Tach options

[Slooptin]

My 89 c30 doesn't currently have a tach but I'd like to have one until I really figure out what I want to do with the dash/gauges. Has anyone hooked up a cheap universal tach and had good results? And on that note, is this even an option with the stock wiring harness since the truck didn't come from the factory with one?

 

[donnieray]

Ive installed tachs in both my trucks, after market units feed off a plug that's already on your distributer if you have electronic ignition. Real simple.

 

[Camar068]

you can get a small one and cut a plate so it will fit in the ashtray. Pic below was while I was installing it. No metal modifying involved.

 

[Rusty Nail]

My install gave way to an engine swap.
I'll get after it this summer though, been puttin it off.
Gah. That was two engine swaps AND a different truck ago.....wah.

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?p=260334#post260334

 

[bucket]

If the dash pad is cracked, you can mount the tach right to it (I prefer over next to the pillar) and not feel bad about putting screw holes in it. You can also mount the tach to the steering column.

The coil will have an unused white wire coming off of it, that is the tach signal.

 

[da_raabi]

If the dash pad is cracked, you can mount the tach right to it (I prefer over next to the pillar) and not feel bad about putting screw holes in it. You can also mount the tach to the steering column.

The coil will have an unused white wire coming off of it, that is the tach signal.

Where does that wire go? I saw that the dizzy plug had a wire going into the harness for the tach signal, but where does it end? In the harness somewhere? Or is there a connector under the dash somewhere for it?

 

[bucket]

Cant say about a large cap HEI, the truck must be pre-wired for a tach. But the '87 and later with remote mount coil have a tach signal wire that is not used. It's just a lead with a connector on the end. Going off my memory here though...

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

I am pretty sure the tach wires do not go into the cluster harness. Everything I have ever seen has the tach wires being separate, including where it goes through the firewall. They did this to reduce the possibility of electrical noise from from other components.

 

[theblindchicken]

I've installed one on my 74. Signal wire went straight to the negative on the coil. Power to fuse block, ground to ground. White was to the dash light circuit.

They work pretty well. It's nice to see what RPM i'm sitting at without throwing around guestimations.

 

[Rusty Nail]

I bought that on ebay almost a year ago for ten bucks. It's 2 inch diameter and came with the cup.

It lights blue. Tach works great but sometimes I dont like the light.

Attached to the dash with one square inch of two-sided tape. It's so awesome until I install the other tach I posted...not real sure I should bother!

 

[Craig 85]

I mounted an Autometer 3" tach on the steering column near the face of the dash. When you pull it into Drive its dead center of the speedo and fuel gauge. It only blocks the gear selector. When I put it in park it rotates left. It's worked fine for 6 years.

 

[austinado16]

I did the SunTune 2" tach with cup, in the lower left A-pillar corner, and mounted it to the pillar using that existing screw that's already going through the pillar. Wires run in a black sleeve, toward the windshield and dive down behind the dash. Simple to install, looks okay. Thought about going with a steering column mount, either with a 2" or a 3", but did the corner dash/A-pillar location instead.

 

[wamullins]

I did the SunTune 2" tach with cup, in the lower left A-pillar corner, and mounted it to the pillar using that existing screw that's already going through the pillar. Wires run in a black sleeve, toward the windshield and dive down behind the dash. Simple to install, looks okay. Thought about going with a steering column mount, either with a 2" or a 3", but did the corner dash/A-pillar location instead.

Can you post a pic of this setup?

 

[Gator]

I use the factory tach option. It was found in a K5 at a salvage yard.
It looks like

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but obviously not digital odometer or anything.

 

[CSFJ]

Not positve, but those appear to be aftermarket gauges. If those were from a pick n pull, that was a helluva score.