aftermarket tachometer? Has anyone installed on in their automatic console?

[GrandpaG]

My 65 GS has the automatic but no tach. I searched the board for this topic but didn't find anything, so making this post.  I hate not knowing my actual RPM's, so has anyone found an aftermarket tach that fits perfectly and looks great in the console?  While I'm at it, what about gauge cluster above the console? I see pics of GS on the web and it seems that its somewhat common. What do folks recommend? My GEN light came on today and at idle it's got 13.5 volts (gen light is on) and if I rev it, it goes up to 15 and even 16+ volts (gen light stays on).  This brought to mind the 3-pack cluster idea (ammeter/voltmeter, oil pressure and temp) Would be nice to monitor what's going on!

Thanks.
Grandpa G

[GS66]

You can find a Buick factory tach to put in your console cup. A lot of the cars I see have added the 3 pk gauges too. I just added a 3 pk Auto Meter Cobalt gauges to one of mine.

[GrandpaG]

I've been searching for a factory buick tach - any leads?

[campfamily]

 OEM tachs show up on eBay from time to time. Also check on V8Buick. That's what I did and it was a piece of cake to install, all of the wiring was already there, including for the light.

Keith

[marxjunk]

Pontiac and Olds cup tach works in the Buick housing and are dirt cheap compared to the Buick tachs..i used to put Catalina cup tach guts in the Buick cup..while it was apart, i would paint or cover the Pontiac letters..no one really knew what it was..worked fine

i can at almost anytime buy a Pontiac cup tach for around $100  less for Olds...you have to trim the lenses to fit in the buick cup..but other than that its bold right in and looks pretty good..except it doesnt have a redline its all green..no yellow and red on the scale.. i may have a pic..or i will steal a couple online and post later today

being a kid and having no money..i learned to get around a few things and still have cool stuff

[marxjunk]

so the guts of these style tach, including Olds goes in the buick console cup..you have to trim the lense..when you take it apart...the lemse comes out and that black filler has Pontiac stenciled on..wipe it off or sand it and paint it...i put a tri-shield emblem in one and a BUICK decal on another...works fine..cheap to do, a little elbow grease and it can look pretty stock,,,the cost of real Buick tachs is nuts right now..

[marxjunk]

Also..the early Sun cup tach mechanism and work,,theres a guy on the Pontiac board that bought brand new sun tachs...took them apart..had a decal made and stuck it on the Sun face and it has the correct looking scale for a pontiac...i have one i bought, i will get a pic...anyway that mechanism is the same size as the Buick cup tack..just wrapped in a diff package...it could work for a console cup with work..heres a pic
this is a sun tach with a reface in a stock pontiac cup

[WkillGS]

The 1966 Chevelle tach is repo'd, about $175. Looks very similar to the Buick tach, just missing the 'Buick' on the face.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/knee-knocker-tachometer-66-Chevy-chevelle-malibu-el-camino-5600-redline-tach/263099172347?fits=Model%3AChevelle&hash=item3d41eec5fb:g:lNoAAOSwYlJW2P7p

I have to say, the console is a terrible place for a tach from a safety standpoint!

[marxjunk]

the buick knee knocker cup tach and the 66 chevelle knee knocker cup tach use the same cup..its identical...so the guts will work with a little work..i did one of those for a friend..we put a buick decal on it..it passes easily for stock..just no colors in the scale

[campfamily]

The Buick tach only goes to 6000 rpm, the Pontiac and Olds tachs go to 7000. I checked on eBay, even Pontiac tachs are getting $400 now. I paid less than that for my Buick tach all those years ago.

Keith

[Dr Frankenbuick]

The old Sun tachs fit in the console and they are kind of period correct. Added the matching gauges too.     

[GrandpaG]

This is all awesome, great info!! Thanks everyone!!!

[campfamily]

I see there is a Buick Tach on eBay right now, for $425. Item number 293585544570.

Keith

[GS66]

Here?s a better deal on a console tach:

http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/1960s-buick-tachometer-used.357582/#post-3071790