Installing autometer tach or speedo into stock cluster?

[LincoConti87]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried to just cut out a round hole in a stock 87-93 style cluster and say put an autometer 5 inch tach or at least a 3 5/8s tach because the stock tach is just horribly off from everything I hear and it looks way off. I dont wanna spend 450$ on a florida5.0 cluster setup and they dont look all that great anyways. Why can't it be done?Someone mentioned that the speedo and tach when pulled out produce square holes in the cluster but then why can't I just make a plastic trim piece with a round hole?

Am I wrong or have people even installed 160 and higher speedos out of SN95 cars in fox body's? Ideally I'd like something like a 160 Autometer speedo and 8000rpm Autometer tach to match

[Ieatcamaros]

why can't I just make a plastic trim piece with a round hole?

There is no reason, you can't. You will just have to take it apart and make something work. Sounds mean, but there is not much else to say here. All you will need is some good sturdy plastic to cut and fit into place. Of course, you could just mount your 5" tach on the right side of the gauge cluster on the dash like everyone else. I got the Autometer gauge pod to hold a 5" tach and (2) 1 5/8" gauges. The pod cost like $50 from summit. To each his own.

[LincoConti87]

I actually long to have that tach pod thing...I think it looks badass...but is it really functional being off to the side there? I also worry some about it being so highly visible and attracting attention

[Ieatcamaros]

Hell yes, it works great. You don't have to break your neck to read your gauges or anything. Although, you can't miss that big tach. It draws a lot of attention. I will post a pic later.

[Ieatcamaros]

Here you go.

[Ieatcamaros]

And another one.
BTW, this thing is sort of a PITA to install. Thought you might like to know that.