Relocating Tach - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Nova_Cobra64 · 01-21-2003, 07:10 PM

The previous owner of my truck mounted a autoguage tach on the column. I want to mount it in the middle of the dash, but don't know how to go about it. My dash pad is perfect so I don't really want to drill holes in it. Any other ways to go about putting it on the dash?

jmanz69 · 01-21-2003, 08:48 PM

Not really. I had an Autometer tach on my dash, and I had to drill holes. That's the only way it will really stay there and not flop all around. Good luck, hope you find a different way. If so be sure to post pics and instructions. I am sure others will want to know too.

Ackattack · 01-21-2003, 09:06 PM

I've seen them mounted down on the transmission hump, but that's kinda low in a truck. Maybe you can mount it on the bottom of the dash.

71Blazer · 01-21-2003, 09:42 PM

Have you thought of mounting it to the A- pillar? I've seen this on other vehicles and seems to keep it out of the way but easily read.

lukecp · 01-21-2003, 10:14 PM

I would mount it in the dash if it is the right size. It is very straightforward to remove and modify the dash for the tach. To remove the dash, first remove the oil pressure line (directly behind the oil pressure guage), then unscrew the speedometer cable on the back of the speedometer. Finally, reach behind the gas guage and there should be a plugged in connector. Pull the connector gently out of the dash. Then unscrew the screws on the front of the dashboard, and remove it. To put in the tach, remove all the sheetmetal screws on the back of the insturment cluster. First, the plastic bezel should come off. I would get a dremel tool, and cut hole the size of the tach in the clear plastic lens that has the #'s for the speedometer on it. Then, there should be a black metal plate behind the lens. Using a dremel with a cutoff, i would hack out the metal so the tach will fit. Finally, you will proably have to cut a small hole in the very rear panel of the dash, the one that the printed circuit board attaches to. Then slide the tach in its new home, hook it up and drive off.

Longhorn Man · 01-22-2003, 12:58 AM

You could remove the dash pad, mount it so that the L part of the bracket goes under the pad then reinstall the pad. No one will ever know that there were holse drilled if you were to remove it.

Nova_Cobra64 · 01-26-2003, 02:04 PM

How are the dash pads held on? I took the 4 screws out but it won't come off. I didn't want to start yanking too hard and thought I'd check first. Are there clips or is it likely that it is held on with adhesives? I unhooked the tach from where it was and looked at my options. The A pillar is out - the tach is too big, and it doesn't fit in the left corner either. I think somewhere near the middle will look good. I was thinking that if the dash pad came off fairly easily, then I would take the tach's mount and cut the curved part off, weld on a small strip of 14 or 16 guage metal and slip it underneath the pad. I think it should work because the pad is pretty tight against the dash.

jmanz69 · 01-26-2003, 02:14 PM

There are screws under the [ad towards the front. I forget how many, but they are under the lip. They are hard to get to, but they have to come out. Good luck.

Nova_Cobra64 · 01-26-2003, 02:40 PM

Do you mean on the front? I got the 4 out that were on the front. Are there some under the dash?

jmanz69 · 01-26-2003, 02:43 PM

There are some under it like behind the instruments and behind the radio and behind the glove box. You have to get your hand and wrench up under the dash to get them. You can't see them from the front.

Nova_Cobra64 · 01-26-2003, 02:55 PM

Oh, ok. My plan should work then.
Thanks!

Nova_Cobra64 · 01-29-2003, 10:11 PM

For all who are interested:
I modified the mounting bracket so it would go under the dash pad. I cut the bracket, welded 2 pieces of 14 guage metal that I cut (about 1.5" by 2.5" and .5" by .75") together, and then welded it to the bracket. I loosened the dash pad and slipped the bracket under and tightened it down. I ran the wires through the grate (or whatever the heck it is called) on top of the dash. It is in there pretty well and looks like it won't move around. I figure it was better than putting holes in the dash if I didn't need to. I would get pics but the scanner is broken. I will get them in spring when I borrow a digi cam from somebody.

Nova_Cobra64 · 03-01-2003, 02:50 AM

Finally got some pics.

Nova_Cobra64 · 03-01-2003, 02:51 AM

1

01-21-2003, 07:10 PM	#1
Nova_Cobra64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melville, SK Posts: 1,144	Relocating Tach The previous owner of my truck mounted a autoguage tach on the column. I want to mount it in the middle of the dash, but don't know how to go about it. My dash pad is perfect so I don't really want to drill holes in it. Any other ways to go about putting it on the dash?

01-21-2003, 09:06 PM	#3
Ackattack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley Center KS Posts: 3,525	I've seen them mounted down on the transmission hump, but that's kinda low in a truck. Maybe you can mount it on the bottom of the dash. __________________ Project Bruiser: 68 Pro-Touring C-10 5.3L / 4L60E Project Ironhide: 97 GMC Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins SOLD: '69 GMC 1/2T SWB TBI'd: Project No Buck Assembly Manual Index Sign up Thread!!! Factory Service Manual Index

01-21-2003, 09:42 PM	#4
71Blazer Goodbye Darlin' Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Coupeville, WA USA Posts: 330	Have you thought of mounting it to the A- pillar? I've seen this on other vehicles and seems to keep it out of the way but easily read. __________________ 1971 Blazer CST SOLD!

01-21-2003, 10:14 PM	#5
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	I would mount it in the dash if it is the right size. It is very straightforward to remove and modify the dash for the tach. To remove the dash, first remove the oil pressure line (directly behind the oil pressure guage), then unscrew the speedometer cable on the back of the speedometer. Finally, reach behind the gas guage and there should be a plugged in connector. Pull the connector gently out of the dash. Then unscrew the screws on the front of the dashboard, and remove it. To put in the tach, remove all the sheetmetal screws on the back of the insturment cluster. First, the plastic bezel should come off. I would get a dremel tool, and cut hole the size of the tach in the clear plastic lens that has the #'s for the speedometer on it. Then, there should be a black metal plate behind the lens. Using a dremel with a cutoff, i would hack out the metal so the tach will fit. Finally, you will proably have to cut a small hole in the very rear panel of the dash, the one that the printed circuit board attaches to. Then slide the tach in its new home, hook it up and drive off. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

01-26-2003, 02:04 PM	#7
Nova_Cobra64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melville, SK Posts: 1,144	How are the dash pads held on? I took the 4 screws out but it won't come off. I didn't want to start yanking too hard and thought I'd check first. Are there clips or is it likely that it is held on with adhesives? I unhooked the tach from where it was and looked at my options. The A pillar is out - the tach is too big, and it doesn't fit in the left corner either. I think somewhere near the middle will look good. I was thinking that if the dash pad came off fairly easily, then I would take the tach's mount and cut the curved part off, weld on a small strip of 14 or 16 guage metal and slip it underneath the pad. I think it should work because the pad is pretty tight against the dash. __________________ 2004 Silverado - Beater 1969 GMC - In progress http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=441683 2011 Aveo - Work commuter 2013 Crestliner Fish Hawk 1650 - The reason no work gets done on the project truck.

01-21-2003, 08:48 PM	#2
jmanz69 Careful, they attack... Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Waterford, MI, USA Posts: 1,107	Not really. I had an Autometer tach on my dash, and I had to drill holes. That's the only way it will really stay there and not flop all around. Good luck, hope you find a different way. If so be sure to post pics and instructions. I am sure others will want to know too.

01-22-2003, 12:58 AM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	You could remove the dash pad, mount it so that the L part of the bracket goes under the pad then reinstall the pad. No one will ever know that there were holse drilled if you were to remove it.

01-26-2003, 02:14 PM	#8
jmanz69 Careful, they attack... Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Waterford, MI, USA Posts: 1,107	There are screws under the [ad towards the front. I forget how many, but they are under the lip. They are hard to get to, but they have to come out. Good luck.

01-26-2003, 02:40 PM	#9
Nova_Cobra64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melville, SK Posts: 1,144	Do you mean on the front? I got the 4 out that were on the front. Are there some under the dash? __________________ 2004 Silverado - Beater 1969 GMC - In progress http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=441683 2011 Aveo - Work commuter 2013 Crestliner Fish Hawk 1650 - The reason no work gets done on the project truck.

01-26-2003, 02:43 PM	#10
jmanz69 Careful, they attack... Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Waterford, MI, USA Posts: 1,107	There are some under it like behind the instruments and behind the radio and behind the glove box. You have to get your hand and wrench up under the dash to get them. You can't see them from the front.

01-26-2003, 02:55 PM	#11
Nova_Cobra64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melville, SK Posts: 1,144	Oh, ok. My plan should work then. Thanks! __________________ 2004 Silverado - Beater 1969 GMC - In progress http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=441683 2011 Aveo - Work commuter 2013 Crestliner Fish Hawk 1650 - The reason no work gets done on the project truck.

01-29-2003, 10:11 PM	#12
Nova_Cobra64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melville, SK Posts: 1,144	For all who are interested: I modified the mounting bracket so it would go under the dash pad. I cut the bracket, welded 2 pieces of 14 guage metal that I cut (about 1.5" by 2.5" and .5" by .75") together, and then welded it to the bracket. I loosened the dash pad and slipped the bracket under and tightened it down. I ran the wires through the grate (or whatever the heck it is called) on top of the dash. It is in there pretty well and looks like it won't move around. I figure it was better than putting holes in the dash if I didn't need to. I would get pics but the scanner is broken. I will get them in spring when I borrow a digi cam from somebody. __________________ 2004 Silverado - Beater 1969 GMC - In progress http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=441683 2011 Aveo - Work commuter 2013 Crestliner Fish Hawk 1650 - The reason no work gets done on the project truck.

03-01-2003, 02:50 AM	#13
Nova_Cobra64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melville, SK Posts: 1,144	Finally got some pics. Attached Images

03-01-2003, 02:51 AM	#14
Nova_Cobra64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melville, SK Posts: 1,144	1 Attached Images



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