Tachometer replacement thoughts

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

82BBC20

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Posts
29
Reaction score
49
Location
Oklahoma City
First Name
John
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C20 Silverado
Engine Size
454
I too really wanted a factory style tach in dash on my 82 C20, but after adding up all the cost for individual components & knowing how unreliable the old factory gauges had become & figuring the cost to replace them at same time. So I opted for the Dakota Digital VHX series cluster from Summit @ $802 plus tax. Best decision I could have made & installing was easier than I thought.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,698
Reaction score
11,149
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
I too really wanted a factory style tach in dash on my 82 C20, but after adding up all the cost for individual components & knowing how unreliable the old factory gauges had become & figuring the cost to replace them at same time. So I opted for the Dakota Digital VHX series cluster from Summit @ $802 plus tax. Best decision I could have made & installing was easier than I thought.
I'm glad your happy with the Dakota Digital, but it's not for me. Like I said earlier, to me the those gauges look out of place in a square, and the $802 price tag is no go for me. Even if I liked the gauge the price alone kills the deal. But if you enjoy them that's all that counts on your truck!
 

peats

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2016
Posts
288
Reaction score
236
Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
john
Truck Year
72k5, 81c10 short step, 83k10 short fleet, 03 SSR. 25 chevy doodlebug
Truck Model
k5 c10 k10 SSR doodlebug
Engine Size
406 360 6.2 5.3 171
I put an autometer tach on the driver windshield post, similar to ricer gauges but just the tach. does the job without looking like a sore thumb!
 
Joined
May 17, 2022
Posts
41
Reaction score
28
Location
38506
First Name
Chuck
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
So back when I bought this truck 4 or 5 years ago it didn't have a tach in it. After the first time I towed my trailer with a load on I decided I needed a tach, so I bought a cheapie Equus unit, knowing that it was kind of stop gap, not the best quality but would perform the function. Well now it's starting to fail, occasionally it'll stop reading for a short time. I've checked the connections and believe that the tach is starting to fail.

Option #1, replacing it with another aftermarket tach, which is fine with me, but it needs to be a traditionally or classic styled instrument that fits in with the rest of the truck and does not standout as looking to modern.

Option #2 The other option would be to get a factory tach kit from LMC. I'd be curious to hear from other folks that have done the LMC kit. I actually kind of wanted to do this back when I got the aftermarket unit, and while I'm in there I could fix a couple other issues with the instrumentation. Biggest con with this is cost

What you guys think? Thanks.
My factory tach.. yes, unique circuit bd is required. I have a spare factory tach, not sure of the value.
 

Attachments

  • CDA4CBBD-21D2-4373-AD3C-23D5D705E5C1.jpeg
    CDA4CBBD-21D2-4373-AD3C-23D5D705E5C1.jpeg
    167.7 KB · Views: 72

rwljpl

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Posts
112
Reaction score
20
Location
Alabama [AL]
First Name
Rich
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
1500
Engine Size
383
I used the LMC tach kit and the small gas gauge. It took a while to find a printed circuit that would actually make all the gauges work, but it’s been great and everything has worked perfectly for a couple years now. I’m really glad I kept the stock look.
 

CalSgt

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2021
Posts
1,466
Reaction score
3,046
Location
CA
First Name
Casey
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
Chevy K-10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350
I'm glad your happy with the Dakota Digital, but it's not for me. Like I said earlier, to me the those gauges look out of place in a square, and the $802 price tag is no go for me. Even if I liked the gauge the price alone kills the deal. But if you enjoy them that's all that counts on your truck!

Well if the $800 price tag on the Dakota VHX doesn't work for you, you could always spend twice that much on the RTX ones that look a little closer to the originals

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
2,837
Reaction score
6,352
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
Well if the $800 price tag on the Dakota VHX doesn't work for you, you could always spend twice that much on the RTX ones that look a little closer to the originals

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

There would have been a time, way back when, I really would of liked to have had that 120MPH speedo!
 

CalSgt

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2021
Posts
1,466
Reaction score
3,046
Location
CA
First Name
Casey
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
Chevy K-10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350
There would have been a time, way back when, I really would of liked to have had that 120MPH speedo!
LOL... I'd had the one on my square pointing to the odometer on a few occasions, it's a miracle I didn't kill myself or someone else when I was a kid.
 

82BBC20

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Posts
29
Reaction score
49
Location
Oklahoma City
First Name
John
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C20 Silverado
Engine Size
454
Here is a picture of the VHX series, also available with a black or carbon fiber back ground for same money. Came with all new sensors including speedo.
 

Attachments

  • 47FD25A1-44BA-4A95-9121-CDFCA1314F37.jpeg
    47FD25A1-44BA-4A95-9121-CDFCA1314F37.jpeg
    95.3 KB · Views: 61
  • 0364A20A-FD44-450C-9F63-C3ABEE54E7CB.jpeg
    0364A20A-FD44-450C-9F63-C3ABEE54E7CB.jpeg
    169 KB · Views: 64

Matt Frediani

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2020
Posts
52
Reaction score
54
Location
California (Nor-Cal)
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
GMC V2500 Camper Special
Engine Size
TBI 5.7 350
I did the full kit on my 87. My 87 is a TBI engine, Only issue I had was the tach needle was bouncing when I installed it. I replaced the ignition coil and the issue went away. The kit is expensive but worth it if you want the factory look. Im very happy with my install. It was pretty simple
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1419.jpeg
    IMG_1419.jpeg
    131.8 KB · Views: 82
  • IMG_1562.jpeg
    IMG_1562.jpeg
    176.3 KB · Views: 87
  • IMG_1563.jpeg
    IMG_1563.jpeg
    160.7 KB · Views: 82
  • IMG_1564.jpeg
    IMG_1564.jpeg
    149.6 KB · Views: 78
  • 63553948113__B5159F4B-4186-4F04-9294-F5FBB9571495.jpeg
    63553948113__B5159F4B-4186-4F04-9294-F5FBB9571495.jpeg
    106.8 KB · Views: 72

Soundmound

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2022
Posts
1,715
Reaction score
5,136
Location
North Central Washington
First Name
Dave
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Scottsdale
Engine Size
305
These are up for grabs in WA. Not my thing but someone here might be interested.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,698
Reaction score
11,149
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
@CalSgt As you might have guessed I do like the look of the RTX gauges better, but not the price :( I also have to admit I had my speedometer gauge pointing straight down. I was on a feed run for the farm during the pandemic, I was running empty (not loaded) and no one else was on the highway. I wanted to see how fast it would go assuming the 305 would run out of steam around 85 or so. Not so. And it would have gone faster, but the handling characteristics at that speed got me to slow down.
 

CalSgt

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2021
Posts
1,466
Reaction score
3,046
Location
CA
First Name
Casey
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
Chevy K-10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350
@CalSgt As you might have guessed I do like the look of the RTX gauges better, but not the price :( I also have to admit I had my speedometer gauge pointing straight down. I was on a feed run for the farm during the pandemic, I was running empty (not loaded) and no one else was on the highway. I wanted to see how fast it would go assuming the 305 would run out of steam around 85 or so. Not so. And it would have gone faster, but the handling characteristics at that speed got me to slow down.
Yeah... That price is definitely in the custom show truck arena
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,698
Reaction score
11,149
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
@scrap--metal So I was in the truck the other night and just happened to think about you. So I took this picture where you can really see it from my prospective. That's taken right for where my eyeballs normally are.
 

Attachments

  • 20220714_210650.jpg
    20220714_210650.jpg
    77.6 KB · Views: 65

scrap--metal

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2021
Posts
678
Reaction score
1,266
Location
MN
First Name
Calvin
Truck Year
'85, '81
Truck Model
K10, K20
Engine Size
305, 350
@scrap--metal So I was in the truck the other night and just happened to think about you. So I took this picture where you can really see it from my prospective. That's taken right for where my eyeballs normally are.
Thanks for the picture. Both gauges are very visible and unobstructed where you have them.

I haven't gotten around to putting my tach in yet, or testing it for that matter. I've been working on my Camaro in what little free time I've had over the last week.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
41,848
Posts
903,423
Members
33,362
Latest member
Dhatch84
Top