Date:         Mon, 20 May 2002 02:32:27 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Tach Installation
Comments: To: Data Services <dataservices@ATTBI.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <00a601c1ffa5$c4198ca0$daed8018@Dell1>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 10:26 PM 5/19/2002, Data Services wrote:
>Any ideas (I can't be the first to do this) on what to do would be very
>appreciated!

You're looking at a lot of work.  Most people swap the whole gauge cluster
including speedometer, tach/gauges and flexible circuit foil.  To make that
swap all that is required is to rearrange the pins in the plug that goes to
the panel (it hinges open, very convenient) and add a wire to drive the
tach (comes from the coil).  Alternatively you could keep the old speedo --
but if the newer gauges are not from an '85 there will be an extra circuit
board embedded in the speedo that you won't have -- it controls the oil
pressure light/buzzer.

To adapt the old circuit foil to the new gauge cluster would be a bleeding
nuisance -- I'm tempted to say that if you don't already know what to do,
then it's probably not feasible for you.  You'd perhaps be better off
buying a newer circuit foil or wiring a new plug / socket combination and
making up your own equivalent (using wires) to most or all of the flexible
circuit.  Or swap the tach for a replacement clock, and mount an external
tach.  That's an easy job (typically ground, ign. coil, and panel light
circuit if you want it lit), and if you use a plug and socket you can mount
it on top of the instrument panel cover


--
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"