My VDO tach seems "mushy", and I'm just not happy with it at all. I would like something a little more precise.

Anybody have any experience with this Autometer "Auto Gage" 5" monster tach? It seems like a good price, but how well does it work? What should I look for in a good tach?

http://www.autometer.com/hp/2003_catalog/autogage/autogage_art/233905_right_s.jpg

The only problem with them is finding a place to mount it. They're really too big to put on the steering column. I have an Autometer, and a buddy of mine has the Autoguage. They both seem to work about the same. I don't know if there's any real difference in them other than the price and the way they look.

Look in the new section of the Summit catalogue in your mailbox. They have one 2 inches thick, shift lite and 3 3/8 in diameter for $110 USD. I thought it looked pretty neat.

Look in the new section of the Summit catalogue in your mailbox. They have one 2 inches thick, shift lite and 3 3/8 in diameter for $110 USD. I thought it looked pretty neat.

Ahhh.. Very nice! Basically a miniature monster tach. Do you think the precision will be any better with this over my VDO?

http://store.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/atm-2309.jpg

You know, I hate to say it but I've not been real happy with my Autogauge tach. If I had to do it all over I would remortgage my house :eek: and spend the $300+ for a REALLY nice Autometer tach with built in shift light and playback memory. Don't go cheap on tachs.

The reason I haven't been real happy with my Autogauge is that it will stick once in a while when racing. I added a stand alone shift light as a back up.

Could be a fluke I suppose, maybe they are all not the way mine is.

That is a good tach!!! I mounted mine under the dash.....see it here (http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/dgguns/page8.html) bottom pictures.


http://www.autometer.com/hp/2003_catalog/autogage/autogage_art/233905_right_s.jpg

If you really want a good tach for the track you can't get much better than the Autometer pro comp playback tach. There's the pro-comp G3, which I've got, and the ultimate playback which is what I wish I would have purchased.

You can download data from the ultimate onto your PC, whereas the pro comp only has a printer interface.

These are expensive, but you certainly get what you pay for when it comes to gauges.

If it's not a track car, don't sweat it. Just get whatever looks nice to you and fits wherever you want to mount it.

-gw

I have mine on the column, both speedo and tach...the tach is a 6809 recall and was respectable in price. The best tach I have ever owned next to the split range memory shift light for $200.00 more.

http://www.geocities.com/tholt67/dzprojectII

I used to sell Autometer and VDO gauges at the speed shop I used to work at, and I've found that Autometer is by far the best gauge that money can buy! Their is really very little difference between the Autometer and Autogage gauges. The internals are all pretty much the same it's just the cosmetics that are a little different.

You might be experiencing some electrical interference if you are running an ignition box, or if you are running one of those points to electronic conversion kits with the VDO tach. Are you running an MSD or Crane box or anything? That can sometimes cause a tach to be a little soft or off a couple of hundred RPM's or even bounce.

Good luck. Tony

How come only 8 grand ? ;) Clean looking tachs.

Thanks for all the input so far-- This one says it's an "electric tach". Aren't they all electric? Does anybody know if this one works on a different mechanism than the "auto gage" line of tachs?

http://www.autometer.com/hp/2003_catalog/street_performance/street_performance_art/5780_s.jpg

I actually like the looks of this one better, and I'm leaning towards the smaller size over the 5" because I'm not sure I want a huge tach. This one doesn't have memory or a shift light, but I don't think I'm too concerned about the memory feature, and I can probably add on a shift light somewhere...

I know... 8,000 is pretty weak... :( and Yes, I do have an MSD box that's from the early 80's. Thinking of upgrading to a 6AL so I can add a rev limiter.

:confused: :confused: :confused:
what's the difference between Phantom and Pro Comp?

This one is about 15 bucks more than the one above, and also says it's "electric"

http://www.autometer.com/hp/2003_catalog/racing/racing_art/3781_s.jpg

The only difference in between the Phantom and the Pro Comp is the cosmetics. The Silver material must cost them about $5-$10 more.

I'm not really sure what they are talking about when they say "electric" tach, unless they mean that it's for a distributorless ignition? Like the newer cars that have the multi-coil packs and use computer controlled timing? I'm not really sure, but I think that's what they mean.

If you are just using your tach for street use, then 8,000 is really just fine for that. If you are going to go to the track and you are using a 4sp then you might what to think about getting maybe a 10,000 and a shift light. IMO that would be a little better.

Good luck. Tony

Should I go with the 10,000 even though I try not to rev my engine past 6,000? It just seems like a 10,000 RPM tach is overkill.

And I hope to get to the track, but it certainly isn't my primary use of the car.

I'm thinking of just getting the tach now, and then upgrading to a 6AL, and then maybe adding a separate shift light later.

If you are just going to cruise the car and maybe take it to the track everynow and then, then a 8,000 tach would be perfect. You don't need the 10,000 if you're not going to turn the motor past 6,000 - 7,000 where-ever you go. IMO, the 8,000 would be a perfect fit for your combination.

When the money permits, IMO I would definately go with a new MSD 6AL. That added protection of the rev. limiter is priceless when you go to stand on it! Especially if you miss a shift or if (God forbid!) something was to let go in the driveline or something!

Sounds like you have a nice combo! Now you just have to make up your mind what kind or look you want for the car as far as a tach goes!

Good Luck! Tony

Yeah, you're right.. I've missed a shift or 2, and I'm really not sure how high the RPM's went, but I know it was up around 5500 when I started shifting. These are the types of accidents I try to forget about graemlins/clonk.gif

I'm thinking I'll go w/ the pro comp, and maybe I'll splurge and order the 6AL right away.

Thanks

That's a good choice. I think that you'll be happy with that one. Also, I great idea to order the new 6AL now. It's a lot better to be safe then sorry!

Good Luck! Tony

Spames I have that same Sport Comp tach for sale. Send me an e-mail if you want it.

I like the white faces which are more expensive in most cases when shopping. The white wont give the reflection like a mirror in some lighting conditions. One good thing about 10K tachs is no matter how high you actually do run the engine when a somebody like a (excuse the term) ricer looks in the window and sees shift set for 8K or higher it kinda gets to 'em. Hehehe.
The positioning of my tach from the previous owner bolts a plate to the bottom of the upper lip of the dash above the factory tach behind the wheel so it just pops up above the wheel to the right a little. I can't even see the 1-4 or 5K most of the time.
Luckily I was blessed to work today and get to work tomorrow also. Oh joy right. So no new air shocks installed yet. Good luck on the tach dealings. Dumping my old one I'll try to go white then again the 10K to keep the cam happy. Gads this site always has a guy figuring out what else to change on a car.

Do they still sell Dixon tach's???

From the old days... pdq67

a few years ago i bought a Mallory tach,with a built in shift light,and a rev limiter,
i paid about $100 for it,and it works great.
I just wish i had added a seperate rheostat,to dim the internal light for it,i hooked it up to my dash lights,and it was too bright,at night.LOL

Shadow made up my mind for me graemlins/hurray.gif

Thanks everybody.

I think it's summit that makes a multiple color lit face. Maybe 6 colors you can make it with a switch.

I run that Autogage Monster tach on my 69 vintage road racer and i've been very happy with it. I removed the cover from the car's original tach and then mounted the monster tach in front of existing one. The shift light is mounted seperately at twelve o'clock to the steering wheel. Its mounting bracket slips under the dash pad so that the shift light sits straight in your line of sight (ie you dont have to take your eyes off the road). I run it in conjunction with an MSD 6AL, the rev limit is set 500 -700 higher than the shift light (bear in mind that by the time you've reacted to the shift light the revs will have risen by a further 300 or so).

This set up seems to work well and doesn't cost the earth.

Good luck

69RR

PS No point in runninng a 10,000 rpm tach if you're never going to see more than 6500rpm, go for the 8000 rpm model.

Thanks for the tips on the rev limiter. I had been wondering where I would set it. Sounds like you have a pretty cool setup, Have any pics of your shift light mounted?

Guy' the term "electrical tach" means it's for most of us... There is such a thing as a mechanical tach which is found on some really old point type distributors and magnitos... Just to clear things up

Cheers,
Tom

Yes, the stock Vettes came with mechanical tach's driven off the distributors and the suckers went up and down so fast it was neat to watch!!!

Just like the motor!!!!!!!! pdq67