After Market Tach Install and In Dash Gauge Mount
 

Thanks to a SCREAMING deal from Kens_PS at www.kensperformancesolutions.com I got a ISSPRO 2" 5K tach for the pulling truck. His service was top notch and shipping was very quick! So hang on while I run through the install real quick and also show you how I mounted my gauges in the dash.

Here is the tach, just your run the mill 5K Tack
Attachment 55313

Seeing as how my early 1st gen does not have the factory pig tail that the later models do I also had to get a magnetic pick up that reads off magnets you put on the balancer on from the engine.
Attachment 55314

The sending unit for the pick up mounts on one of the oil pan bolts. It has a angle to it so make sure you put it on the right one.
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Next clean two spots 180* apart on the balancer. Use some coarse sand paper to scuff it up some. These little magnets are gonna be spinning REAL fast! Use the two part epoxy to glue the magnets 180* apart from each other, blue side out.
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Next run two wires from the sending unit into the cab to hook to the tach. Use some weather proof connectors because these will be out in the open.
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After running the wires into the cab this is how they attach to the back of the tach.
The - Terminal gets one wire (does not matter which one) from the sending unit and another to a good ground

The other wire from the sending unit goes to the s Terminal
Attachment 55318

And There you go... You should have a tach! Now to mount it. Seeing as how we as 1st genners are limited on mounting locations and my A-Pillar is already taken up with gauges I decided to put the tach and my fuel pressure gauge, which is hard to see under the dash, up in the dash. The best spot I could find is the information pod in the 1st gen dash. This little pod holds the water in fuel, wait to start, ABS, and low fuel lights. Seeing as I no longer have the sender for the water in fuel, no grid heater for the wait to start, my ABS is long gone, and I have a fuel gauge I figured I wont miss these lights at all!

Here is a pic (mot my truck) the pod I'm talking about is the part on the dash that says cummins.
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First pull the dash out and unscrew all the pods from the back so you have a clean dash
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Then flip it over, make a template, and cut it out of something. I chose a marine plastic called Star-Board. This stuff is AWESOME!!! Cuts and sands like wood and NOTHING will stick to it! No glues, caulks, stains, ect. It peals right off.
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Then drill your 2" holes and drop in your gauges and put it all together! Here is the complete project
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And from the drivers seat you can see them great!
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Cool deal Bobby.... so will that new 440 turn 5K?


no pics of it in action?

I hope... :D

Looks good....Is it me or is the tach higher than the other gauge? Or is it supposed to be that way?

Yea, I'm confused now...... :humm: Change of heart?

awesome job!!!!:U:

Yeah its a little higher. Use a tape measure and not your eyes. :D

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:D

Guess I can let the cat out the bag. I had a good lead on a 97 w/o a tranny for $1,000. I was gonna sell this engine and buy that truck to swap the engine into the 1st gen.

:lol88: I knew something was up! I was hoping you wouldn't stray away and denut a awesome truck! Glad to hear that, still after the truck or? That'd be a hell of a sleeper until you winder up to 5k on the line :w2:

naa... hink I'm gonna stick to the VE engine for a while

Nice work. :U::U:

Where can I find Star board? Seems like pretty handy plastic.

shouldnt have a problem turning 5K with that VE motor......


oh and their is a factory tach setup for a cummins......but its mechanical......

Yeah Logan I was talking about the later model 1st gens that come with the harness already and all you do is plug in the tach. I don;t think I will turn this motor 5k... Didn;t think you could spin a VE that high.

Nice job Bobby...on the install and the write-up.
I didn't catch all of the 440 joke, but you know if you really want one....I'll trade you one for that little 6 cyl. in your truck now.:w2:

Look at marine supplyers... I warn you its not cheap.... AT ALL!

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I had an ad on here for my engine out the white truck so I could get that p-pumped truck Troy knew about. They all wanted to know why I was selling it so I til dthem I was gonna drop a built 440 in it.

And dont forget... I've seen the 440 in the yellow and purple truck in action at the pull... I'll pass :D

i was joking bobby.......

I know you were... :D

bringin this thread back up to the surface... just to bust bobby's gonads. anyone else notice the interior swap? you forgot to mention you had to switch the interior around the gauges in order for them to work properly :lol88: otherwise; great install and read

I said in teh thread I swipped teh pic! :D

see i missed that part... lol i'm such an :asshat: