ideas for a tach?

[Dne']

You made me chuckle! he he! mainly my topic is "ideas for a tach", not whether my car is going to get one or not~ it probably will wind up with a tach, I just want one that will look ok in my stang. ; )
Wow Pete, that's fine~!!

I'm going to start another thread, Show me your tach~ see you there!!
dne'

Dne', run a tach regardless of what Dave says. Your car is a coupe and he hates coupes so you're not gonna win either way with him. I like having a tach in my auto coupe for those many times I like to run it out.

 

[buening]

Here is a writeup on the mini-tach install if you do decide to get one (not that they are hard to install) http://www.mustangmonthly.com/howto/mump_0703_ford_mini_tach/index.html

If you want my opinion, if you want a tachometer then try to find a Cougar factory tach and put a white decal over the face to make it look like the Mustang one. Someone on here did exactly that, and it will mimic the factory installed tachs. Other than that, if funds allow, keep an eye on ebay for used Autometer gauges and convert your cluster to Autometer. I paid $60 for my used Phantom 5" tachometer on ebay (half price of new). You could have a cluster put together for a little over $200 if you have patience and would better fit the "hot rod/custom" theme you are going for. But then again, that just adds another project and more time to a car you are trying to finish though :craz

 

[Dne']

Thank you Buening! Dave pointed out a tach similar or exactly like that. It's a pretty thing, it just looks so little. But I did ask about putting a tach where the clock is. I'm not familiar with a Cougar factory tach? where does it go? Do I replace my entire dash? Patience I have! :vic

Here is a writeup on the mini-tach install if you do decide to get one (not that they are hard to install) http://www.mustangmonthly.com/howto/mump_0703_ford_mini_tach/index.html

If you want my opinion, if you want a tachometer then try to find a Cougar factory tach and put a white decal over the face to make it look like the Mustang one. Someone on here did exactly that, and it will mimic the factory installed tachs. Other than that, if funds allow, keep an eye on ebay for used Autometer gauges and convert your cluster to Autometer. I paid $60 for my used Phantom 5" tachometer on ebay (half price of new). You could have a cluster put together for a little over $200 if you have patience and would better fit the "hot rod/custom" theme you are going for. But then again, that just adds another project and more time to a car you are trying to finish though :craz

 

[buening]

I can't remember who exactly did it but maybe someone will. It will replace your big oil pressure/alternator gauge in the lower right corner of your cluster, exactly like the factory tachometer setup did. I'm sure some of the other smaller gauges would have to be swapped our, but thought I would throw that out there as an option. Here is an example of the entire cluster for sale http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-1968-Mercury-Cougar-TACH-GAUGES-SWITCHES-/300424121737?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item45f2ac4d89

I haven't priced the tachometer by itself in awhile, but its definitely cheaper than the real mustang factory tachometer.

I too think that mini-tach would be too small, but then again its not like you are constantly looking at it to change gears like on a manual trans car.

 

[Dne']

funny, I had a '67 cougar in '75,76, but I don't remember a darned thing about that car now! lol But that is a nice looking dash, thank you so much for posting the site on ebay! You're right, once the car is running ok, I'd probably never even notice the rpm gauge!
thank you!
dne'

I can't remember who exactly did it but maybe someone will. It will replace your big oil pressure/alternator gauge in the lower right corner of your cluster, exactly like the factory tachometer setup did. I'm sure some of the other smaller gauges would have to be swapped our, but thought I would throw that out there as an option. Here is an example of the entire cluster for sale http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-1968-Mercury-Cougar-TACH-GAUGES-SWITCHES-/300424121737?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item45f2ac4d89

I haven't priced the tachometer by itself in awhile, but its definitely cheaper than the real mustang factory tachometer.

I too think that mini-tach would be too small, but then again its not like you are constantly looking at it to change gears like on a manual trans car.

 

[tarafied1]

I did the 67 Cougar tach swap. It's not bolt in but not rocket science either...
The instrument cluster was a standard 67 cluster with no tach. This car has been a budget operation so rather than spend $1000+ on Phantom gauges (which are really cool BTW) I decided to try and put a factory tach in. I bought a 67 Cougar tach cluster on ebay for $45. I put the tach in but it took a little fabricating. The Cougar cluster depth was different than the Stang. I had to make the "cup" deeper. I also put a 68 oil pressure gauge in the where the clock was. The 67 had the oil pressure in the large cluster and in 68 they switched it with the fuel gauge. Since I gave up the oil pressure gauge for the tach I thought it would be good to add the 68 gauge. I don't have an amp gauge yet.

I also changed the bulb covers from blue/green to red/orange and to make the faces all match I bought a white face kit.

 

[Dne']

tarafied, that is just totally awesome! I like the sweep of the needle on your tach, in other words, the needle moves a long way in registering the RPM! I wish I had painted the rest of my gauges the way you did to match the stick on material, but I'm not taking mine back apart! lol I also appreciate you step by step instructions of how you fabricated the deeper dish~ you are so clever!! ; )

No one wrote about my idea of putting a tach in this console(I may use the console or may not). I'd take the door out, make a plate to affix a tach that would accomodate the size and vvwala! tach in the console! just a thought~

 

[AzPete]

My over sized tach hands under the dash as you can see. It is fine but for real use, it is to low and out of the drivers line of sight. The shift light being bright is what saves the lack of visual. I think the idea you have is good. You might build the mounting so it tips a bit up and towards the drivers side for better viewing. For your use, that location will work good.

 

[Dne']

Ah, someone finally noticed my old console idea! Way to go Pete! But your tach is neat too! Just looks like the way it would have been done in the good old days! American Graffiti style! I didn't think about the mounting/tipping it, with a little imagination, I could do just what you said, tilt it to where the driver(me) sees it, not just a flat mounting! thank you!

My over sized tach hands under the dash as you can see. It is fine but for real use, it is to low and out of the drivers line of sight. The shift light being bright is what saves the lack of visual. I think the idea you have is good. You might build the mounting so it tips a bit up and towards the drivers side for better viewing. For your use, that location will work good.

 

[tarafied1]

No one wrote about my idea of putting a tach in this console(I may use the console or may not). I'd take the door out, make a plate to affix a tach that would accomodate the size and vvwala! tach in the console! just a thought~=

check your other tach thread, I have an option for ya