allenfab's 95 Tacoma build

That's right, those early 1st gens had analogue speedos. Bummer. I wonder how hard it would be to get a 98+ cluster and figure out the wiring from the speed sensor, to the computer, to the cluster? I'm sure the computer must have the terminals for it (if not then a 98+ computer might be necessary), but the wiring could be migraine-inducing...unless it's pre-wired for it, but I dunno how likely that is. Haha, I can see you getting a whole other truck to pull the computer, and wiring harness(es) out of to slap them in the Dipper. Major freakin' work there.

I suppose you could always go the aftermarket route and gut the instrument cluster to slap a set of Autometer gages in it.

On an interesting note...I took a look at some AM Speedos and tachs...WOW! They have Speedos now that calibrate themselves apparently via GPS! So you can run any tire/gear combo and just let it calibrate itself. Amazing the crap they are coming out with!

 

Considered both a stock cluster with a tach and electro speedo and aftermarket gauges. Both would be an absolute nightmare to wire, which obviously I am not a fan of and certainly not good at. Hooking up an autometer speedo with an electric sending unit would be a walk in the park though, but with that comes having to do the rest of the gauges, which can get complicated and expensive. The fuel gauge alone is what bothers me the most because Autometer doesn't make a gauge with the exact ohm resistance compatibility (they have one that is very close though). That would mean the gas gauges wouldn't read exactly proper, and a way to cure that would be an aftermarket sending unit with the possibility of a new fuel cell. It is all a slippery slope that I really don't want to get into at the moment. I have enough on my plate already

 

I glanced at one fuel gauge that said it was adjustable (0-300ohm). Honestly, i don't know how that works, but adjustable would be good, yeah?

 

I've seen those too, but in my opinion it is too big of a money risk to try and have it not work. Not to mention it would just piss me off.

One thing I did consider, that would be the best, cheapest (free), and easiest thing to do is to re-route the stock speedo cable to run on the driver side of the undercarriage so it would have a nice, clean transition into the speedo housing on the Atlas. That way all the stock gauges can stay, and it will save myself money and a headache. I'll check to see if it's a possibility this weekend sometime. I'm sure it will be.

 

Sounds like a plan.

edit: If not, as far as the fuel gauge goes, I'm pretty sure they have the installation instructions for the model you're looking at downloadable. You could download them, and maybe test the factory sending unit with a multimeter to see if it will fall out in the workable range of adjustment. Again, I'm not sure how it all works, but hopefully the instructions would tell you that and you wouldn't have to buy the gauge until you know it would operate properly. Of course, calling Autometer and asking them if they have something that would do what you want it to do wouldn't be a bad idea either.

But yeah, rerouting the cable is the simplest solution ATM.

 

Couldn't you run a resistor ?

 

I ran a GPS speedo for a while until I converted to the worm gear sensor in the tcase but that's only because our transmission goes retarded without a speed signal.

 

I've read somewhere before that it's a possibility but seem to remember someone trying it and it still not being able to get it to work correctly. I'm just going to re-route the factory cable and hope that fixes the issue.

 

Man, sorry to hear about your speedo cable issue.

Mine being a 99', I think I have an electronic one.

At least they sent you too Did you contact AA about it? I think that's the company with the best customer service ever

 

No, but I might because I also want to ask them if the case is designed to leak this much

 

hahaha.

They like their customers happy, and that's two issues you have already. I would definitely call them.

 

I re-routed my speedo cable and honestly, I don't expect it to last any longer now than it did. There is just no good way to run this thing but we will see what happens.

Also, check out this video @Taco No Baka.... If this doesn't make one want to go aftermarket gauges, I don't know what will. This is a late 90s I believe 4Runner...

 

Those gauges are super bad ass!

 

So i guess my factory speedo cable got taken out as well when the adapter went out. That's the second cable in less than a year. Another $150 pissed away...

 

Finally, after almost two months of getting the run-around from HAD, I got my flange and got it on. I can finally bolt my shaft on with 4 bolts instead of just 2

 

'bout damn time.

 

I'm ready to rag this bitch out. Just need to build the skid plate, atlas support, and figure out the speedometer and I will be done.

 

Haha, I guess this will teach you to go making elective major modifications in the middle of wheeling season.

 

Well shit, in my defense, I started almost immediately after the Fall meet and planned on being done well before the February meet. These damn places that I decide to hire for work really screwed me over. Besides, I really hate doing upgrades during the summer. Way too hot lol

 

Started the new skid plate. This one will be all 1/4" plate, but resemble the old one I started. (no, the case isn't contacting the skid, it's just the angle of the pic)