The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 54 GMC Tachometer electric or cable drive

On a 55 GMC they had an electric tach for the 450.(Looks factory). I have seen a Sun tach on a 54 450 GMC. Looks aftermarket but period era). Did they make a cable drive tach from an extra gear drive in the distributor to drive a mechanical tach in earlier years or even in 54 as an option? Were tachs options in pre 55 pickup trucks.?

Bruce,

There was no GM Chevrolet truck tach as an option or an accessory from 1947-55st

I have no documentation regarding a tach in a GMC between 47-55, but it is my understanding that a tach was available as an option on 1954/55 (Z-series) GMC 350 trucks. Here is an eBay ad for a Z-series 350 with a tach.
"Tach is a cable drive and works off the distributor, this is a very rare option."

The remodeled dash in 1954 (Z-series) GMC trucks had a hole/cover on the right side of the instrument panels - it normally has "GMC" on it, I think. The tachometer option would have gone in that hole. It looks like this truck's tack option is cable driven; but, there is no photo of the cable and the picture of the distributor is awful.

Tach photo - front

Tach photo - rear

Tach photo - distributor cable-fitting?

Please note that I have no GMC documentation on the tachometer being an option on the GMC trucks.

I've got a set of those, one half has the mechanical tach & air pressure gauge as I recall. Need to dig them out, clean them up and find a new home for them.

BC 59, Did you ever dig out the mechanical tach? I would be interested if you still have it. Thanks.