Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 18:11:13 -0400
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: aftermarket tach
In-Reply-To: <BANLkTik1b9OCpxtM+t+qUMb8h4=na=xZ7w@mail.gmail.com>
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At 12:21 PM 6/2/2011, Jonathan Edwards wrote:
>Next question - I'm trying to figure out where to mount this thing so that
>it looks the cleanest, and is in good view. My first thought was on the
>dash, to the left of the instrument cluster right in front of the side
>window dash vent.
I think that's pretty far out of line of sight for a tach, especially
an itty-bitty one like that. On my '84 (before I put an '85 panel in
it) I mounted a 5" tach on the panel cover, right side with enough
clearance not to interfere with defrost air to the windshield, and
ran the cable through a drilled hole in the cover. It meant
unplugging a connector (soldered on after the cable went through the
hole) every time I took the lid off the panel, but that wasn't too
bad. I liked it fine, but I liked the factory one a lot better. I
missed that lovely clock; but the little digital clock in the middle
where you're planning to drill was neat and supremely legible day or
night, and a worthy trade for the tach. I forgot about the clock a
day later.
>looking at the instrument cluster and noticed the space, dead center, that
>is directly below the idiot lights is about the size of my tach. I've never
>seen any lights come on in that space
Oh, Jonathan, my brother. You must have known you'd get yelled at
for that. You're supposed to *know* what lights are available to
come on, and check that they do in fact come on every time you turn
the key. Hint - ALT OIL HOT/LOCOOL and they all mean Stop Right Now
and find out what's actually happening before proceeding.
>- it looks to be a cheesy 'fake' notification center or something.
We Dutch apologists prefer to think of it as tastefully following the
visual theme of the actual warning light panel. ;-) And the digital
clock consumes much of it.
> Has anyone here ever installed a tach (or
>any other gauge) in that space? Any reason not to? (assuming I have enough
>clearance behind to fit the depth of the guage, probably 2"). Click link for
>picture.
I see no reason not to, just be careful of dimensions and very
careful of the aged plastic of the panel. A jeweler's saw and some
coarse blades - no finer than #5 I would think
http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/jewelers_saw_blades.htm - would be my
tool of choice, but there's no way to get even a deep jeweler's saw
to go around that panel. I'd probably end up using my Dremel for
some or all of it.
If you take the gauge out of its cup you'll probably find it easier
to fit -- IIRC the bezel and gauge are one unit and cup secures with
a single nut at the back that also holds the assembly to the bracket,
right? Unless the cup is doing duty as a heat sink you ought to be
able to put a baggie around the works to keep dust out - some sort of
cover is necessary or the needle bearings will suffer.
Yrs,
d
