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Author
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Topic: What is a good tachometer to buy?
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BaLleRz68
Gearhead Posts: 104
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-03-2003 04:24 AM
   
I want to buy a tach for my 67, but I'm not sure which one to get. I'm looking for something between 3-5 inches. Maybe with a shift light but I'm not sure yet. I been looking at a lot of autometer tachs lately, are they easy to wire? Where is a good place to mount the tach? I was thinking on top of the steering column or below where the console is? Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.
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V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 3603
From: Orange, Ca. United States of America
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 01-03-2003 08:39 AM
I put mine on the steering column. As high up as possible without restricting your view... trying to look from the road to under the dash and up again while the throttle is pinned can be catastrophic. Autometer has a great product, that's what I run. 'Street tach', just about $100 which is very reasonable as far as tachs go. Wiring is very simple  ------------------
1965 GT coupe, 333ci aluminum headed/solid cammed stroker, four speed, 3.70:1 9" All Blue Oval, no blue bottle
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/V8Thumper.html
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69 Sportsroof
Gearhead Posts: 1226
From: Valley, Alabama, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-03-2003 08:50 AM
You definately want one from a reputable manufacturer. If not you'll wind up with one that's got a bouncing needle. Like Thumper said you want it as high as possible without getting in your way.
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 19964
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-03-2003 12:51 PM
Autometer period!  ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,&'03
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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rockafellz
Gearhead Posts: 1329
From: San Lorenzo, CA, USA
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 01-03-2003 01:48 PM
I have a shelby gauge pod in the center dash pad and it's at a pefect height it's just too far to the right. I've been trying to train myself to keep the tach at the corner of my eye but I will eventually get a strong accurate shift light which should keep my eyes fully on the road.Erik ------------------
1966 Ford Mustang 2+2
Mine - Restomod in Progress 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe
Dad's - Original Unrestored
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Robert K
Gearhead Posts: 516
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 01-03-2003 03:08 PM
I'll second the Autometer Street Tach !------------------
67convertible 289/auto
65fastback 302/4sp
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69 Sportsroof
Gearhead Posts: 1226
From: Valley, Alabama, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-03-2003 03:36 PM
What about a hood mounted tach?
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 12673
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 01-03-2003 04:40 PM
I got the AutoMeter 5" face tach with a shift lite.It was $150 real cool tach,and it works better then any other I've had.
The shift lite is the only way to go.
I've seen guys mount the tach down near the shifter and put the shift lite and on the column.
The people at Summit racing told me that the AutoGage was also made by Auto Meter and they are alittle less money.
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SCOOP
oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs 2.26 60'S
14.9 @ 90.86MPH 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8"3.40 TracLoc,Cragar SS,Black Suede. https://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Fastymz.html
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bluetech
Gearhead Posts: 254
From: Far and Away
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-06-2003 10:26 AM
How about VDO Street Eliminator? Is this ok? Thanks.
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Hemikiller
Gearhead Posts: 404
From: Clinton, CT
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-06-2003 12:34 PM
Who looks at a tach while drag racing? Get a good tach and shift lite combo, and mount the lite high enough up where you will definitely not miss it. Stick the tach anywhere that is convenient, as you'll only be using that for tuning anyway.Oh, and Autometer is definitely the only way to fly. [This message has been edited by Hemikiller (edited 01-06-2003).]
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 19964
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-06-2003 01:26 PM
VDO comes and goes like the season. Stick with a proven product that has a support network. AUTOMETER. ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,&'03
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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1trickpony
Gearhead Posts: 107
From: Escondido, Ca
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 01-06-2003 01:44 PM
I agree with these guys. I use an Autometer on my column. I have it mounted so it covers the factory tach in my dash. One of these days I need to get the original tach converted so it can handle elec. ignition.Dave ------------------
1969 "S" code Mach1
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 1641
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-06-2003 01:49 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Hemikiller:
Who looks at a tach while drag racing? Get a good tach and shift lite combo
Conventional shift lights don't work for me. It takes time for the bulb to light up, then you've got to notice it, then you've got to make the shift. This is all fine if the revs are coming up slow, or all the shifts are consistent... but on my car with the nitrous on, that first shift into 2nd gear comes QUICK! You've pretty much got to watch the tach and time the shift into 2nd gear. The shift to 4th is a lot less intense. If you set the shift light down several hundred rpm to get the 1-2 shift in soon enough, the 3-4 shift takes place way too early. Once you get used to driving the car on the bottle, motor-only runs seem like they go in slow motion! If I go to make a motor-only run after several bottled passes, I tend to short shift the thing.... since the tach just doesn't move fast enough! Shift lights might work okay off the bottle, (especially in auto trans applications) just be sure to use the quicker acting LED models. The light bulb models are way too slow. I strongly recommend Autometer. I used to have a 2-5/8" Autometer tach that mounted right in front of the 5-pod speedometer. I could still read the speedo AND keep track of the revs. I've got a 3-3/4" tach mounted in the same place right now. It would be easier to see up on the dash, but I don't want my car to scream race car. Good Luck! ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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Hemikiller
Gearhead Posts: 404
From: Clinton, CT
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-06-2003 06:10 PM
Hey, you could always get one of the HUGE tachs (this big, we call 'em clocks) the ricers like to use and stick it up on the top of your dashpad so you can't see out the windshield, just like the ricers.....LOL... 
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Toronado3800
Gearhead Posts: 364
From: St. Louis, MO
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 01-07-2003 02:26 AM
My auto trans non-juiced car did run consistently with a regular bulb shift light tach. I always wanted one with a LED where I could mount a pencil shaped light up on top of the dash where it would get my attention and let me leave the tach by the rest of the guages.
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Rory McNeil
Gearhead Posts: 1258
From: Surrey, B.C. Canada
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-07-2003 03:44 AM
Hey, Mike, I know where your coming from! My 428 Fairmont has 4.88`s,& a 2.93 1rst gear. I dump the clutch at 6400 rpm, & shift at 6200, so there ain`t a whole lotta time between dumping the clutch, & grabbing 2nd. Pretty much do the 1-2 by instinct!
Oh, yeah, Autometer is the best, without a doubt.------------------
78 Fairmont 428 4 speed 10.20@130mph
80 Fairmont 302 5 speed 12.8@105mph
85 Mustang NHRA Stocker under construction, 302 5 speed
59 Meteor (Canadian Ford) 2 dr sedan 332, auto
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4spd
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