'Leaning' towards an inclinometer

[Bluebelles Mom]

So, do 85 SR5s have the inclinometer? Perhaps it was an option? I see dash protectors offered with or without that feature.

And, how hard is it to find the inclinometer with the altimeter that Toyota used in the 80s 4Runner? I kinda like the look of that one more then the one they put in the Tercel. I wonder if it would be hard to put in.

[tercel4wdrules]

The inclinomleter was limited to the '83 & '84 Tercel 4WD SR5 models. A couple of members here have installed one in a non-equipped car successfully.

[Bluebelles Mom]

I tried going to a couple of wrecking yard sites. But the inclinometer isn't an option when you click on the "guages" selection. I guess I will just have to start calling around when the time comes. Pity about the 85s not having one, I think it is cute feature, if a bit un-needed for those of us not planning on going stump jumping.

[Petros]

I think someone also installed one from a 4Runner once too. They came in all Eurpoean (and likely Japan too) model SR5 from '83-87, and they also had the good headlights the whole production run too (likely due to the idiotic DOT sealed beam requirements until '87).

There are also some aftermarket inclinometer with altimeters that are sold in 4x4 shops that someone posted somewhere in a thread as well, that do not look too bad.

But the factory inclinometer is the highly sought after item, they show up on ebay every so often. I know in the local wrecking yards it is the very first thing to disappear off a new arival. If I ever find one and get it first, it will show up on this list.

[ARCHINSTL]

As Petros wrote for availability.
I snagged a perfect, matching tan, one on eBay early this year for - ready? $55 ! ! !
Usually they go for much more. This one had the metal mounting plate and operating lights and intact wiring. The intent was to install it this Fall, but the rear end stuff intervened. Now for Spring...
The 4Runner device goes for many hundreds; it has the altimeter.
Tom M.
P.S. I smiled at your selection of the subject's verb + + +...

[Bluebelles Mom]

Well I think I want one for Bluebelle but it will be after I am sure any other more pressing issues are taken care of. I really like the idea of the altimeter, but that sounds a bit more out of reach.

Sheesh, specifically tell a supplier the make, model, year and whether its a SR5 or not and they still ask if you want the dash cover with or without the inclinometer cut out.

[LittleRed4wd]

From the looks of things, the hardest part of installing the inclinometer is finding one to install. I got mine for $15 at the scrap yard (they had no idea what it was!!) and pulled the dash of my red sr5. All holes are marked so all that you need to do is drill where it says, bolt on the metal braket, put the dash back on and splice some wires in. There is a thread in the archives that shows which wires to connect, I haven't gotten to that part though, I've been pretty focused on the other T4 lately.

[dlb]

the 4runner altimeters don't fit on our dashes properly. i bought one off of another board member here for a friend who has an old 4runner and i compared it to ours but the angle of the dash boards is quite different. if i remember correctly, the 4runner dash is almost flat while ours is like a 'v' or a check mark.

i was lucky and stumbled across a terc clinometer right after i learned what they were but they are indeed hard to find. maybe post an ad looking for an '83-'84 SR5 for parts so you can pull it from it along with everything else you could ever conceivably use.

[Bluebelles Mom]

Thanks, I will keep that in mind. I am not surprised they are hard to come by. Only 2 years of them out there and no doubt the ranks have thinned a bit over time.