory Tach Instrument Panel with Gages. Will it work at all in my 82 that has Gages (but no tach) or would it require special wiring? Or maybe it won't work at all. Thanks in advance.

[SlapFish]

I believe it'll have relatively different wiring.

[DBLSPRT68]

Originally Posted by 82 Silverado 4X

A junkyard near my house has a 1980 Blazer with a Factory Tach Instrument Panel with Gages. Will it work at all in my 82 that has Gages (but no tach) or would it require special wiring? Or maybe it won't work at all. Thanks in advance.

George, As long as both your truck and that truck have guages, it will swap over. The 80 tach will work from 78-86 trucks , 73-77 have different things that will not work and melt your wiring for you. The tach has it's own wiring harness, be sure to get all of it, and remember where they hook up. The gas guage will work, it will get it's power from the circuit board on the back. Make sure everything is in good shape. You can swap your current guages ( temp, oil, volts) into the tach cluster if you want to. Good luck, and let us know if you have any problems. Please anyone out there, if this is not right, correct me. I don't want to give bad advice. David

[f.monroe]

Look at this link . Frank

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/garage_interior.htm

[82 Silverado 4X]

Thanks Dave and Frank,
I went to the 73-87 web site and if I understand it correctly, the cluster should work since my 82 does have gages and doesn't have cruise control.

The Blazer I'm removing it from is still pretty much complete so I should be able to get everything I need for it right off the Blazer.

I just didn't want to cook my harness, my truck or my garage trying it without knowing for sure.

[Russell]

Yep, It'll bolt straight in

I'd love to get that orange ringed tach off of you. I've got a blue one right now, but the speedometer I need to use is orange, so it doesn't really work so well for me =/

I'm trying to see if I can adapt the newer VSS to the older speedometer head, if not, I guess I'll just need to buy an inline VSS.

[TEAM THC]

I Wish I Had A Tach.....

[82 Silverado 4X]

Here's my new Tach Cluster. When I took it out of the Blazer I was able to get the complete harness for the Tach. I'm going to clean it up and install it next week when I have the interior out of the truck to reupholster my seat and install my carpeting.

[f.monroe]

I might be wrong but I dont think that is a 1980 tach . They had 85 mph speedos and the font is different . Someone probably swapped it in if you took it out of a 1980 . It might still work but I would look at it real close . I have an assembly from a 1980 Crewcab and it is different . Frank

[82 Silverado 4X]

Frank,
I think you're right. I took it for granted that it was an 80 because the front clip had the larger chrome trim around the parking lights. Maybe it's a 79 or earlier cluster. Comparing the speedometers, the one in my 82 truck and the extra 81 bezel I have both have 85MPH speedometers. The cluster does have the electronic oil pressure gage and voltmeter. I'll compare the pigtail that came on the cluster with the one on my truck before I plug it in.
Thanks again

[DBLSPRT68]

George, That looks like a 78 or 79 set-up. It will still work as long as it is all electric gauges. That's a great find. If I can remember how to post picks, I'll show you what I have in my 83. David

[82 Silverado 4X]

Dave,
Now that's the one I would like to have. I always wondered about the clock if the fuel gage was in that location. I had thought they did away with the clock in the cluster and put it in the dial of a digtal radio. Now I know better. Really nice. Wish I had one like yours, but this one was free so I can't complain.

[84 PUMPKIN]

Originally Posted by DBLSPRT68

George, That looks like a 78 or 79 set-up. It will still work as long as it is all electric gauges. That's a great find. If I can remember how to post picks, I'll show you what I have in my 83. David

[DBLSPRT68]

This is not all factory. It came in the big trucks, so there was an air gauge where the clock now sits. It wasn't anywhere close to FREE, but I do love it. I bought it from 84 Pumpkin, and he showed me how to do the clock. Everything works perfect. Me like it very much!

[82 Silverado 4X]

DBLSPRT68:
That set-up might not be as it came from the factory, but it sure looks sweet. My factory clock doesn't keep time so it's not a big loss for me to have to take it out. I was thinking of either installing some kind of a center overhead console and putting a digital clock up there or changing out the factory analog AM-FM Cassette for a new CD Player with a digital clock.

[Russell]

I think I gotta find one of those newer fuel gauge / tach combos for my truck

Those things are sweet!

PS -- What did you do to make your cluster plastic face place so freakishly clear? Mine is faded and scratched up something horrible...

[DBLSPRT68]

Originally Posted by Russell

I think I gotta find one of those newer fuel gauge / tach combos for my truck

Those things are sweet!

PS -- What did you do to make your cluster plastic face place so freakishly clear? Mine is faded and scratched up something horrible...

Russell, the reason it's so clear is because it's new. $50.00 new! When I do something, I like to do it nice and right the first time, so I don't have to do it over later. Lens was new, shift indicator is NEW, dash pad is new. dash bezel is new, and I still haven't installed that stuff. It looks just like the picture, I'll get to putting in the dash soon...... David

[cliffsta]

I'd give my spleen for the cluster like that out of a big truck.

[bigblock73]

David, that cluster looks sweet!

[84 PUMPKIN]

Originally Posted by cliffsta

I'd give my spleen for the cluster like that out of a big truck.

No need to lose body parts. These clusters pop up on ebay more often than you might think. I bought four or five on ebay just this year. You can also check out the medium duty trucks in your local junkyard.

I just finished a cluster like the one in David's truck for a guy in Florida. I used a factory vaccum gauge instead of a quartz clock (that's what the guy wanted). The cluster in David's truck is about as nice as they come. I didn't do anything to it other than a little cleaning.

Things to remember about these clusters.
The housings and printed circuits are not the same as a "regular" tach cluster. You need to have the correct printed circuit, plastic housing, and tach/fuel gauge to make this type cluster work properly. You can cobble something together with odds and ends but to do it correctly you need the correct parts.

One other thing.
When installing this type cluster (or the "regular" tach cluster) you do not lose the use of your cruise control on '83 and up model trucks. Don't know where that got started but it's a myth. If you use the correct parts then the cruise control will work just like it did from the factory. My '84 and David's '83 are two examples.

[N2TRUX]

How hard is it to find clocks that keep time?

[84 PUMPKIN]

The quartz clock that came in my '84 C10 was one of the very few good ones that I have seen. It kept good time and was very quite. I sold it on ebay and the buyer emailed me three months later and said it was the best clock he had ever owned.

Most of the other ones I have dealt with were noisy and didn't keep time very well. Everything I own now has a factory tach cluster so I just wear my watch.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by 84 PUMPKIN

No need to lose body parts. These clusters pop up on ebay more often than you might think. I bought four or five on ebay just this year. You can also check out the medium duty trucks in your local junkyard.

I just finished a cluster like the one in David's truck for a guy in Florida. I used a factory vaccum gauge instead of a quartz clock (that's what the guy wanted). The cluster in David's truck is about as nice as they come. I didn't do anything to it other than a little cleaning.

Things to remember about these clusters.
The housings and printed circuits are not the same as a "regular" tach cluster. You need to have the correct printed circuit, plastic housing, and tach/fuel gauge to make this type cluster work properly. You can cobble something together with odds and ends but to do it correctly you need the correct parts.

One other thing.
When installing this type cluster (or the "regular" tach cluster) you do not lose the use of your cruise control on '83 and up model trucks. Don't know where that got started but it's a myth. If you use the correct parts then the cruise control will work just like it did from the factory. My '84 and David's '83 are two examples.

That is some great information!

I have a question. Supposing you have everything assembled correctly (matching housing and circuit board I am assuming is basically it?), is this a plug n play deal, and if so...what years?

[nwmod39]

this guy says he has 12 of these units for sale.
check it out!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/73-87...24775172QQrdZ1

[84 PUMPKIN]

I think he's down to 10 now.

I made an offer on all 10 this morning.