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The cable driven tach in my '62 is shot. I plan to replace it but not until I'm ready to restore the dash switches and gauges. I want to install a tach on top of the dash that works off the coil. I'm not concerned about a couple of holes on the dash for now as I already have the new dash cover I'll use later. Is there any problem with this idea? I do need a good tach as I rely on it more than the speedo. Is the coil the best connection?
I would mount it to the steering column if able. The coil is the place to hook it up. If it’s lighted, you can grab power for that off the dash lights.
I installed a Bosch tack on the column of my 64. 4 wires and easy hookup. Power, light ,ground and coil. Works good. Will have to do till l send out my cluster for a rebuild.
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
The better tachs these days use a stepper motor to control the needle. Needle should have much less fluctuation than the older D'Arsonval meter movement. Not much more money.
Something I used when mounting to the plastic dash was plastic rivets (most auto parts stores). I feel they are more secure than using screws. And I just like the look of black plastic in this application. Though you could use pull nuts or jack nuts if you plan to R&R the tach a lot.
Make the way you like it.
Last edited by cardo0; Jul 11, 2020 at 10:54 AM.
Reason: step to stepper
Drill two holes for the mounting bracket on the right side of the cluster above the ammeter next to the speedo like everybody did back in the 1960s when their tach or tach cable broke.
Doug
Drill two holes for the mounting bracket on the right side of the cluster above the ammeter next to the speedo like everybody did back in the 1960s when their tach or tach cable broke.
Doug
That was my choice. I'm leaning towards the Bosch Sport II Tach.
I’m not suggesting you open up your tach mounting opening but a previous owner did in my ‘62. He put an old Transmitter driven Sun Tach in the opening. It long since went silent but I ordered an electronic tach with same dimensions as the Sun. To the unfamiliar folks it looks stock and works well. Just another thought. Jim PS, I see it looks a little crooked.
I used a SW Stage III tach in where the old tach went for quite a few years, it fit nicely in the hole and just took a bit of minor fabrication to make a retainer for it.
That tach hasn't been made in years, but i am sure you can find one that fits if you don't want to drill holes in your housing.
The Bosch Sport II 3'5" is in and working great. It is next to the speedometer on the dash, not the gauge panel. Not purdy but functional. I grounded it on the steering column, and tied into the radio's "switched" hot. I haven't terminated the light circuit yet.
Took it for a ride on 101 using my cell phone's GPS as my speedometer. Idle is set at 800. Hit 70 at 3gs. 90 at 4gs. 97.1 @ about 4.3gs. My engine redlines at about 5600. According to the history on my cell's GPS I hit 109.9 last week. No tach at that time but it didn't sound like it was redlining. Had my seat belt on.
Bob
Ps; I just checked my gear calcs on line and they're almost dead on. Not bad with 15's all around. 109.9 would have been at 4880. Red line is at 126mph. I like my Avon ZZ tires. I believe they're rated at 150mph...
Last edited by 6T2Vette; Jul 11, 2020 at 09:33 PM.
The Bosch Sport II 3'5" is in and working great. It is next to the speedometer on the dash, not the gauge panel. Not purdy but functional. I grounded it on the steering column, and tied into the radio's "switched" hot. I haven't terminated the light circuit yet.
Took it for a ride on 101 using my cell phone's GPS as my speedometer. Idle is set at 800. Hit 70 at 3gs. 90 at 4gs. 97.1 @ about 4.3gs. My engine redlines at about 5600. According to the history on my cell's GPS I hit 109.9 last week. No tach at that time but it didn't sound like it was redlining. Had my seat belt on.
Bob
Ps; I just checked my gear calcs on line and they're almost dead on. Not bad with 15's all around. 109.9 would have been at 4880. Red line is at 126mph. I like my Avon ZZ tires. I believe they're rated at 150mph...
It doesn't ;look that bad but definitely out of place. I use my tach more than my speedo. I've added a pic of the way it looks. It's in my garage today, with my '56 in the rear view mirror wondering it got pushed out. Too hot to work outside. Took another stab at adjusting clutch feel and it feels a lot better. I'll take it out for a spin later this afternoon. Take the Mrs out for a burger and a root beer float...take out. ;-)
Bob
Temporary Tack
Though you could use pull nuts or jack nuts if you plan to R&R the tach a lot.
