zeeboid

iTrader: (1)

Hey all.
I have a 89 GTA and the tach is having issues, so i'm looking at a cluster to replace it. (It just sticks once it gets up to 4)

The question I have is this:

Why not go for a 6k tach? I mean, we're not to rev our 305s up to 8k anyway, why wouldn't one want to get a tach that goes to 6k and thus is more accurate?

Thoughts?

ninetyone

iTrader: (2)

Our cars dont even rev up to 6k , unless you change the intake. Power drops off after 4500rpms.

zeeboid

iTrader: (1)

So why would people want the 8k Tach? why not swap it out for a 6k? (espically since my 8k tach doesn't want to rev past 4)

JekyllandHyde

iTrader: (3)

Just build a motor that will spin up to 8k and throw it in. Problem solved...

But if I read your question correctly, you're asking why Pontiac would put an 8k tach in when we don't even spin past the 5500 mark? Well, my guess is they wanted to make it look "cool." If you get an aftermarket tach, just get one that you like and put it in and be done with it.

And for aftermarket tachs... they are universal. So the same Autometer tach you put in your GTA can be used in a high winding Honda.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

You can just get a T/A 6k tach. Same engine, "same" car, but the 8k was "cooler" for marketing.

I replaced my cluster & didn't even notice I had a 6k tach until I got to looking at the old cluster I took out. The 6k tach read correctly, so no problem if you swap yours out for a 6k T/A tach. I did eventually get another cluster with the 8k tach, just because I found a T/A guy that had the 8k tach in his T/A & he wanted to swap his back to original, so we traded.

zeeboid

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, tempted to get an aftermaerket tach, but I would want it to fit into the cluster...

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

I don't know how much of the cluster piece was cut to fit these in, but I kinda like it!

zeeboid

iTrader: (1)

Wow... that works!

zeeboid

iTrader: (1)

Can anyone tell what brand gagues those are?

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

I think the faces say MAXIMUM motorsports.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

The Auto Meter 5" gauges call for a 4 5/8" mounting hole & the Firebird gauge hole is just over 4 1/8", so the stock hole is just a tad too small for Auto Meters but could be opened up. Just wondering how thick/wide the trim ring on the outside is, because those mounting holes come very close to the steering column notch.
http://www.autometer.com/productPDF/1140.pdf

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Found them for you, but it only shows 2 1/16 & 2 5/8" sized gauges. Stewart Warner brand:http://www.summitracing.com/search/D...m-Performance/

zeeboid

iTrader: (1)

oh sweet, and their reasonable.

hmmm... now, I wonder if there is a way for me to set up an aftermarket gague cluster but make it so I can swap the origional back in... my 89 GTA is all origional with 81k miles, so I want to make sure when I sell it, it stays that way... but hmm, wouldn't want to molest the origional Odometer.

then again I am sometimes tempted to just rip out the engine and trans for a LS1. meh, the toils of modificaiton!

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

it takes some serious effort, but i can be done.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...tory-bird.html

this bolts into the stock dash, using the stock wiring, cutting nothing, except a space gauge pod. the oil and water senders use more wires than stock, not sure if thats because i used full sweep gauges or not. I had to run extra wires for them, but the factory wiring is still all there and will work once i swap the original pod back in since i left all the stock senders in place

zeeboid

iTrader: (1)

Oh fun.

Forgive me, haven't taken the cluster out of a late 80s before, but did you wire the gagues to the circut board so it would just plug in or how did you do that? I would probably just get a cluster and replace the Tach and Speedo, leaving the others as they are.

AlkyIROC

My guitar amp goes to 11

Yes, street engines generally operate below 5000 rpm the majority of the time so a higher tach means very little. When you start modifying the engine and using it to it's full rpm, 8000 is the next logical step. Very few modified V8 engines will go over 8000. They're more likely to peak out in power in the mid 6000 to low 7000 range. Since it's not practical to make a tach that stops at 7500, they'll go to 8000.

Many aftermarket tachs will go to 10,000 and the better racing ones show very little below 4000 rpm since you don't operate below that in a race engine.

The biggest advantage to a lower rpm tach is the accuracy. If the tach only goes to 6000 and your engine peaks at 5500, the accuracy between the lines is better. In the same amount of sweep space, change 6000 to 8000 or 10,000 and the spaces between the lines gets a lot smaller and you're guessing on the exact number.

bigreed91

I have a 10,000 rpm tach in my slightly modded 305. Why you might ask? Well it was in the back seat when i bought it and the stock one didnt work so i hooked ot up lol. But i think the aftermarket gauges in the cluster would be cool, and if you wana be able to swap it back to original just find a junk one to cut up and put in