Retro column RPM gauge

[mrjordann]

Here is another tachometer option (not retro style though)...it’s a trail tech one that is battery powered and cheap too(40 bucs). Supposedly will lasts 5 years. Has one wire that wraps around a spark plug wire. Works good and matches the rpm reading on my timing gun. I made a simple little mount for it.

I feel like a tach should last a lot longer than 5 years...

 

[Living in the Past]

I feel like a tach should last a lot longer than 5 years...

Believe was talking battery life not how long the tachometer will last.

 

[MoCoNative]

I wanted a tach but did not really like any of the offerings I was finding. Ended up using a custom one from Speedhut.com. I tried to pick a font and color scheme that matched the factory cluster. Ordered the smallest 2" unit with a 1-4K range to match the 1F.

Overall I like it. I made a small custom bracket that is clamped under the column cover to hide the hose clamp and attaches to their clamp bracket. Only dislikes is it illumiates the numbers and pointer with LED instead of just a bulb, looks too modern when lit up, but very readable. Also ordered it with a brushed silver bezel thinking it would match the gray pewter of the cluster. Should have gotten the chrome bezel to match the radio and ashtray accents, would have looked better in the end.

Did have it fail me pretty quickly, my ground was loose, tach was coming on and off and it somehow fried the guts. Luckily Speedhut offers lifetime repair so I was back in business pretty quick. I re-did my ground and so far it has worked perfectly. They can do all types of guages with many custom options.

 

[Dodgrr]

I was also nervous to do anything permanent.. so I yanked the tach from a FJ62 and 3d printed a little enclosure for it.. the holes on top mount to a clip that slips on to the bottom of the dash lip between heater and ebrake. I think I'm gonna bezel the front edge a bit, maybe have it screw in from the back to match a little closer to "oem" style as well.

 

[John in Utah]

I was also nervous to do anything permanent.. so I yanked the tach from a FJ62 and 3d printed a little enclosure for it.. the holes on top mount to a clip that slips on to the bottom of the dash lip between steering and ebrake. I think I'm gonna bezel the front edge a bit, maybe have it screw in from the back to match a little closer to "oem" style as well.

That’s cool! Any pics of it mounted?

 

[ToyotaMatt]

@Simco

 

[Dodgrr]

That’s cool! Any pics of it mounted?

Thanks! I've got all the parts printed, I just need a little spare time to go stick the sucker on.. It sits 3/4" back from the bottom pad lip and angles up, hopefully I can get a "garage break" in here and post some pics

 

[red66toy]

I was also nervous to do anything permanent.. so I yanked the tach from a FJ62 and 3d printed a little enclosure for it.. the holes on top mount to a clip that slips on to the bottom of the dash lip between heater and ebrake. I think I'm gonna bezel the front edge a bit, maybe have it screw in from the back to match a little closer to "oem" style as well.

That is almost exactly what I was hoping to do at some point. Want to make more housings?

 

[Dodgrr]

That is almost exactly what I was hoping to do at some point. Want to make more housings?

looks like I'll have a little time to mess around this weekend, I'll keep you posted!

 

[bikersmurf]

https://www.amazon.com/Faria-33710-...=40701&psc=1&refRID=AQKR21FR1C8WNXJ82269&th=1

I’ve got a Faria tach in a pod... not sure if this comes with a pod.

 

[Dodgrr]

Prototype update: Gotta find some glass that's the right size, just have some plastic in the face plate for now but here's my tentative entry. Uses the guts of either an FJ60 or FJ62 tach, direct drop into the housing, no cutting or gluing required. The original 2 mounting screws are used to hold it in. Uses the original wiring harness as well, and there's a place to click the original illumination light in too.

I think I may have a couple little final tweaks to get this exactly were I want it, should have the little mounting bracket bent and ready to mount today. Once the design is checked for in-vehicle fitment, I'll see what I can do about getting some quotes on CNC machining the front plate out of aluminum, but for right now, the intention is to make a silicon mold and cast it in high impact resin, then have it sprayed at my buddies autobody and paint shop.

(This will be mounted between the emergency brake handle and the heater underneath the dash, road testing to follow soon after.)

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

Prototype update: Gotta find some glass that's the right size, just have some plastic in the face plate for now but here's my tentative entry. Uses the guts of either an FJ60 or FJ62 tach, direct drop into the housing, no cutting or gluing required. The original 2 mounting screws are used to hold it in. Uses the original wiring harness as well, and there's a place to click the original illumination light in too.

I think I may have a couple little final tweaks to get this exactly were I want it, should have the little mounting bracket bent and ready to mount today. Once the design is checked for in-vehicle fitment, I'll see what I can do about getting some quotes on CNC machining the front plate out of aluminum, but for right now, the intention is to make a silicon mold and cast it in high impact resin, then have it sprayed at my buddies autobody and paint shop.

(This will be mounted between the emergency brake handle and the heater underneath the dash, road testing to follow soon after.)

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Nice work! I’m interested. Looking forward to seeing it installed.

 

[Varty Yo]

Sweet!!!

 

[red66toy]

Prototype update: Gotta find some glass that's the right size, just have some plastic in the face plate for now but here's my tentative entry. Uses the guts of either an FJ60 or FJ62 tach, direct drop into the housing, no cutting or gluing required. The original 2 mounting screws are used to hold it in. Uses the original wiring harness as well, and there's a place to click the original illumination light in too.

I think I may have a couple little final tweaks to get this exactly were I want it, should have the little mounting bracket bent and ready to mount today. Once the design is checked for in-vehicle fitment, I'll see what I can do about getting some quotes on CNC machining the front plate out of aluminum, but for right now, the intention is to make a silicon mold and cast it in high impact resin, then have it sprayed at my buddies autobody and paint shop.

(This will be mounted between the emergency brake handle and the heater underneath the dash, road testing to follow soon after.)

View attachment 2010237
View attachment 2010238

Also A+ for the photography.