The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay tach? Whaddyer like?

What are you guys using for tachs for older trucks that didn't have them? Column mount? Dash mount? I have this 292 and I am trying to figure out a good cruise RPM. (And maybe what speed that equates to if I don't get my speedo workin) What do you like/no like about them?

Wow -- The subject of Tachs. I can't help you at all, Irwin, but I have a related question and maybe some of the brighter bulbs around here can help. I am putting an HEI unit into a 12V application, but would like to use an old-style Sun Tach. You know, with a 9A type transmitter.

Will this work?? Do I connect directly to the tach lead off the HEI distributor cap??

Or, will I regret this until I forget the pain of the money I spent on the "antique" tach?

Thanks for any help offered.

Pat

Hey Guys.

Irwin-personally, I like the column mount, if you don't have the monkey bar 3-on-the-tree. Keeps the tach in easy view, but without looking like a racecar (on the dash). I'd offset it on one side of the column so you can still see the speedo. BTW, I saw your recent pics, The Great Rust(less) Mountain looks FANTASTIC!! Great job!

Pat-not sure about your old style tach, except if it's an antique you DON'T want to fry it! I know from past experience that most tachs designed for points distributor use require something we used to call a "tach filter" if used with an early HEI integral coil distributor. I think it's a sort of capacitor or big diode that goes in the tach feed line to filter the signal. If you don't use it, your tach needle will bounce. The good news is you can grab one at your local boneyard, just look for a seventies/eighties GM product with an HEI distributor and tach. unplug the lead from the "TACH" terminal on the distributor cap and follow the wire back a few inches. See that round fat thing that the wire goes into and comes out the other end? That's the tach filter. just clip the wire a couple inches past it (the end AWAY from the distributor connector) and voila, you've got your tach filter. WHEW, sorry to be so long winded, but I hope this info helps...

Regards,
Wannabe

Before I had my speedo fixed, I had a small 2.5" sun tack mounted on my steering column. Perfect size. Once I got the speedo running I kept the tach for awhile butnow it's gone.

Tach?! Who needs a tach??!!? I just listen as I feather the throtle and off I go........

Vroom Vroom!!

Hey, if you're gonna use a tach, why not get one of those neat ones that the boy racers use.
You know, the ones with the built in flash lite.
All the rice burners around here have these gigantic tachs that have flashlites mounted on them. Boy, wouldn't that look cool on a stove bolt.

My 261 powered 37 PU has a cheapo tack clamped to the steering column. I had Williamson Gauge service modify this vintage Sun tach and 12volt 6 cylinder transmitter from the hard to find 1.35 volt batteries to operate directly off the ignition.
SST Sun tach

I'm using an Autometer 2 1/8" tach mounted on the column. It sits nicely between the two instrument housings.

Interesting equipment there tony. Thanks guys, been looking at the 2+" size. Don't think I will get one with a big shift light and all that nonsense as my truck is big and slow. And it will no doubt stay that way. Just want to know what the engine is up to.

I'll probably do dat - 2 incher on column.

I have a black 1948 tach with the Art Deco SUN logo in my 41 Chevy. Its under the dash because the vacuum operated fan and turn signal wiring cover use up the steering column.

Jim

youre best bet would be to put it on steering Column if you hack up youre dash you will regret it later I am going to put one on my 69 gonna get one off those 2 5/8 minny tachs and clamp on the column

i hear you. My dash already has some holes in it from what I think was from a compass and lord knows what. I got room for it on the column.

thanks bro