Tach Solution?

[vangremlin]

I've got my Ford tach all taped up and ready to cut (hopefully today) to test fit it into the instrument cluster.  In doing so, I realized the cluster in my car is different than the two that I pulled out of junkyard cars that came with the factory tachs.  There is a picture of the tach cluster in the first post in this thread.  Here is a picture of my existing cluster.  Notice the white lines around each of the gauge openings on mine.  The white line is missing on the tach clusters.  Anybody else have the white lines?  Was it tach/non-tach that decided whether the lines were there?  Sport vs. non-sport?  Chime in and let me know what yours looks like!

[eagleman]

Both of mine has the white lines around them.I then went and looked at the cluster I have that has the tach in it and it has no white lines. I purchased this cluster to install my wagon but because the tach needle is wobbly I decitied to hold off for awhile in fear of the tach not working.So I am watching this thread intently.

[Draekon]

Mine has white lines around the gauges.  No tach, non-sport.

[ammachine390]

Aren't the white lines not on the actually gauge faces? They are are on the faceplate surrounding the gauges, right? If thats the case, if you put your new tach in, you will just have the white lines around it still.

[vangremlin]

Aren't the white lines not on the actually gauge faces? They are are on the faceplate surrounding the gauges, right? If thats the case, if you put your new tach in, you will just have the white lines around it still.

Yes, they are on the faceplate, not the gauges.  I just had never noticed that some Eagles had the white lines, and others didn't.  For this application I kind of prefer it without the lines, as the ford tach isn't quite centered, which I think would be more noticeable with the white lines.

[vangremlin]

Sunday afternoon update - Time to finally try to fit the Ford tach into the slot.

Here is the tach with a cardboard template, based on the original tach face:



After trimming the excess, the tach fits!!!  Still needs some fine tuning, but looking good so far



Back view.  Still need to decide how to attach it to the housing, maybe some of those speed nuts or whatever they are called that just push on the posts to keep it in place.



Top view. 

[Whuntmore]

well, so far from the front, it looks really good.  Almost factory looking.

And really, that's all that matters.  it works and it looks pretty damm good.

[priya]

well, so far from the front, it looks really good.  Almost factory looking.

That's what I was thinking - if you didn't tell anyone it wasn't factory I don't think anyone would know.

[Draekon]

How did you/will you mount the tach to the gauge cluster?

[eagleman]

Looks factory enough to me. I don't think ninty nine out of a hundred will know the difference and for the one that does shoot him. Just kiddin of course.I like it!

[vangremlin]

How did you/will you mount the tach to the gauge cluster?

There are four posts that stick through the old tach, and I've made holes in the new tach to accomodate them.  I am going to try some speed nuts  and push them on to hold it in place.  I've highlighted the posts in the picture, and you can see the holes marked on the template in an earlier photo.

from that picture, the numbers look the same, and i noticed the inner marks on the tach also look the same (or REAL close) blue that the km/h on the spedo is. looks great!!!

I noticed the same blue colors today too.  I think it really will take somebody that's looking VERY close to notice that its not factory.  The only real giveaway is that the numbers are inside the hashmarks, as opposed to outside on the speedometer.

[vangremlin]

Under the lights.  The first picture is standard lighting



The second one has an amber LED attached to one of the light guides that goes to the tach.  I think that particular one is only intended to light up the needle, not the face of the dial.

[Prafeston]

I love the orange needle.

[Whuntmore]

I love the orange needle.

x2

[vangremlin]

I love the orange needle.

x2

x3.  So much that I just did a quick look at the speedometer from the F150....looks like its too big, but maybe I'll pick one up and see if I can make it work.