Tach for an '87?

[j.eary]

I have the cluster that has the large fuel guage, with no tach. Can I find a tach and small fuel guage from a different trim level and just install them? I know they'll fit, but will I have to modify any wiring? I suspect I'll need the proper printed circuit board, but wondering if any other electrical mods are needed?

[occupant]

I am not sure if a tach was offered in the 81-87 trucks. I have yet to see one. The late 77-79 cluster would swap in, but the speedometer wouldn't work if yours is electronic. That and you'd lose cruise control if you have it.

Hrmmm...you could always install an aftermarket 5" tach in the hole, then get a small fuel gauge to put in the one lone pod on the bottom left corner. The problem would be matching up the colors and text style to stock, but a good inkjet printer and some matte photo paper would help. That's what I might end up doing to put a vacuum gauge in my Suburban, I'll just make a factory looking face to put over the VDO gauge I want to put in it.

[jonrpick]

As far as I know, an older dash panel would work. 87 was the last year for that body style on pickups, and tach-dashes were available in older trucks.

I was going to try this on my '86 K5 Blazer, but decided against it. I really like the idea of some new AutoMeter gauges. Used tach-dashes aren't cheap on eBay. A company, Covan Classic Auto, sells a drop-in dash system with AutoMeters, but they want STUPID money for it. http://tinyurl.com/yv9mrm

An alternative option is to bore out the stock dash panel for whatever gauges you like. The latest copy of Peterson's 4wheel & Offroad shows this on a project truck: http://tinyurl.com/yqsqeh

The latest article isn't up yet, but the mag is still on the stands. The link should show that article next month. They show the mod'd dash panel with Autometers. You could do as Occupant suggested and just do the one gauge, and get a small fuel gauge for the empty spot in the dash. LMC Truck sells two different "small" stock fuel gauges for $59.95 each, and it'd match perfectly.

~jp

[j.eary]

You weren't kidding when you said they wanted 'STUPID' money...I'm gonna keep trying to find something close to stock. If nothing pops up, guess I'll fab something myself.

[cordatta]

tachs were offered for these trucks and they sat next to the speedo in the bezel and the fuel gauge got moved to the smaller gauges. they are a rare find though, so keep up the hunt on ebay and expect to pay big bones or i think lmc has the individual gauges available.

[domestictuner]

is that autometer cluster that expensive? it comes with gauges i thought the 5" guages were a couple hundred each anyway

[j.eary]

The price, considering the components, is not out of line. I just was hoping for something considerably less...I have tried LMC Truck, all I can find is the circuit board and smaller fuel guage. Now I just have to find the larger tach.

[Hook'emHorns]

LMC does offer all the gauges, to include the tach. I've been looking to do the same thing with my Suburban.