I can't believe it, but then again...

After I thought I was pretty much finished...for now...my nearly 40 y.o. original tach is acting like it's ready to die.

I found a guy who says he can rebuild it using the correct-style D’Arsonval meter movement out of a GTO for $395. But the question I have is do you guys think I can get it out without tearing the dash apart again? It looks like once I take the radio back out I can get to it.

Has anyone done this? And is it worth the money to rebuild it? Or is a $250 OER repro acceptable?

What year car? If it's anything like the simple electronics of a '69, then it should be 'electronically repairable' for much less than $395... Appearance restoration, or replacement of the visible parts is what drives up the price I think. (I had my original repaired 'electronics only' a few years ago for $50....

I'd repair it. I have the original guages in my '68 and am trying to work them into my new interior. that seems pretty expensive for a repair though

i have 5 links posted at www.JollyRodder.com for gauge restoration, maybe they'd be of assistance to you...

check in "Restoration Suppliers" and scroll down the list, they're in the lower section of the link listings.



i hope i've helped,

JR

Thanks Guys, One of the guys listed on Jolly Rodder is the one who gave me the info on the d'arsonval meter movement and the price quote. But I went ahead and emailed all of the gauge guys listed to see who says what. I still think I'm the one screwed it up, which makes me think it's fixable for le$$, but I'm just guessing. But again, do you think I can get the tach out by working from under the dash fairly easy? ...I hope...

What year car? If it's a 69, it comes out the front of the dash, after removing retainers and cable from the rear, and removing the cover over the front....

Thanks Gary! It is a 69. That makes the prospect fixing it a little less painful. Thanks everyone.

Don't forget to report back Gary. We really want to know, you know?;) And good luck too.

i'm glad the JollyRodder site was of assistance to you. i'm always on the search for new links so if there's something you feel might be useful i'd appreciate it being forwarded to me via the contact link at the site.

thanks again and good luck with your tach ;)

JR

Thanks Gary! It is a 69. That makes the prospect fixing it a little less painful. Thanks everyone.

When you find someone to do the repair, you might even ask if they *improve* the tach electronics for better responsivity. I recall the original behaving like it was on a loose rubber band.. I removed my original, sent it for repair, and put a Sun SuperTach in the same hole (with a modified cover to make it look 'half way right'... I really hesitate to remove the good working Sun to put back that simple minded tach that Chevy installed.... hmmmm. thinking about *improved* electronics for the original tachs.. now THAT might be a worthwhile project.... How many could we sell? :)

the factory tach in my 67 work's in the summer and won't work in winter , it's been like that for ten years , when it quit's I am not gonna worry with it , just knowing the car came with a tach makes me happy :yes: , my low fuel light stopped working a few year's ago and I would actually like to have it fixed ,,,,,,,,,but they are WAY TO PROUD of the new repro low fuel module , the light can just stay off :yes: