What tach is good for a 78' datsun 510?

[Andres131313]

It has a l20b engine. I want to get one to mount on the dash and I have no idea what to look for. Please help

[ggzilla]

I would fit the tachometer from a 1977-1978 Datsun 510

 

[datzenmike]

Agree. Factory looks the best. This ain't a race car so the factory is more than enough.

[Andres131313]

Woooooow. Mine doesn't have one. And it's stock. Mike...not yet...but soon will be

[ggzilla]

It fits every 510. Even I'd it didn't come with a tach, the wiring is there for it.

[ggzilla]

When you get a racing motor, the factory tach will be great - it revs to 8000 rpm!

[Andres131313]

If I remember right my car has larger lights for battery, and oil lights

[Andres131313]

Ok. Thanks again guys

[datsunaholic]

The pic above is of an early PL510 tach- doesn't fit a '78.

 

78-79 had a tach option, but it's very rare.  I've seen 3 in my life, and one is in my 78 Hatchback.

 

This is the stock 78-79 tach:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a stock 80-81 dash.  A tach was standard equipment:

 

 

 

 

The 80-81 510 tach fits in the 78-79 cluster and wires in, however the idiot lights don't line up (the 80-81 don't have an oil light, so the brake was moved to bottom left and there's nothing top center).  It's also backlit through the plastic rather than lit via reflection, so it would look weird at night. 

 

I did that in my '78 Wagon.

 

To make it less weird at night, I swapped both the tach and speedometer from the 81 cluster into the 78 cluster.  That does leave me with only a 85mph speedo, but I do get a true 6-digit odometer and a much more visible tach/speedo at night.  The fuel and temp gauges are original reflection-lit ones, as the later ones don't fit the cluster.  I didn't fix the idiot light issues, so the #4 lights up with the brake, and the "brake" is actually the oil light.

 

 

 

 

[Fat510]

The pic above is of an early PL510 tach- doesn't fit a '78.

 

78-79 had a tach option, but it's very rare.  I've seen 3 in my life, and one is in my 78 Hatchback.

 

This is the stock 78-79 tach:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a stock 80-81 dash.  A tach was standard equipment:

 

 

 

The 80-81 510 tach fits in the 78-79 cluster and wires in, however the idiot lights don't line up (the 80-81 don't have an oil light, so the brake was moved to bottom left and there's nothing top center).  It's also backlit through the plastic rather than lit via reflection, so it would look weird at night. 

 

I did that in my '78 Wagon.

 

To make it less weird at night, I swapped both the tach and speedometer from the 81 cluster into the 78 cluster.  That does leave me with only a 85mph speedo, but I do get a true 6-digit odometer and a much more visible tach/speedo at night.  The fuel and temp gauges are original reflection-lit ones, as the later ones don't fit the cluster.  I didn't fix the idiot light issues, so the #4 lights up with the brake, and the "brake" is actually the oil li

 

I'm so jealous of that tach....and clamshell

[Andres131313]

I was going to say it must be rare because I couldn't fine one at all. So what is a good aftermarket tach to get?

[ggzilla]

Smith's is a good one. Autometer if you're on a budget.