I'd like to thank both Mike and Joel for sending me the thorough information on re-wiring the dash on my '84 for use with a tach.  When i finish it sometime this week, i'll try to synthesize the info and do a little write-up for my specific mod (the main difference i know of being that the earlier tach models didn't have some sort of oil pressure circuitry for the 2.1L motors).

Off to electrocute myself!
-Damon

 Mike Collum wrote:Hi Damon,

Here's something I copied some time ago ... but
haven't used yet.

David does know what he's talking about.

Newer instrument cluster (W/Tach)

The wires need to be considerably shifted about. And
you'll need to run a
wire for the tach from the coil up to the dash.

>Here's a circular list. First column is where the
wire used to be in
>the
>connector. Second is where it goes. Third is where
the displaced wire
>needs to go. It's convenient to know that
immediately when you have
>wires
>squirming all about.
>
>
>80-84 85+ which goes to 85+
>3 1 none (1 was
vacant)
>4 2 3 (cut and
splice as below)
>5 3 1
>Old terminal 5 goes to ground. It is jumpered inside
the old panel to
>old
>terminal 2, which provides a ground for the 4-way
flasher's pilot
>light. No, I can't imagine why they did it that way.
(!) Anyway, splice
>
>the lead that used to go to pin two into the one that
used to go to pin
>5,
>and run the pair to pin 3.
>None None 2
>7 5 3 (see
previous note)
>6 6 6
>8 7 5
>9 8 7
>Tach 9 8
>14 10 13
>13 11 14
>x 12 none (High
oil pressure except
>'85
>which has none. Ground to keep buzzer from going
off, or make more
>elaborate arrangements)
>10 13 11
>11 14 10
>Old pin 12 goes to a connector under the dash and
stops. You can splice
>in
>your tach wire and use this female terminal to go
into pin 9 (it was the
>
>glow plug indicator for Diesels).

David Beierl - Providence, RI
http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/

'84 Westy

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