Tachometer

I'm looking to get a tachometer in my ride--problem is my 92 lesabre didn't come with the Manly instrument cluster :(

Is it just a simple drop in panel replacement if I get my hands on a full instrument cluster?

I hope so--it looks like GM gave me the hookups for a power antenna even though I didn't get it, so hopefully they thought ahead on the instrumentation front as well.

If not, the RPM gauge works off of pulses in the ignition coil, right, so I could theoretically get some sort of aftermarket one??

I hope someone out there has good news for me--real time car stats are a definite plus for me (I loved those trip computers when I was younger--too bad they aren't used anymore) and when a man with an obsession like me doesn't even get a freaking temperature gauge it tends to do things to him... ;)
(a tach would fulfill the need to have 'worthless' stats on hand)

Sorry to drop you the bad news, but, no, adding the gauge cluster is not a simple switch out modification. This is because the models with the cluster have all of the indicator lights (SES, ABS, BRAKE, COOLANT LOW, CHANGE OIL SOON, CRUISE, DOOR AJAR, etc..) located up above the dash inside the same panel where your "BUICK" nameplate is located. Cars equipped with the standard indicator light/ speedometer system have all of the lights located within the instrument housing; not up above the dash. You'd have to take a ton of small parts from another car with the gauges to make it work. Kudos to you if you attempt and successfully complete a project like that! BTW, the factory tach runs off the white wire connected with the ICM, I don't know if that same wire is used for aftermarket tachs or not.

Wait--the lights are in the plastic speaker cover on the featured models??

That would explain why the manual calls it an Indicator Panel....

Though it's depressing that I don't have it, it's cool that buick was doing things in 1992 model cars that are still better than what is being made today. I have yet to see another car intellegent enough to come with 2 sunvisors like the LeSabre :)

Sadly, I didn't think about the indicator lights--I didn't really notice that they weren't in the picture for the improved cluster......so that kills my contingency plan of just putting the new cluster in and wiring up the tach but leaving things like the temp and oil gauges dead.

Back to square one......

Hey you can always install a gauge cluster in place of what you have and pretend they work. I'm just kidding.
My '93 LeSabre has the indicator lights but my '92 Park Avenue has the gages. I was considering adding the gages to the LeSabre, but when I tore a little into dash and realized the speaker console had no lights I told myself "forget this!" The same went for adding climate control to my park ave:( I have way too many other issues to take care of before even thinking about a gage swap into the LeSabre. You'd think the 2 upper Buick models would come standard with gauges.

I hear that--my friend has relatives with an early-90s Century.

The paint is in mint condition, the interior is mint, the car comes with EVERY feature known to man.........

My ride came with none of these things.........to be shown up by the Baby Buick is shameful :(

I heard something about 3rd party tachs running off of pulses in the ignition coil (strange way to count rpms, but I guess it works better--no moving parts)

I'll have to investigate that one, unless anyone here has some insight (hopefully).....a voltmeter and a thermometer can make ghetto temp and battery meters.

Ungh--GM was lame on this one.

Which reminds me--it looks like the power antenna connector is pre-installed, all I need to do is get one and hook it in??