73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: GUITAR1989 on August 11, 2010, 05:10:50 pm

Title: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: GUITAR1989 on August 11, 2010, 05:10:50 pm
Hows it going guys. I was looking on ebay for a speedometer and tach and i allways see really cool looking 50's 60's gauges. Im just curious about if those old speedometers and tachs would work in my 74' stepside. i really like the classic look of them but i can see how they might not work in a newer vehicle. also if they will work is thre any parts id need to make them work correctly like a different speedo cable or would they need to be adjusted to read the correct speed? could anybody fill me in :)
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 12, 2010, 02:53:19 pm
what exactly are you looking at that are old?  Have a link?
You can make anything work with the right hookup.  All GM speedos use the same head ratio, so if the speedo is right now, it will be right after the swap.
Tach is just an electrical hookup.


BTW, Dakota Digital is offering analog guages starting next month...
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Irish_Alley on August 12, 2010, 05:12:29 pm


BTW, Dakota Digital is offering analog guages starting next month...

Greatnow I have to convince my wife something is wrong with my digital ones LOL anyone want to buy a used set??? Do have a price yet capt
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 12, 2010, 05:40:06 pm
I should have the price sheet tomorrow.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: k5chevyblazer on August 16, 2010, 05:06:17 pm
caint wait for that. i have always disliked the digital gauges.
what exactly are you looking at that are old?  Have a link?
You can make anything work with the right hookup.  All GM speedos use the same head ratio, so if the speedo is right now, it will be right after the swap.
Tach is just an electrical hookup.


BTW, Dakota Digital is offering analog guages starting next month...
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 16, 2010, 05:15:18 pm
The universal Triple they have looks like this:
(http://www.dakotadigital.com/cartimages/prd_725.gif)

54 pickup is like this
(http://www.dakotadigital.com/cartimages/prd_724.gif)
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: k5chevyblazer on August 16, 2010, 05:22:20 pm
ya, the new analog ones look sweet, looking forward to seeing them.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Irish_Alley on August 17, 2010, 02:22:46 am
to me they kind of blend in with each other making it hard to read
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: GUITAR1989 on August 17, 2010, 01:06:51 pm
I think they look killer :) can you get them with black faces?
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 17, 2010, 02:41:36 pm
Right now they have Silver above and Carbon Fiber:
(http://www.dakotadigital.com/cartimages/prd_726.gif)

I do plan to ask them if they will make up a set for the 73-87's that will basically mimic a tach/fuel setup with a Vac/Boost gauge.
(http://www.captkaoscustoms.com/temp/tach-fuel.jpg)
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: eventhorizon66 on August 17, 2010, 07:06:05 pm
Wow, those are awesome.

I do plan to ask them if they will make up a set for the 73-87's that will basically mimic a tach/fuel setup with a Vac/Boost gauge.

Yes, please.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Irish_Alley on August 17, 2010, 11:54:53 pm
the thing i see with them is if they would take the secondary gauges ex fuel oil... and just turn them 180 so the dashes wouldn't look the same as the dashes from the speedo but yeah besides that i do like the looks of them
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: 454ss on August 18, 2010, 01:43:52 am

(http://www.captkaoscustoms.com/temp/tach-fuel.jpg)

I wants.  :D
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 18, 2010, 05:01:16 pm
Good luck.  I sold that one about 5 years ago for $300.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: 454ss on August 18, 2010, 06:27:52 pm
Sunny beach...Of all the times I've passed over big trucks at the junkyard and didn't think to look for tach clusters...

I had to dig to get the one out of a 1980 GMC 1/2 ton...The truck was crushed but amazingly, the cluster was untouched.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: VileZambonie on August 18, 2010, 10:43:27 pm
If you just want a factory functional tach, this guys sells them http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-1986-Chevrolet-Chevy-truck-tachometer-gauge-set-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ150481634140QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 19, 2010, 03:53:10 pm
Wow, that is expensive.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: eventhorizon66 on August 20, 2010, 09:26:34 am
Wow, that is expensive.

Do you know of anyone offering the same thing for less?

He says in the description that it is not simply a factory tach cluster which would require some rewiring.  "Bolts in to your existing housing.  Comes with wire harness and detailed instructions.  No need to replace or modify your factory harness."

Considering the cost of an aftermarket solution, I thought this was pretty good, especially for someone who wants to keep the factory look.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: VileZambonie on August 20, 2010, 07:21:40 pm
I emailed that guy before and he offered a great deal on completely new clusters as well that were factory bolt it. His prices were reasonable but for me I would rather go digital than spend a lot of coin for the stock gauges.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 23, 2010, 04:53:45 pm
The GM tach's were notoriously inaccurate.  I used to sell working clusters for less that just that.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: 454ss on August 23, 2010, 07:03:19 pm
The GM tach's were notoriously inaccurate.  I used to sell working clusters for less that just that.

ALL GM clusters are notoriously inaccurate, however most people that use these clusters are going for originality, not racing.  :)
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: 454ss on August 23, 2010, 09:32:08 pm
Good luck.  I sold that one about 5 years ago for $300.

And they STILL go for that...Yikes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-CHEVROLET-TRUCK-TACH-CLUSTER-w-VACUUM-GAUGE-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ290463209751QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: beastie_3 on August 23, 2010, 09:33:52 pm
I should hunt the junk yards more often....
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: k5chevyblazer on August 24, 2010, 06:48:44 pm
well keep us posted on the new analog set up. write up when it comes out on the main page :nod:
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 25, 2010, 04:42:46 pm
ALL GM clusters are notoriously inaccurate, however most people that use these clusters are going for originality, not racing.  :)

Actually all the ones I sold people wanted it to be better than +/-500 rpms, most of the ones I had were around 250rpms.

The ebay one even states his doesn't work.  There is a company that will fix them now, but they are about the same as that replacement.

Once I get info on the analogs they will be posted in the News section.
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: bake74 on August 26, 2010, 01:10:33 pm
     Hey capt., what is the difference between the anolog gauges (from dakota digital ) and the stock ones, as far as how they work ?  Are they different mechanical, electrical ?  I am very interested in getting a set, but am always looking at why something is better than the other ones.  Thanks.    Tom
Title: Re: Speedometer and Tach question
Post by: Captkaos on August 26, 2010, 01:20:07 pm
The new gauges are just an expansion of their products.  They use the same controllers as the digital setup, as far as compared to stock, 2010 components and better accuracy.