My 85 4Runner temp gauge has been acting up recently, going half-way up with the key in the accessory position. Tapping on the the cluster "works" sometimes to send it back down, but it creeps up again quickly.

In short, I don't trust it anymore, and I would like to get a mechanical gauge. What I would like is a simple kit that is pretty much plug and play. That is, who makes a kit with the correct adapter for the sending unit so that I won't need to drill and retap to make it work? A lot of the kits out there claim to be universal, but I've also read about people having difficulty fitting them.

Suggestions?

 

Well, I just ordered the last adapter in the world for a mechanical gauge. Guess there's no point in even doing a write up.

 

I put a VDO gauge in my 4runner.
I was a bit unsure about tapping the sensor hole to the new thread size as it wasn't like it was into new metal but more like rearranging the threads to its pitch but 10 years later it is still bullet proof and hasn't leaked a drop.