RB20 Tach into S13 Cluster: Need Info

[accel junky]

I thought I remember seeing info on swapping the RB20 tach into an S13 cluster but the info has escaped me...

Can anyone help?

I have an RB20 cluster with no plugs, a 180SX cluster w/ DOHC tach, and a SOHC S13 cluster.

Which one should I swap the RB20 tach into and how should I do it? Do I need the RB20 cluster plugs?

many thanks,

Daniel

[DrifterTom]

i used my r32 tach in my sohc cluster. it's easy just screw it in, but there is a little gap. i used the r32 cluster to rob some black faceplate and glued it in behind the tach to make it look clean. other than being purple you can't tell it wasn't factory

[kevsster]

Your gonna need an exacto knife and some patients, you kinda just have to sandwich the tach in place. You can cut enough of the plastic out of the way in the ka cluster, then just drop the tach in and put the front panel back on to hold it in place. Its also very easy to wire it up, hardwire the pins on the back of the tach and then do the same to the corresponding screws on the back of the cluster. Shouldnt take more than 1/2 an hour.

[accel junky]

So I will have to sauder straight ti the pins in order to run wires??

[gawdzilla]

on a sort of unrelated note.. i was thinking about putting different gauges into the KA cluster.. namely circular gauges that are 2 1/16" size- (like autometers) in place of the fuel and water temp spots. is this feasible? i was thinking about cutting a hole all the way through, then hard wiring the "circuit board" thingie on the back. anyone done this before?

[BoostFab]

the rb20 tach will swap into the s13's cluster. it took me about 25 minutes...you need to trim some parts

[armysweitzer]

just swapping the front tach thing will make the tach work? Ive been trying like made to get my rb cluster working but if its that simple to use the usdm cluster then damn screw the rb cluster.

[accel junky]

the rb20 tach will swap into the s13's cluster. it took me about 25 minutes...you need to trim some parts

No wiring needed?

[NISMO_RB25]

assuming you have wired everything correctly to the cluster, then you shouldn't have to change anything when you swap in the RB20 tach. (other than trimming it)

another option is to buy the lsauto tach and speedo that are already calibrated to work and fit in the S13 cluster perfectly, but it ain't free. You still would have had to have done your wiring correctly. I think the tach was $100 but it fits perfect and looks stock, which what I was trying to go for.

Good luck either way you go man.

[klh6686]

Hey man, how's it going? i've met you before at a varsity meet and saw your car, but you probably don't remember me, i didn't have my car at the time. Anyways, i've done the swap and just wanted to clarify things for you.

As far as the tach goes, all you need to do is bolt it in place of the old tach using the 3 or 4 screw holes, i forget. to accomplish this, you will need to trim some plastic in the gauge cluster that interferes with a piece of the tach. you'll see, its easy, just use a box cutter or even a steak knife as the plastic is pretty soft. then put the cluster back in, that should be it for the tach wiring. You might have to check all your ground at the ecu plugs. then make sure your lowerharness is wired correctly for the speedo sensor and you should be good to go.

Goodluck man,Kerry

[accel junky]

Hey man, how's it going? i've met you before at a varsity meet and saw your car, but you probably don't remember me, i didn't have my car at the time. Anyways, i've done the swap and just wanted to clarify things for you.

As far as the tach goes, all you need to do is bolt it in place of the old tach using the 3 or 4 screw holes, i forget. to accomplish this, you will need to trim some plastic in the gauge cluster that interferes with a piece of the tach. you'll see, its easy, just use a box cutter or even a steak knife as the plastic is pretty soft. then put the cluster back in, that should be it for the tach wiring. You might have to check all your ground at the ecu plugs. then make sure your lowerharness is wired correctly for the speedo sensor and you should be good to go.

Goodluck man,Kerry

Nismo et al... Thanks for the tips! I'm gonna work on this in about 15-20min.

So I am assuming I have to use the RB20's tach face? or will the s13's tach face fit onto the Rb20's tach guts?

Kerry, I think I remember talking to you. I was on the second or third row, backed into a space between 2 much nicer cars than mine...lol

Anyhow, can't wait to have a working tacho!!

[s13_drifter]

what about the ecu engine harness plug that plugs into the dash harness do you have to switch the wires around on it at all? or can i just plug it in also is there any wiring you have to do in the gauge cluster? can i just put my r32 tach in, trim the faceplate and be done?

thanks

[NISMO_RB25]

you don't have to change anything. just trim the r32 to fit and screw it in. Nissan was kind enough to use the same setup with a lot of there vehicles that they made during this time, so no wiring changes are needed.

[NISMO_RB25]

and you probably could use the s13 face, but there is a pretty good chance that you will screw up your gauge when you remove it, if you don't remove the needle properly. (i ruined one doing it)

If you decide to remove it, turn the needle al the way to the left and then pull the needle and the shaft it is attached to out of the gauge. replace the face, and reinsert the needle. I did this on 4 or 5 different gauges successfully, but since it is possible to ruin your gauge, I wouldn't recommend it.

Good luck.

[accel junky]

RB20 tach worked like a charm. 30-45min job if you have the tach signal already wired to the dash plug (s13).

I'll eventually move to the maxima tach so I can retain the stock cluster look.

[armysweitzer]

so let me get this straight, its the usdm cluster with the rb tach just made to fit in it. So theres no difference from just using the rb cluster?

[s13_drifter]

yeah i finally got mine to work just wire the #7 pin a yellow/red wire to the yellow red wire on the dash harness and just put the skyline tach in the cluster with three screws. Works fine I'm hella happy i got it to work.

[POOPmouth]

ok - i put the r32 tach in--? yellow and red wire - i know its on the brown plug - do i have to wire to the cluster - plug ?or just from the plut to the ecu and it should work -- also noitce when i took the r32 tach out - my dum *** buddy started spinning the tach needle in circles - will that effect the tach working probley at all..

-- tach in - just wont work -

[POOPmouth]

also - can i run a wire front the crankshaft sensor infront of the rb20det to get a tach singnal --buddy of mine mention that to me just want to see if that fine -- crankshaft sensor is also spinning should give a tach singnal

-

[Flamereka]

Hey I'm going to wire up the cluster tommarrow in my 89 so I need to come upw ith a tach solution. Will this http://store.summitracing.com/...-8913 work? Or maybe even http://store.summitracing.com/...w=sku

I happen to have a brand new 8920 from one of my dads projects, but I have a feeling I need the distributorless one because of the coilpacks correct? Would this allow my stock tach in the s13 89 cluster to read accuratly off the rb20 engine?