The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay tach

I'd like to install a tach in my '57 3600. Here's my situation: It's quite original looking inside with an original, working, AM radio. The only thing that is slightly unoriginal are the chrome knobs for all the stuff. AND I don't want to spend alot of $$$$. I simply want to know what kind of r's I'm turning. Any suggestions on a small, tasteful (and el cheapo) unit???? And where would y'all recommend mounting it so that it doesn't look odd and out of place. Thanks all. Yer the best!!!

You have several choices.

Your FLAPS has any number of el-cheapo (and a couple that aren't) tachs that will work with your engine (just make sure that you buy one with the proper number of lobes), but they usually don't look very pretty.

The aftermarket gauge companies sell them, and they usually look pretty nice, but they're expensive.

You might try looking on ebay for an old sun gauge and sending unit. Those were used back in the day. For a 6 cylinder engine, you'd want an EB-7(a) transmitter, and for an 8 cylinder engine, you'd wan an EB-9(a). Any of the old-school black-faced gauges would look right at home in your cab. They used to make mounting cups that would clamp onto your steering column, so no cab modification is strictly necessary.

Some of the gauges go for a pretty penny, though. FYI.

orchidski,

I bought a 12v tach at Advance Auto for under $30 (on sale) and it is mounted to the steering column (6 cylnder 54 Chevy truck). It is between 3-4" in diameter and has plain numbering. AS I recall it had clear installation instructions with about three wires (one for alight) People who do not know what is original think the tach is original.

Brendan,

What does "proper number of lobes" mean? Obviously, a rare case of dumb luck got me through this installation.

Tim

I have a cheap one own my Model T F**d that I got at the FLAPS And it has a switch that can be set at 4,6, or 8 cylinder position.

"Proper number of lobes" might equate to selectable for number of cylinders, as 31,32,33 notes above.

Stuart

Since you have an original working radio can we assume your system is still 6 volts? Make sure whatever you get is compatible with your 6 volt system. That may be a little hard to find at you FLAPS.

Tim and Stuart:

On my old Shop Tach/Dwell meter, there is a switch for you to pick whether your system has 4, 6, or 8 lobes. I assumed that this was a "standard" term... Goes to show what I get for assuming! :rolleyes:

My guess is that lobes are what the wire hookups are called on the distributor. Of course, that's another assumption...

Some tachs aren't adjustable... which is why I warned him to be careful.

In 1957, they were doing 12v electrical systems. IIRC, they started doing that in 1953 or 1954.

Brendan,

I knew what you meant...I'm pretty sure the 'lobes' your meter is referring to would be lobes on the distributor cam, which would correspond to the number of cylinders the engine had.

Stuart

Any one selling a 6v tach for the AD 216?
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Ask me again in a few weeks... I may have one then.

There is a shop selling them online. If you do a forum search for 6v tach, you should see the link to it.

My bad. I should have mentioned that it's 12 volt and that it came to me with a small block already installed. I'm a fearless asker of dum questions. Thanks again for all the info guys, Skip

This may be a little late 4 u. Just installed tach from Pep Boys. A Sunpro. Its small and effecient.$29.99,has switch for 4,6,or 8 cyl. Mounting bracket for steering column. Needs large radiator hose clamp.

Works good!Ken