C1 replacement tach

[Ed Jennings]

I am "restoring" a 59 for a gentleman who wants a nice looking driver but isn't really into the totally factory correct thing. The car currently has a non operating aftermarket tach which fills the hole in the dash. It really doesn't fit very well, and screams aftermarket in it's design. Is there an aftermarket tach which will fit the hole properly and has a face that looks a little more likeit ought to? This guy ain't gonna spring for a $500 tach and something in addition to drive it with.

[Mike G.]

Re: C1 replacement tach

I had considered putting in an aftermarket tach. My plan was to use the original chrome bezel, lens and dial face and find a tach that was scaled the same. The amount of aftermarket tach that would actually be seen behind the dial face is less than 2" diameter. I did actually find some that were scaled correctly to match the '58 dial, but wound up rebuilding my original instead. I have the big PAW catalog, so I can probably find the ones I considered if you want.

I did use this technique for my voltmeter (replaced the ammeter) and it worked really well. In fact, I recently assembled my guage cluster and didn't even notice/remember the voltmeter was not original until I wrote this response!

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 replacement tach

Thanks, Mike. I'm going to have to have a complete tach for this one. The current aftermarket tach fits the hole, but it has a flat bezel that sits on top of the housing instead of inside it. If one of the ones you looked at will fit in the holewith the bezel inside, I'd certainly appreciate the make/model.
Ed

[Mike G.]

Re: C1 replacement tach

You could buy the bezel ($40), tach face ($30) and lens ($10) from Mary Jo, then figure a way to mount the tach behind them. I think it would be pretty easy, but THAT"S been a statement I've regretted many times before!

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 replacement tach

If'n it wuz my own car, maybe. I gotta find something that fits the hole in teh dash and move on.

[Ted S.]

Re: C1 replacement tach

Ed, VDO makes a 7K tach that is 2 5/8" that fits rather well. I used one with an original bezel and lens on my '60. The face itself blends in well with the other gauges. Unfortunately it isn't quite scaled the same as the original or I'd tried mounting the face. If you're interested I can give you more info if you e-mail me direct.

Hope this helps,

Ted