83 Gauge options

[slideways]

Im closing in on finishing my 83 K10 and of course it has the big dummy fuel gauge and no tach. I'd like to upgrade to the tach but i dont want to go digital or spend $800 on gauges. I am totally clueless with electrical and scared of the printed circuit deal but it almost seems like the   tach conversion kit is the safest way to go. I thought about doing the modified Autometer setup or the glowshift deal but adding and butchering wiring doesnt seem wise to me. I'd like to get a Painless kit eventually also and having it all neat would be nice. What is the nicest and cheapest way to accomplish this? My oil pressure needle broke and the coolant gauge has been swapped and hacked in with a harbor freight one so i'd basically need all of the gauges except amps.
My last question is if i have to change back to OEM coolant gauge what is the sender wiring for that? Does it work through the spiral wound sender wire i'm using with the $15 aftermarket gauge or would i have to retrofit more stuff back to make it stock again?

Thanks

[Dr_Snooz]

Let us know what you decide. I also want to do the tach conversion.

[bd]

What is the nicest and cheapest way to accomplish this?

Find a stock salvage yard cluster complete with gauges and install a factory coolant sensor.  The OE coolant gauge wire is dark green and drops down over the driver side valve cover from the intake manifold area.  Hopefully it is still there and intact.  Factory gauges use simple circuits that connect the senders directly to the gauges through the firewall bulkhead connector.  Install a good (Autometer, Auto Gauge) aftermarket tach below the dash for the easiest and least intrusive modification or mount it atop the dash pad to the right of the instrument panel hump.

[Captkaos]

What bd said about is the simplest option, I can't add anything to that.
We do offer Dakota Digitals though, email me if you are interested in pricing webmaster@73-87chevytrucks.com

[JohnnyPopper]

Surprising what you can find on e bay. I have been trying to find 6- lug K rally's in salvage yards etc.

A friend who I met on this forum linked me to one of her friends with an e bay store. Boom! Found one...

[slideways]

If i do add a tach i'd like it to replace the huge gas gauge so i dont want to tack it on somewhere. If i find a cluster intact with a tach would i only need to get the printed circuit with it and plug and play it or is there more modifications needed? Besides finding my OEM coolant sensor wire and make sure there is a tach signal to connect to the distributor.

[zieg85]

If i do add a tach i'd like it to replace the huge gas gauge so i dont want to tack it on somewhere. If i find a cluster intact with a tach would i only need to get the printed circuit with it and plug and play it or is there more modifications needed? Besides finding my OEM coolant sensor wire and make sure there is a tach signal to connect to the distributor.

Speaking from experiencing first hand...  The difficulty in finding a tach dash that is working is a task.  Years ago I attempted to find one that is correct and worked.  I only saw one that guaranteed it worked, the rest stated not tested.  The aftermarket one that replaces the gas gauge with a tach/gas gauge combo is sweet but you loose the indicator lights normally that would be where the gas gauge is.  Best of luck in your search.  I personally don't want to kick a sleeping dog on my 85.  Those plastic printed circuits are brittle and the reason I found this forum in 2004 researching my particular issue.