Im one of the unlucky ones who got the samurai without a tach. My samurai is an 87, i dont know if the year has anything to do with a certain tach or not. I want to find a tach dash for mine. How easy are they to install? Is it just a couple unplugs then plug ins and wire the tach or is it a mass mess of wiring? Who would be the easiest to get one from in southern california? thanks

86, 87, or 88 tach clusters will work for you.  It has to be out of a samurai that has round vents in the dash (the 88.5 and 89 tach clusters will not work for you....without extensive modification).
It is simply plug and play.....remove the old, swap in the new.....no rewiring necessary.

Now that you know which truck to get you Tach Dash Cluster out of, here is how you do the swap:

1. Using a torx socket (borrow one or just break down & buy a set - you'll need them later) loosen the two bolts under the dash that holds the steering column.  It is not necessary to remove them.  Just loosen them until the steering wheel - and the emergency flasher switch on the top of the steering column housing is below the bottom edge of the dash cluster.  This trick makes it infinitely easier to remove and re-install the dash cluster!

2. Use a hex wrench (metric - buy it 'cause you'll need it later!) to remove the four bolts that holds the old dash cluster in place.

3. Carefully unmount the "Check Engine" reset switch under the dash.  It is connected to the back of the dash cluster with three wires.

4. Pull the old dash cluster out being careful to unplug the two wiring harness connectors as you pull it out.

Installation of the Tach dash cluster is the above steps performed in reverse order.

The End

Look for this thread at Ack's FAQ under tach dash...   

and to add to ack's post......unplug the speedo cable from the back of the cluster.  It just pulls straight out of the back of the cluster (it is sometimes stuck in there pretty good....so you may have to pull pretty hard).

Oops!

Nice save!   

thanks for the help! now i need to call around and find one in good condition.