I've got my hash pipe.....

[Bear]

Not trying to be a jackass, but.........
If you're planning to go LHD, why not continue to use the "right" hand removable dash where it is--maybe a little farther to reach the radio, but most of the switches and knobs can be moved around. Other than an absolute purist, who would even know if it's a right-handed or left-handed panel, same as the tach left or right. The clock would be closer to read as well as the ashtray and lighter if you're a smoker.

You could finish your restoration, and down the line if you find a left handed dash and still want it, you could fuss with moving around all the switches and cables at that time.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

And it starts...


Are you keeping your a/c unit? Driving back from New Mexico to Nevada this summer, mine was an absolute life saver. It was super welcoming after an hour "Detainment" on Hoover Dam. Especially while the family was waiting patiently in the 100 series.

Did I mention it was 109 degrees outside while I was being detained

 

[Henry James the 47th]

Figure where there is a LHD dash there more than likely is a LHD tach.

Matt

No, there is no LHD tach. It was only fitted to RHD tachs. I fitted a RHD tach to my truck by modifying the dash and not using the RDH dash plate. Mine sits to the right of the steering wheel, which allows the side defrost nozzles to be retained.

 

[buckroseau]

No, there is no LHD tach. It was only fitted to RHD tachs. I fitted a RHD tach to my truck by modifying the dash and not using the RDH dash plate. Mine sits to the right of the steering wheel, which allows the side defrost nozzles to be retained.

When HJ47 reads this he can post up a link to the thread. Someone much smarter than me converted a RHD tach to make it work on the left side. It is pretty cool, and fairly technical.

 

[John Smith]

When HJ47 reads this he can post up a link to the thread. Someone much smarter than me converted a RHD tach to make it work on the left side. It is pretty cool, and fairly technical.

I believe this is what you are after. https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/227658-building-factory-tachometer-fj40.html
This thread has pictures of someone who copied the plans from the above link and installed one to the right of a left hand gauge cluster. https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/413398-post-picture-your-tachometer.html
Looking forward to another of your builds.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

I believe this is what you are after. https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/227658-building-factory-tachometer-fj40.html
This thread has pictures of someone who copied the plans from the above link and installed one to the right of a left hand gauge cluster. https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/413398-post-picture-your-tachometer.html
Looking forward to another of your builds.

Yeah, thats the link I was thinking of too...

 

[Oman4x4]

Will keep my eye out for you but I would plan on not getting it! It's gonna be a tough one to find, and I don't have a huge amount of time these days to scavenger hunt through the junk yards.

As someone else suggested, for now plan on using the RHD version, and later you can move things around for RHD if I am able to find one for you...

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Matt:

I think you can rotate the housing around the tach if you want to mount it with the "thick" side on the outside (left) of the wheel on an LHD truck. I'll take a peek at mine tonight.

Luckily you can basically skip all the internal rigamarole, with that 2H....

Dan

 

[Henry James the 47th]

This thread has pictures of someone who copied the plans from the above link and installed one to the right of a left hand gauge cluster. https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/413398-post-picture-your-tachometer.html

The only issue with that tach install that imabigbangkindaguy did, in my opinion, is that he placed it too high on the dash and that necessitated chopping into the metal defrost duct. That might work in a warmer location like Texas, where the defrost might not be needed all that often, but in Minnesota?

I re-sectioned the dash so as to allow the factory tach to sit lower down and no defrost duct cutting was necessary, nor did I need to modify the tach at all.

I chose to go that route as I wanted to retain the side defrost nozzle to the left of the steering wheel, along with the fog lamp switch, and that meant placing the tach to the right of the steering wheel. It has proved to be a good location for the tach over the past couple of years.

Anyway, I'm sure that buck R will come up with an innovative and well-crafted solution to the dash plate and tacho mounting problems.

I can take pictures of the solution I came up with if anyone wants to see it...
https://forum.ih8mud.com/members/imabigbangkindaguy.html

 

[buckroseau]

I can take pictures of the solution I came up with if anyone wants to see it...
https://forum.ih8mud.com/members/imabigbangkindaguy.html

I would like to see it?

 

[kellyo]

That link is awesome. Most of you guys amaze me.

 

[Henry James the 47th]

I would like to see it?

Tomorrow AM I'll snap a couple of pics and upload them

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Matt, Just have to ask. How many lifts do you have there ? I seen atleast 2. I only have one right now and am looking at a four post one for a second one.

 

[Chamba]

The only issue with that tach install that imabigbangkindaguy did, in my opinion, is that he placed it too high on the dash and that necessitated chopping into the metal defrost duct. That might work in a warmer location like Texas, where the defrost might not be needed all that often, but in Minnesota?

I re-sectioned the dash so as to allow the factory tach to sit lower down and no defrost duct cutting was necessary, nor did I need to modify the tach at all.

I chose to go that route as I wanted to retain the side defrost nozzle to the left of the steering wheel, along with the fog lamp switch, and that meant placing the tach to the right of the steering wheel. It has proved to be a good location for the tach over the past couple of years.

Anyway, I'm sure that buck R will come up with an innovative and well-crafted solution to the dash plate and tacho mounting problems.

I can take pictures of the solution I came up with if anyone wants to see it...

When I put the tach on the left side of my US Spec 83 LHD FJ40, I removed the defroster vents. However, I put factory vent windows in my 83 FJ40 doors, so I really did not need the defroster vents any more. Granted, it does not get as cold in Colorado or NM as it does in Roseau, Mn, but it gets cold enough to know that those defroster vents don't do too much anyway.

Also, if you keep the defrosters with the factory vent windows, you will have to trim about 1/2" of the plastic off the top of them.

I think you will find it will be pretty easy to rotate the tach bezel to work on the LHD side.

Cheers,

Josh

 

[Henry James the 47th]

I find those side defroster vents work okay on my truck. Nothing to write home about, but they work and I'm sure would work even better is I taped up all the piping connections in the system.

Nice to have a good set of the bug-catcher widows though. I had a set of those with my truck but the weatherstripping seemed a problem to obtain and mine were a bit rusted up so I went with the one-piece windows.

 

[Henry James the 47th]

As promised, pictures of my tachometer installation in my dash. Can you see how I re-did the sheet metal around the right side of the steering column/combination meter opening?

 

[Awl_TEQ]

As promised, pictures of my tachometer installation in my dash. Can you see how I re-did the sheet metal around the right side of the steering column/combination meter opening?

You eliminated the "knee pads" to gain a little more gauge room

 

[Henry James the 47th]

You eliminated the "knee pads" to gain a little more gauge room

Actually, only the pad to the right of the steering column is gone - the one to the left side is still there, and the long right hand side one has been shortened slightly.

 

[2fpower]

So, I was just looking at the SOR catalog on page 172a and saw what you are looking for in the dash panal. You likely have tried this, but I was wondering if we can find a part number for it and see if it exists at a dealer in another country? I went to all my linkys for parts dealers and could not find anything except us parts, so I am of no assistance on this one.

 

[buckroseau]

So, I was just looking at the SOR catalog on page 172a and saw what you are looking for in the dash panal. You likely have tried this, but I was wondering if we can find a part number for it and see if it exists at a dealer in another country? I went to all my linkys for parts dealers and could not find anything except us parts, so I am of no assistance on this one.

I spoke with Cruiserdan a while ago about this, he looked as well. I appreciate the effort though!