the question was asked if the clock on an 84 could be replaced w/ a tach.  I did
this on my 1980 westy.  The loud clicking of the clock
really bothered me while camping.  For some reason a can stand random, loud,
soft or other noises, but steady predictable noise
drives me batty  (maybe this says something about my psychological make-up).  I
took a tach out of a rabbit, pulled the clock out of the instrument cluster of
my westy.  Had to shave the tach faceplate and some plastic bits on the tach,
open up some holes in the back of the clock backing plate (yes, i re-used the
clock backing plate so it would screw back into the instrument cluster).  The
tach needs three wires (+, -, and signal).  I added pigtails to these terminals
and ran the wire into the dash to pick up these three.  SO when i take the
instrument cluster out, i end up with three long leads still connected to my
dash.  these can be disconnected thru the bullet connectors in-line.   Of course
I only had a gas guage, you will have that plus a water temp gauge i believe.

eric h.
1980 westy

btw - are there any usual parts off a 1979 baywindow that can be salvaged for
use with a 1980 vanagon?  I know somebody stripping a 79.