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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Instrumentation => Topic started by: TheBigHat on February 06, 2021, 12:58:53 pm

Title: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: TheBigHat on February 06, 2021, 12:58:53 pm

If I want to buy install a tachometer in my 78 K20, do I need to buy the entire kit for 300.00 on   truck or can I just buy the gas gauge, tachometer and harness to accomplish the same goal? I'm kind of stuck on this. My lens is so fogged up I want to get a new one of those too but it comes in the tachometer conversion kit. Trying to save as much money as I can and that means only replacing what I have to. Will a tachometer directly fit where my current gas gauge is located or is the back different? Is the circuit paper not going to allow me to move things? Circuit paper comes in the kit also. Another issue is even if I want to just get the kit and KNOW I will get all I need to do the job, it's of course backordered. As is everything I need to get from   truck :( Need a hand deciding how to go about this.

Thanks!

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: JohnnyPopper on February 06, 2021, 01:17:22 pm

The tach will fit where the gas gauge is, you can try to find used ones. You can buy the lens separately.

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: TheBigHat on February 07, 2021, 11:12:54 am

Ok, does the gas gauge just plug in to the little gas gauge after that? Will the harness reach across?

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: JohnnyPopper on February 07, 2021, 05:22:15 pm

I suspect the factory made the harness for both options, wouldn't make sense for them not to.

Yes, aftermarket gauges are designed to drop in.

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: bigben5054 on February 08, 2021, 11:19:43 am

I just did this.  You will need the tach and its harness, the small fuel gauge, the correct plastic gauge cluster housing, and the correct printed circuit.  And the lens is money well spent if yours is cloudy or scratched up.  So yeah, pretty much everything in that kit you found.

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: bd on February 08, 2021, 12:02:14 pm

(http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=38554.0;attach=52854;image)

Car parts sitting on the good furniture.  Such a gearhead!   ;D

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: JohnnyPopper on February 08, 2021, 02:04:53 pm

Good catch bd  ;D

At least its not greasy!

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: bigben5054 on February 08, 2021, 09:55:41 pm

It was squeaky clean!

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: TheBigHat on February 28, 2021, 05:17:42 pm

I like the wood grain, I'd like mine to look like 2nd gen trans am dash though! Currently it's just black.

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: JohnnyPopper on March 03, 2021, 10:44:28 am

I replaced mine just after I bought her about 4 years ago.

Here's a shot of her at sub-warp blowing through the San Joaquin Valley on Sunday, coming home from a trip to Fungus Corner (Paul Harvey quote) or Washington State.

Look at the gas gauge... :o    dual tanks are great!  8)

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: TheBigHat on March 13, 2021, 04:48:32 pm

That is sweet! 8)

Title: Re: tachometer conversion kit
Post by: JohnnyPopper on March 14, 2021, 01:52:12 am

Thanks Big One!

I recently had the rear end changed out from a 3.73 to a 3.41. Nice to have that kind of speed without the motor screaming at 4000 RPM.

Having said that, the rest of the truck adds to the 'scream' at that speed with it's non-aerodynamic self...