I know this question has probably asked a million times about tachs in the first gens. I was where the vibration dampner is that you glue the magnet to, to get a signal is? also once you have the magnet there can you wire any tach to it and get the signal from there like you would wire any regular tach to a coil in a gasser?(same question for getting a signal off the alternator) or is there something different from diesel tachs and gas tachs? A 89 doesn't come with factory tach wiring right? just the 91.5s and up?

 

The damper is on the front of the engine. It's the spinny thing on the bottom.

You have to use a tach that's made for a magnetic pick-up with that kind of system.

There are 2 ways to go with the alternator tach. One is to buy the kit from Autometer (2888, about $120), it comes with an external probe that clamps onto the alternator. The other way to do it is to add a "W" terminal to your existing alternator and using a generic alternator tach. This requires removing the alternator, partially disassembling it, and doing some wiring in there.

'92 and '93 have factory tach output, but AFAIK only Isspro makes a tach that works with it.

 

Spinny thing on the bottom....... not sure im following you lol
Ive seen how wiring the alternator goes and it seems like a pretty easy job. but can any tach be used with the alternator system?

 

The damper is bolted to the front of the crankshaft. It's kinda hard to miss.

You can only use an alternator tach on the alternator.

 

is it kinda like a harmonic balancer? and that really sucks as selection for tachs are minimal. Is there any possible way to use any tach you want? cam sensor?

 

Yes, same thing.

Nope. I have the AutoMeter 2888, I like it.

 

That sucks, i wanted to get a whole aluminum dash made with all gauges in it. but i wanted it to look nice and i just think that the black face gauges look really old. I wanted to go with a whole set of gauges like the autometer C2 series, something with a white face a blue lights along with the chrome bezel. but if im stuck with gauges made specifically for alternators or the magnet on the dampner then im screwed if i want one thats really good looking

 

Like this?



That's Autometer 3788.

 

that ones pretty good looking, didn't think they made one like that, i could prob get the blue lights for it too, thanks for posting that, i wonder if u can get chrome bezels for it