Tach questions....

[CHA914]

I have a 74 with a non-working tach...the needle doesn't move at all...so I have a few options. I could get my fixed by pelican, get a new one from pelican, or get an aftermarket guage. So my questions are...if I get mine fixed, what are the chances that it will bounce(I don't want new guage to bounce)...if I get a new guage from pelican what are the differences between the 73 and 74 tachs(other than the $80 difference, I have a 73 and 74 car and the tachs look the same)...and what are some good aftermarket tachs that you all like?(I am not hyper about the car being original, so anything that looks good and performs I am interested in).

Thanks for all the help,

Tony

'74 914 2.0L

[John Rogers]

Are you sure it is the tach and not a bad wire/connector(s)? Have you hooked a test meter dwell/tach to the wire on the back of the tach and got an accurate signal? If the signal is good, then you have already listed the options. A rebuild on your tach should not result in any bounce. I put the tach from my 1973 in my daughter's 1974 and it worked fine, maybe it was not supposed to??? I use an Autometer memory recall tach in the 1973 and it's body is stepped so it will fit in with the rubber rings used on out tachs. The recall is nice to have if you autocross much. Good luck.

[CHA914]

Yes I did test all of the wires...and they work just fine, in fact I have another vdo tach from my vw that works just fine but doesn't fit...where did you get the autometer tach? I do plan on doing some racing with the car...

Thanks again,

Tony

[John Rogers]

Summit Racing, their website is: www.summitracing.com

[JP Noonan]

.

[This message has been edited by JP Noonan (edited 08-22-2000).]

[JP Noonan]

I think the early 73 gauges are like the 72 ones, they have the "bullit" type aluminium center not the black center button like later gauges.

I have a NOS 75 tach and a VDO "Vision" electric speedo and they match really close. Except at night the new style gauge lights up much brighter and more evenly.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

70-73 tachs have the silver "center button". They also have two turn signal indicators. 74-76 tachs do not have the "button". They also have only a single turn signal indicator.

Near the 73/74 transition, these distinctions break down somewhat. I know of several early 74s that used 73 instruments with the silver buttons. They had both turn signal indicators hooked up to the single 74 wire, so that both blinked together when either turn signal was on.

If you want to save the money, you could do the same with yours.

The rebuilt tach should not bounce. Neither should the new one. Make sure your points and condensor are in good shape to help prevent the bouncing.

--DD

[tahoward]

When my tach went I called Pelican and they told me about North Hollywood Speedo. From Ohio to CA and back in 10 days. They looked new and worked great. You can find them on the web. Good luck.