new gauges

[BlaZeus]

hey y'all
i have an 81 k5 i am looking to put aftermarket gauges in. i bought it with no dash and a mess of wiring around the steering shaft. Ive been trying to organize it for a while now and i found the harness for the gauges but still have some questions:
1. is the speedo mechanical or electronic?
2. did they come stock with a tach? if not is it worth it to install one?(auto trans)
3. are all the other gauges electronic?
thanks!!!!

 

[dyeager535]

All gauges are electric.

Speedo is mechanical.

Tach was an option. I don't feel they are worth it, they are cool for awhile but after that not sure they do anything for me...I watch what I'm doing on the road not the tach. However for a carbed setup (vs. efi where idle is determined by the ECM) maybe they are a little more useful.

 

[ryoken]

if not is it worth it to install one?(auto trans)
!

if you're going aftermarket, most will usually put a tach.. too much info is NEVER a bad thing...

manual trans, it's invaluable for shift points... but it can be helpful info with an auto too, cruise rpm's, manually shifting, etc..

 

[BlaZeus]

Awesome thanks! How hard is it to hook up a tach? And Is it worth it to try and nab a gps speedo? I'm running out of funds for the project so don't want to be spending too much on gauges...

 

[Deuling]

Tack is easy. Green wire to the tach terminal on the distributor. Power, ground, and usually another power for light bulb.

 

[82355]

If you can find a set of factory gauges (should be easy and cheap, I have a lot of them....), just buy this, and install factory gauges with this. Looks way better than any aftermarket gauge setup.

http://www.gmsports.com/content/new-tachometer-1973-1988-chevy-and-gmc-trucks

Martin

 

[ryoken]

in your opinion..

 

[my kids took the truck]

Both my brother-in-laws use the gps speedo. I was super skeptical but after roading the '39 truck cross the state with the brother, I am sold. It works.

Like one of the experts said, tach is cool for a couple weeks, then it is just in the way of the fuel gauge. Setting idle on the carb is the only time it is helpful. Even that can be by ear.

I went to pick and pull and grabbed some OEM gauges for volt, amp, and oil, maybe $5 plus some wire. I spent the money and use a mechanical autometer gauge for temp since I want to know if it is 205, 210, or 215 on a hot day. I have a mechanical oil gauge in my '74, it was not too difficult to plumb. Like one of the guys said, gauges are too easy to get from the junk yard.

My favorite gauge is my vacuum gauge. It keeps my gas mileage up by a long way.

 

[TommyD11730]

I like it, will it work on a 91 however with TBI and an electronic Speedo?

If you can find a set of factory gauges (should be easy and cheap, I have a lot of them....), just buy this, and install factory gauges with this. Looks way better than any aftermarket gauge setup.

http://www.gmsports.com/content/new-tachometer-1973-1988-chevy-and-gmc-trucks

Martin

 

[82355]

Yes.

Martin