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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Electrical => Topic started by: 1986GMCSierra on December 27, 2014, 12:23:28 am

Title: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 27, 2014, 12:23:28 am
this is kind of an electrical/engine question so i am just going to post it here.. where does the wire for the tach go into the distributor on a 305... does anyone have a picture of where you put yours.. and the motor didnt come with a tach from the factory
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 27, 2014, 12:50:28 am
the plug on the distributor thats says "tach". its right beside the big red wire near the top of the cap. its a male spade connector so you need to have a female end on your wire
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 27, 2014, 01:23:38 am
(http://www.diyautotune.com/jwplayer_viral/images/tech/carb_to_efi/electronics/IMG_8166_1024.jpg)
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: FlatBlack77 on December 27, 2014, 06:15:40 am
you will have to put a female connector on the wire. one of these
(http://procablesnsound.com/images/plugs/female%20disconect.jpg)

it can be a pain in the bum to get it hooked up properly because it plugs in from the bottom and you can see it. but you could just take the coil cover off
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 27, 2014, 11:58:22 am
the plug on the distributor thats says "tach". its right beside the big red wire near the top of the cap. its a male spade connector so you need to have a female end on your wire
my distributor isnt as clean but i know where it is thank you for the help
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 27, 2014, 11:59:34 am
what kind of tachometers are you using(pictures would be cool)
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 27, 2014, 05:06:10 pm
This is my style
(http://www.dakotadigital.com/cartimages/prd_lp_592.jpg?img_id=200910021411100)
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 27, 2014, 05:11:22 pm
In my crew cab I want the stock look but I know I'm going to need a pyro gauge for the Cummins so I'm going to probably get the pods then I might get the new Dakota gauge

(http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=21990.0;attach=17554;image)
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 27, 2014, 07:00:10 pm
I want the Dakota digital too, the blue alloy or whatever it is. It's the blue and grey one without the carbon fiber.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 27, 2014, 07:38:17 pm
i would love to put dakota digital gauges in mine but their just to frekin expensive... but they sure do look nice
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: FlatBlack77 on December 27, 2014, 10:03:19 pm
i have a sunpro supertach 2 in my k10(pic) and a small 8k autogage with shift light in my c10. both are mounted in the same spot

(http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/trailertrashtransam/4.jpg)
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 27, 2014, 10:40:36 pm
86GMC,  empty your inbox! Lol
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 27, 2014, 11:01:51 pm
86GMC,  empty your inbox! Lol
ok i did.. it doesnt hold very many messages
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 27, 2014, 11:03:04 pm
i have a sunpro supertach 2 in my k10(pic) and a small 8k autogage with shift light in my c10. both are mounted in the same spot

(http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/trailertrashtransam/4.jpg)
did you have to drill holes to mount the tach there? how did you mount it?
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: FlatBlack77 on December 28, 2014, 10:07:14 am
there is a screw there that hold the trim piece down. i took the screw out and made a small bracket with a hole in it and used that screw to hold it down.

ive also seen them mounted on top of the steering column but thats just not my thing
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 28, 2014, 10:20:23 am
Hey FlatBlack,  I mounted mine on the column. Mine is small tho, about the size of the quarter gauges, I mounted it so that in park, it's down on the left side by the headlight switch, when you pull the shifter down into gear, the tach rotates over to just under the left blinker where it can be seen but not obtrusive.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 28, 2014, 11:25:32 am
Hey FlatBlack,  I mounted mine on the column. Mine is small tho, about the size of the quarter gauges, I mounted it so that in park, it's down on the left side by the headlight switch, when you pull the shifter down into gear, the tach rotates over to just under the left blinker where it can be seen but not obtrusive.
i was goin to get this tach but i wsnt sure where to put it
its a glowshift Black 7 Color 2" Tachometer Gauge but i wasnt sure where to mount it
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/28/928285f88fed5ee27dcd5779f29b56fc.jpg)
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 28, 2014, 11:29:27 pm
Mount it on the column like I did in the pic I sent you. You can see its mounted on the part of the column that rotates with the shifter. Only held on by the bracket is came with and some black zip ties.  Been there for about 11/2 - 2 years or so.


That's a nice tach by the way.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 29, 2014, 10:45:45 am
Mount it on the column like I did in the pic I sent you. You can see its mounted on the part of the column that rotates with the shifter. Only held on by the bracket is came with and some black zip ties.  Been there for about 11/2 - 2 years or so.


That's a nice tach by the way.
i will probably mount it like you had it and thanks their pretty cheap too
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 29, 2014, 12:35:13 pm
Cool post a pic when you get it done. Good to know, your welcome.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 29, 2014, 03:51:15 pm
Cool post a pic when you get it done. Good to know, your welcome.
i will but it might be awhile i just bought a gun so i will wait a while to buy it
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 29, 2014, 06:56:51 pm
Haha nice. I did too bout a month ago.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 29, 2014, 09:28:45 pm
Haha nice. I did too bout a month ago.
cool what did u get if u dont mind me asking
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 29, 2014, 10:13:32 pm
I don't. S&W M&P Shield 40. What did you get?
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 30, 2014, 12:01:18 am
I don't. S&W M&P Shield 40. What did you get?
Winchester sxp black shadow 12 ga.  What strap did you use to mount the tach to your column?
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 30, 2014, 01:00:14 am
Nice! I used some black zip ties. But you could also use those stainless steel "zip ties" that are for exhuast wrap, find a way to bolt or screw it on, or go around a few laps with electrical tape lol. All depends on what you want. For me, zip ties were the easiest, plus I smack it with my knee when I get out sometimes so I can also move it back if a bump it too far.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 30, 2014, 09:48:53 am
ok cool i will try zipties
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 30, 2014, 09:51:20 am
Pictures when done.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: lastwords1978 on December 30, 2014, 10:23:08 am
I mounted a small tack in the pocket above the heat controls.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 30, 2014, 12:34:59 pm
I mounted a small tack in the pocket above the heat controls.
can you show a picture.. and what did u use to mount it?
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: lastwords1978 on December 30, 2014, 12:45:06 pm
I used the cup bracket that came with the tack mounted to the side of the pocket.  Drilled a hole in the back for the wires.  I get a picture next time I'm out at the farm it's stored at. 
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 30, 2014, 02:18:59 pm
That would work on trucks without a/c. If you have a/c, there is a vent in place of the pocket.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 30, 2014, 05:24:51 pm


That would work on trucks without a/c. If you have a/c, there is a vent in place of the pocket.

i have a/c so it probably wont work
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 30, 2014, 05:34:12 pm
Nope. So do I. The only other thing I can think of is, based on your needing a tach, you don't have one. So your dash should consist of a large speedo and fuel gauge and 3 small oil pressure, water temp and alt gauges. The forth small spot is either empty with a filler design, should be black plastic with a white circle or a clock in that position. Is this correct?

Some people have removed the empty spot or clock and cut out the plastic to fit various aftermarket gauges such as tach or trans temp etc.

You could do that also.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 30, 2014, 06:06:50 pm
yes thats correct there is nothing there in that fourth spot.... i thought about putting it there but i dont want to have to look down to see my rpm.. i am guessing thats why you mounted yours on the column
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: LTZ C20 on December 30, 2014, 07:49:18 pm
That's correct.
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: rich weyand on December 31, 2014, 01:10:42 pm
I got the gm sports salvage combination tach and fuel gauge to replace the big fuel gauge.
http://www.gmsports.com/content/new-tachometer-1973-1986-chevy-and-gmc-trucks

Installation was simple, and it looks and works great.
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=28547.0;nowap
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on December 31, 2014, 01:40:11 pm
I got the gm sports salvage combination tach and fuel gauge to replace the big fuel gauge.
http://www.gmsports.com/content/new-tachometer-1973-1986-chevy-and-gmc-trucks

Installation was simple, and it looks and works great.
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=28547.0;nowap
thats a lot of money just for a tach but the outcome of puting it in is awesome... your set up looks really clean and well done... but for the money i will probably stick to the column mounted one. thanks for the suggestion though
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: ackland3 on January 19, 2015, 09:54:32 pm
I like the gauges above the ac controls how exactly did you do that?
Title: Re: AFTERMARKET TACH
Post by: 1986GMCSierra on January 20, 2015, 09:21:29 am
I like the gauges above the ac controls how exactly did you do that?
i am not the one who did that but if u have ac it wont work because that is where one of your ac vents are