Adding a tach - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ky_kid · 10-07-2011, 11:44 PM

My dash currently has the huge gas gauge and one small bezel is blank. I found a cluster with the tach and a small gas gauge. I have had the entire unit apart before so I am familiar but can I just plug in the new gauges and go??

Cramitthefrog · 10-07-2011, 11:53 PM

There are a few differences that could keep it from being just a plug and play. What year is the truck and what year did the cluster come out of?

ky_kid · 10-08-2011, 12:01 AM

Mine is an 84 and the cluster looks the exact same including lettering and numbering.

Cramitthefrog · 10-08-2011, 12:11 AM

Should be safe, the major issue is the volt/amp gauge of the 70s.
You can find the pin location for your trucks wiring harness that hooks into the back of the cluster online and that will tell you where you need to move your wires for the gas gauge. The tach is a stand alone wiring harness so you will need to run wires from the tach to the distributor and also a ground.

ky_kid · 10-08-2011, 12:22 AM

I really only want the tach and the small gas gauge. I think I can get the whole cluster for $100. So I will have the wire the tach to the distributor, no problem. And move the wire for the gas gauge?

Cramitthefrog · 10-08-2011, 12:30 AM

$100 is a good deal, if you are getting the whole cluster and it does not work when you plug it in you can do what I did and use your original printed circuit on the back of the tach cluster and make jumper wires for the gas gauge. This way is actually the easiest way to do it in my opinion. Mine has been fine this way, and I should have some pics of the jumper wires if you go that route.

ky_kid · 10-08-2011, 12:34 AM

Sounds good if I buy it I'll take a look at those pics, thanks

baclay9 · 10-08-2011, 07:09 AM

The tach dash we put in my dads 84 was plug and play. We didn't have to repin the plug.

Telecasterjoey · 10-08-2011, 07:36 AM

I just hooked up a tach cluster and the gas sending wire is split on the big connector that goes into the cluster, so that it will send the signal to both sides of the cluster so your gas gauge can either be on the right of left without having to move any wires. My guess is they designed them like that from the factory so the assembly line could just plug all the different ones into the same harness.

ky_kid · 10-08-2011, 01:09 PM

Only problem is two of the mounting holes are broken so I really need to use mine. I just want the tach and gas gauge.
Posted via Mobile Device

RandyP · 10-08-2011, 03:27 PM

Tach housing and a nontach housing are different though. I guess you can dremel and glue and duct tape.

Cramitthefrog · 10-08-2011, 07:15 PM

You can also use one that came with a clock.

RandyP · 10-08-2011, 07:45 PM

The one for the clock does not have the connections for the fuel gauge to hook up to the printed circuit. The clock is wired separately from the actual cluster thus they had no pins for connections.

Cramitthefrog · 10-08-2011, 07:57 PM

Correct, that is why you make small jumper wires to go from the original location to the clock position. It is alot easier than it sounds, I used about 4 different clusters to build my tach cluster.

10-07-2011, 11:44 PM	#1
ky_kid Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Livingston, Montana Posts: 107	Adding a tach My dash currently has the huge gas gauge and one small bezel is blank. I found a cluster with the tach and a small gas gauge. I have had the entire unit apart before so I am familiar but can I just plug in the new gauges and go?? __________________ 84 K10 Custom Deluxe: 350 crate engine w/ 4" lift

10-07-2011, 11:53 PM	#2
Cramitthefrog It's always something Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Carson City N.V. Posts: 59	Re: Adding a tach There are a few differences that could keep it from being just a plug and play. What year is the truck and what year did the cluster come out of?

10-08-2011, 12:01 AM	#3
ky_kid Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Livingston, Montana Posts: 107	Re: Adding a tach Mine is an 84 and the cluster looks the exact same including lettering and numbering. __________________ 84 K10 Custom Deluxe: 350 crate engine w/ 4" lift

10-08-2011, 12:11 AM	#4
Cramitthefrog It's always something Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Carson City N.V. Posts: 59	Re: Adding a tach Should be safe, the major issue is the volt/amp gauge of the 70s. You can find the pin location for your trucks wiring harness that hooks into the back of the cluster online and that will tell you where you need to move your wires for the gas gauge. The tach is a stand alone wiring harness so you will need to run wires from the tach to the distributor and also a ground.

10-08-2011, 12:22 AM	#5
ky_kid Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Livingston, Montana Posts: 107	Re: Adding a tach I really only want the tach and the small gas gauge. I think I can get the whole cluster for $100. So I will have the wire the tach to the distributor, no problem. And move the wire for the gas gauge? __________________ 84 K10 Custom Deluxe: 350 crate engine w/ 4" lift

10-08-2011, 12:30 AM	#6
Cramitthefrog It's always something Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Carson City N.V. Posts: 59	Re: Adding a tach $100 is a good deal, if you are getting the whole cluster and it does not work when you plug it in you can do what I did and use your original printed circuit on the back of the tach cluster and make jumper wires for the gas gauge. This way is actually the easiest way to do it in my opinion. Mine has been fine this way, and I should have some pics of the jumper wires if you go that route.

10-08-2011, 12:34 AM	#7
ky_kid Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Livingston, Montana Posts: 107	Re: Adding a tach Sounds good if I buy it I'll take a look at those pics, thanks __________________ 84 K10 Custom Deluxe: 350 crate engine w/ 4" lift

10-08-2011, 07:09 AM	#8
baclay9 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Newcastle, OK Posts: 1,344	Re: Adding a tach The tach dash we put in my dads 84 was plug and play. We didn't have to repin the plug.

10-08-2011, 07:36 AM	#9
Telecasterjoey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa ON Posts: 514	Re: Adding a tach I just hooked up a tach cluster and the gas sending wire is split on the big connector that goes into the cluster, so that it will send the signal to both sides of the cluster so your gas gauge can either be on the right of left without having to move any wires. My guess is they designed them like that from the factory so the assembly line could just plug all the different ones into the same harness.

10-08-2011, 01:09 PM	#10
ky_kid Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Livingston, Montana Posts: 107	Re: Adding a tach Only problem is two of the mounting holes are broken so I really need to use mine. I just want the tach and gas gauge. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 84 K10 Custom Deluxe: 350 crate engine w/ 4" lift

10-08-2011, 03:27 PM	#11
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Adding a tach Tach housing and a nontach housing are different though. I guess you can dremel and glue and duct tape. __________________ *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.

10-08-2011, 07:15 PM	#12
Cramitthefrog It's always something Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Carson City N.V. Posts: 59	Re: Adding a tach You can also use one that came with a clock.

10-08-2011, 07:45 PM	#13
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Adding a tach The one for the clock does not have the connections for the fuel gauge to hook up to the printed circuit. The clock is wired separately from the actual cluster thus they had no pins for connections. __________________ *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.

10-08-2011, 07:57 PM	#14
Cramitthefrog It's always something Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Carson City N.V. Posts: 59	Re: Adding a tach Correct, that is why you make small jumper wires to go from the original location to the clock position. It is alot easier than it sounds, I used about 4 different clusters to build my tach cluster.



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