57 Column tach with red face??????

[Tom P.]

Anyone familiar with, ever seen, know about or have an AC 8000 column mount tach for a 1957 Corvette 579E (or D) with a red face?
It looks just like the black face version, but it's red with white numbers.
If anyone is familiar with such an animal or wants pictures, I can post pictures.

[Steven B.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Tom, in the early 90's a fellow in the NE told me about the red face tachs. He said he believed there were very few and some were used in late '56 on '57's. He thought on FI and 2 X4 cars, possibly engineering cars.

I am interested in any info. on these tachs.

Thanks!

Steve

[Tom P.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Tom, in the early 90's a fellow in the NE told me about the red face tachs. He said he believed there were very few and some were used in late '56 on '57's. He thought on FI and 2 X4 cars, possibly engineering cars.

I am interested in any info. on these tachs.

Thanks!

Steve

Steve,
As I'm sure you know, until 1962, the ONLY distributor with a tach drive (beginning with the 1957 908 dist) was the FI engines with solid lifters. Prior to 62, the only other way to drive a tach was with the generator. Thus (IF it existed), any 56 or early 57 2x4 car with a column tach had to have been driven by a generator. So, if there was ever a legitimate column tach, NON-FI car (56 or 57), I've never seen one. Where I'm going with all of the above, is that I have no clue how the red face tach is calibrated (for gen or dist drive). AND, until today, I HAVE NEVER known of a red face 57 column tach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus, the ONLY column tach cars that I've ever known about were the Airbox cars (well, except my 56, and it's as bogus as Bill Clinton's picture on a $3.00 bill ).
The person who sent me the pictures has not given me permission to divulge his name/location (of course, I haven't asked him either). So if you want to see pictures, I can either email them or post them.
From my perspective, regardless of whether the tach is genuine or bogus, I LIKE IT!!!

[Joseph T.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Steve,
As I'm sure you know, until 1962, the ONLY distributor with a tach drive (beginning with the 1957 908 dist) was the FI engines with solid lifters. Prior to 62, the only other way to drive a tach was with the generator. Thus (IF it existed), any 56 or early 57 2x4 car with a column tach had to have been driven by a generator. So, if there was ever a legitimate column tach, NON-FI car (56 or 57), I've never seen one. Where I'm going with all of the above, is that I have no clue how the red face tach is calibrated (for gen or dist drive). AND, until today, I HAVE NEVER known of a red face 57 column tach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus, the ONLY column tach cars that I've ever known about were the Airbox cars (well, except my 56, and it's as bogus as Bill Clinton's picture on a $3.00 bill ).
The person who sent me the pictures has not given me permission to divulge his name/location (of course, I haven't asked him either). So if you want to see pictures, I can either email them or post them.
From my perspective, regardless of whether the tach is genuine or bogus, I LIKE IT!!!

Tom

The red face would look great on a white car, with red interior and white column..other colors as well.

Ask the owner if there is a part# on the casing and then check the AC Tach parts catalogue from 56/57..surely they are around.

My sense is if it was a production tach it was probably made for some other application.

1956/1957 Chevy/Corvette endorsed race cars also used Sun tachs...column mounted and dash mounted.

Ps..bolts above should be clutch head...for the bracket.

Joe

[Steven B.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Steve,
As I'm sure you know, until 1962, the ONLY distributor with a tach drive (beginning with the 1957 908 dist) was the FI engines with solid lifters. Prior to 62, the only other way to drive a tach was with the generator. Thus (IF it existed), any 56 or early 57 2x4 car with a column tach had to have been driven by a generator. So, if there was ever a legitimate column tach, NON-FI car (56 or 57), I've never seen one. Where I'm going with all of the above, is that I have no clue how the red face tach is calibrated (for gen or dist drive). AND, until today, I HAVE NEVER known of a red face 57 column tach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus, the ONLY column tach cars that I've ever known about were the Airbox cars (well, except my 56, and it's as bogus as Bill Clinton's picture on a $3.00 bill ).
The person who sent me the pictures has not given me permission to divulge his name/location (of course, I haven't asked him either). So if you want to see pictures, I can either email them or post them.
From my perspective, regardless of whether the tach is genuine or bogus, I LIKE IT!!!

Tom, correct you are! When this fellow in the NE told me about the red face tachs he would not divulge his source except to say a guy at GM. He said he had pictures of the tach in an early '57 taken by GM but would not give me a copy. (Makes you wonder.) I wish I had some proof of the existance of the tach but as I said it was "hear say". There was a fellow a couple of decades ago selling "homemade" tachs that I believe were recalibrated/regeared AC sourced from the truck or industrial units with a reprinted face. You could get the tach set up for a distributor or generator drive. I know of two sources years ago selling AC 8000's but I believe both were "homemade".

The red face may be another "created" part or it may have existed, I have no idea either. 'Wish I knew for certain, like so many other things.

I would love to see some pics. posted.

Thanks!

Steve

[Tom P.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

I would love to see some pics. posted.

Thanks!

Steve

So, do you want me to post the pictures the guy sent to me? He said it would be OK with him.

Also, the column tach on my 56 is one of those "years ago" repos that you mentioned. I gave $500 for it (maybe 12-15yrs ago???), WITHOUT the mounting brackets-------------that's why I had to make my own brackets.
The pictures of the red tach look just like my repo black face tach.
The red tach would go GREAT with my red/black interior and red paint!

[Steven B.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

So, do you want me to post the pictures the guy sent to me? He said it would be OK with him.

Also, the column tach on my 56 is one of those "years ago" repos that you mentioned. I gave $500 for it (maybe 12-15yrs ago???), WITHOUT the mounting brackets-------------that's why I had to make my own brackets.
The pictures of the red tach look just like my repo black face tach.
The red tach would go GREAT with my red/black interior and red paint!

Hi Tom! Yes, please post the pictures.

Steve

[Tom P.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

These were sent to me by Wayne in Canada who says he is building an Airbox car.

[John D.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

As I recall my old friend Werner Grossmueller had a source that could take the NOS industrial tachs and have them reworked and turned into an 8000 RPM job. The so called industrial tachs have the same case sans the cutout for the light, the same bezel, lens and maybe the pointer.
Never saw a red faced 8000 one though. Would look neat in Tom Parsons resto rod don't you think. JD

[Steven B.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Thanks Tom, and thanks to Wayne!!!

Steve

[Steven B.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

I have seen the windows on the side of the AC (black/white face) cup in clear and green transparent "plastic". Which, if either, is correct?

Thanks!

Steve

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Steve, they were painted over. Gary....

[Steven B.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Thanks Gary! The over the counter ones appear to have been bare metal and the ones factory installed were painted, correct? I have only seen red interior with red dash top and white instrument panel air box cars and they had white cups and brackets. Did beige interior cars have beige cups and brackets? What about all red interiors?

Thanks!

Steve

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Steve, the tachs and brackets were painted same color as lower dash and column from what we've been able to determine. Gary....

[Steven B.]

Re: 57 Column tach with red face??????

Steve, the tachs and brackets were painted same color as lower dash and column from what we've been able to determine. Gary....

Thanks Gary! 'Great detailed information!

Steve