Installing Tach in a Non-Ghetto Way?

[mistaake]

After I get my 77 burb all fixed up one of the things I want to do is add a tach. It's not a matter of "I need it" but I'm so used to having a tach on all my other vehicles and I just like to know what the engine is doing.

When I had my C20 I got a $20 eBay tach and screwed it to the dash. It worked, but the backlight was this blinding blue hideousness that made driving at night impssible, and it just looked ugly as hell.

On the other hand, there is this option: http://www.gmsports.com/content/new-tachometer-1973-1988-chevy-and-gmc-trucks

Thing is, they note that I'll lose the 4WD light. I kind of want to keep that, in case I actually ever use 4x4 and/or if the transfer case accidentally ends up in 4x4. It's also $215, which, while not a terrible price for something that nice looking, is more than I wanted to spend. On the other hand, I guess it would be nice to use this space because the fuel gauge doesn't work anyway, so it's just wanted space.

Is there any other option? Maybe an aftermarket tach that looks nice but mounts elsewhere?

Thank you for any input. This truck is in nice enough condition that I don't want to totally hack it up and ghetto-rig everything like I did in the C20.

 

[74 Shortbed]

I put this one in my beater..

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[r67northern]

I think I've seen at least one or two stuck into the ashtray as a hideaway.

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Is there any other option? Maybe an aftermarket tach that looks nice but mounts elsewhere?

I have seen quite a few guys buy a small ~2" one and put it in the lower left blank/clock location. Several guys on this site have done it. I think it looks pretty good, they did nice installs. How the lighting is, IDK.

 

[yevgenievich]

Small tach in lower left corner. It was just a bit brighter than the rest of the gauges using factory back lights.

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[Green79Scottsdale]

@SlickGTP install pics...

I see yevgenievich posted some pics too. Looks nice! I was real close to going this route also.

 

[mistaake]

I'm going to look what I have in that position in the cluster - maybe nothing... I think that spot is perfect though, if nothing handy is currently using that space.

 

[yevgenievich]

On my suburban i stuck a giant tach from my camaro under the dash. Did not want to add any holes, and there was already mounting available in the spot.

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[bucket]

In my Suburban, I put a smaller size tach (maybe 2.5 inch?) right on the dash pad, right next to the A-pillar. It's a great spot for viewing, the dash was cracked so a screw hole wasn't going to hurt anything.

In my C10, the dash is perfect, so I wasn't going to put it on the pad. The tach I picked up for it had a steering column mount, so that's where I put it. I like it there, it kinda gives it the classic street machine look.

 

[mistaake]

well my suburban has a brake light in that spot. i might go the ashtray route.

 

[Daveo91Burb]

Well, I know you didn't want to spend $200-ish, but I used the GM Sports tach which is in that range. I love it just because of how factory it looks. No one ever even asks about it since they just assume it's original (except those that know squares and that they never came with tachs in the later years)

So you mention losing the 4x4 light - on mine I just lost the fasten seat belts light (don't care) and the e-brake light. (see video).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsYCQnCD__8

 

[mistaake]

Eh, I'll go for the nice tach that goes into the fuel gauge spot after all. It just looks too good to pass up. Will have to save up for it so can't get it right away. I just don't see any solutions that are cheaper but look great.

 

[77 K20]

If you don't have AC then you have a little blank storage spot in the upper right. I found it was too small to be useful and no lip on it so anything in there would fall out when getting on it.
I modified it to put some gauges in there. Not a tach but could put one in there.

 

[mistaake]

If you don't have AC then you have a little blank storage spot in the upper right. I found it was too small to be useful and no lip on it so anything in there would fall out when getting on it.
I modified it to put some gauges in there. Not a tach but could put one in there.

I got AC thankfully

 

[adamj]

Dave's right, you won't lose the 4WD light. Depending on your cluster you'll just lose seat belt and possibly parking brake. I always wear my seatbelt, so didn't mind loosing that, but I do like having the parking brake warning light, so I relocated to the lower left:

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The two warning lights under the speedo are 4wd (left one) and "service engine soon"