In dash tach - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**pdxhall** · 11-21-2011, 07:25 PM

I have an old sunpro tach that I want to install in the factory location on a gauged dash that I picked up. For those that have done this, do you remove the front faceplate from the tach before mounting it or leave it on? This tach hooks up just like an original but for 2 problems: with the faceplate on a slight modification will be needed to the guage front plate (the lip on the flat of the half circle opening would need to be cut back a little. But, if I remove the faceplate on the guage, the shift indicate arrows have nothing to attach to. Here's a pic of the tach.

jonzcustomshop · 11-21-2011, 07:32 PM

I haven't finished mine, but I took the faceplate of to get it to fit, other than that it bolted right in,,, in dash factory ones did not have shift arrows? (I think)

**Corts60** · 11-21-2011, 07:58 PM

Oh man, jealous here! I am always trying to find a 5k tach but they seem to be very good at playing hide and seek.

Sorry I can't help with the install.

markeb01 · 11-21-2011, 08:35 PM

Fyi on these early Sun tachs, the bezel (black in this example) is permanently attached to the housing. The gauge mechanism itself along with the gauge face and needle are attached to the back plate. Removing the stud nuts on the rear will allow the entire gauge to slide right out of the can.

In early GMC applications the entire Sun tach head assembly with gauge and bezel was installed in the front of the panel. In Chevy applications it appears the gauge was mounted inside the bezel, but from the factory the tach gauge was probably a Delco offering. It should however be easy enough to modify the rear panel of the factory gauge cluster to accommodate the Sun tach.

**rideblue00** · 11-21-2011, 09:24 PM

**pdxhall** · 11-21-2011, 10:12 PM

I've been messing around with it some more and here's what's up. The tach will hook right up to the factory plate when it is fully assembled and as I said, it fits well except for the issue of the front guage plate interfering with the tach face where flat part of the half moon opening bends in toward the tach. This could be trimmed and the tach would fit. However, I removed the tach from the housing and the rear of the housing stays with the guage so the only thing I will need to do is get a couple of bolts to connect the back panel of the guage to the factory panel. This is because the original bolts are attached to the face plate and housing which is removed. I don't know if this makes sense or not but here are a couple mor pics.
Also thanks for the info on the shift arrows, that will make things much easier.

Greg63 · 11-21-2011, 10:21 PM

I did what you are describing to my cluster;

I pried the front housing/lens off and was left with what you show on your previous post. I fastened the rear of the tach to the plate from the back of the cluster.
Greg

**pdxhall** · 11-21-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg63

I did what you are describing to my cluster;

I pried the front housing/lens off and was left with what you show on your previous post. I fastened the rear of the tach to the plate from the back of the cluster.
Greg

That's cool. If that worked good for you I guess that's what I'll do. One step closer to the look I'm after. Now if I could only find a clock or vac guage for the other side as cheap as I got the tach.

*blackedoutharley* · 11-21-2011, 11:46 PM

I wonder if you could do the same with the Autometer "retro" tach?

This one....

jonzcustomshop · 11-22-2011, 12:13 AM

well, I just looked at some of my shots of factory tachs, and they do seem to have the shift point arrows, the one seems to be clamped to the guage face...
the one with the clock I think is from a 66 chevelle (the clock)

**pdxhall** · 11-22-2011, 02:30 AM

The pointers on my tach are just a metal strip with some bends in it so I should be able to modify them to make them work somehow. Might have to be made to where they can't be changed, though.

1963c-10 · 11-22-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

I haven't finished mine, but I took the faceplate of to get it to fit, other than that it bolted right in,,, in dash factory ones did not have shift arrows? (I think)

The in dash tach for my 63 is the original eb-8 and it does have the shift tabs on the guage.

gostranger · 11-22-2011, 02:26 PM

i have a tach gauge with a needle broken off of i bought at carlisle for 10 bux i never used it and i always hated the thought of throwing it out it might make a good doner to play around with

11-21-2011, 07:25 PM	#1
pdxhall Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 2,084	In dash tach I have an old sunpro tach that I want to install in the factory location on a gauged dash that I picked up. For those that have done this, do you remove the front faceplate from the tach before mounting it or leave it on? This tach hooks up just like an original but for 2 problems: with the faceplate on a slight modification will be needed to the guage front plate (the lip on the flat of the half circle opening would need to be cut back a little. But, if I remove the faceplate on the guage, the shift indicate arrows have nothing to attach to. Here's a pic of the tach. Attached Images

11-21-2011, 07:32 PM	#2
jonzcustomshop 1961 crewcab Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: missoula, mt Posts: 6,164	Re: In dash tach I haven't finished mine, but I took the faceplate of to get it to fit, other than that it bolted right in,,, in dash factory ones did not have shift arrows? (I think) __________________ 60 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=280904 61 crew build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=646830 63 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=336537 64 'burb build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=448681 65 'burb build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590715 65 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=281955

11-21-2011, 07:58 PM	#3
Corts60 Just here to tinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Holland, MI Posts: 3,697	Re: In dash tach Oh man, jealous here! I am always trying to find a 5k tach but they seem to be very good at playing hide and seek. Sorry I can't help with the install. __________________ 78 C10 SWB Diesel #1 (wrecked)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...1978+silverado 78 C10 SWB Diesel #2 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=650751 60 GMC Suburban (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=445526 60 GMC 1000 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=298235 67 GMC 1500 (sold) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=803695 73 Chevy C20(Daily)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=852767 86 Suburban(summer unit) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=810697 88 Suburban 4x4(sold)

11-21-2011, 08:35 PM	#4
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: In dash tach Fyi on these early Sun tachs, the bezel (black in this example) is permanently attached to the housing. The gauge mechanism itself along with the gauge face and needle are attached to the back plate. Removing the stud nuts on the rear will allow the entire gauge to slide right out of the can. In early GMC applications the entire Sun tach head assembly with gauge and bezel was installed in the front of the panel. In Chevy applications it appears the gauge was mounted inside the bezel, but from the factory the tach gauge was probably a Delco offering. It should however be easy enough to modify the rear panel of the factory gauge cluster to accommodate the Sun tach.

11-21-2011, 09:24 PM	#5
rideblue00 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lambertville, MI Posts: 1,866	Re: In dash tach Suscribed

11-21-2011, 10:12 PM	#6
pdxhall Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 2,084	Re: In dash tach I've been messing around with it some more and here's what's up. The tach will hook right up to the factory plate when it is fully assembled and as I said, it fits well except for the issue of the front guage plate interfering with the tach face where flat part of the half moon opening bends in toward the tach. This could be trimmed and the tach would fit. However, I removed the tach from the housing and the rear of the housing stays with the guage so the only thing I will need to do is get a couple of bolts to connect the back panel of the guage to the factory panel. This is because the original bolts are attached to the face plate and housing which is removed. I don't know if this makes sense or not but here are a couple mor pics. Also thanks for the info on the shift arrows, that will make things much easier. Attached Images

11-21-2011, 10:21 PM	#7
Greg63 Enjoy your truck Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,066	Re: In dash tach I did what you are describing to my cluster; I pried the front housing/lens off and was left with what you show on your previous post. I fastened the rear of the tach to the plate from the back of the cluster. Greg __________________ 1 Corinthians 10:13 1963 Chevrolet 1/2 ton 2010 Camaro SS/RS 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2016 Jeep Cherokee

11-21-2011, 11:46 PM	#9
blackedoutharley Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Plumas Lake, Ca. Posts: 1,009	Re: In dash tach I wonder if you could do the same with the Autometer "retro" tach? This one....

11-22-2011, 12:13 AM	#10
jonzcustomshop 1961 crewcab Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: missoula, mt Posts: 6,164	Re: In dash tach well, I just looked at some of my shots of factory tachs, and they do seem to have the shift point arrows, the one seems to be clamped to the guage face... the one with the clock I think is from a 66 chevelle (the clock) Attached Images __________________ 60 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=280904 61 crew build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=646830 63 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=336537 64 'burb build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=448681 65 'burb build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590715 65 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=281955

11-22-2011, 02:30 AM	#11
pdxhall Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 2,084	Re: In dash tach The pointers on my tach are just a metal strip with some bends in it so I should be able to modify them to make them work somehow. Might have to be made to where they can't be changed, though.

11-22-2011, 02:26 PM	#13
gostranger 65 suburban vortec 5.3 bagged Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: upstate new york Posts: 1,317	Re: In dash tach i have a tach gauge with a needle broken off of i bought at carlisle for 10 bux i never used it and i always hated the thought of throwing it out it might make a good doner to play around with

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.