Tach/Gauges suggestions?

I need a recommendation on black-face gauges that won't break the bank.

Also need input on whether or not i should just use a Dakota Digital tach signal converter or an aftermarket tach.

My worry with the signal converter is that the stock BP would outrun the tach in 1st gear anyways, and this motor should easily rev twice as quickly.

If a tach (with a shift light) would be a better idea, Same deal as above, recommend me a black-faced tach that won't break the bank!

Another option that i like would be to use the DD tach converter ($85) to use the stock tach, and then install a sequential shift light setup as well. The only problem with that is that so far, it makes no financial sense at all, since the cheapest sequential shift light i'm seeing is a good $165. (Shift-I LED)

Anyone know of any cheaper sequential setups?

As for gauges, lift a set of VDO gauges from an older VW or Audi... (Late 80's to mid 90's I think...) Tach? No help from me... Sorry.

Tach? Everything has rev limiters now. Shift when you hear God.

Just use the Shift-I and nothing else. When you've got one of those, you don't need a dial.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Tach? Everything has rev limiters now. Shift when you hear God.

There's already some calculated risk with the rev limit i'm setting, i'm going to try to avoid hitting it as much as possible.

I appreciate the input guys, but i'm not dealing with junkyard hopping for this stuff this time around. Would VDO (probably the Vision series) be a recommended gauge if buying new as well?

I was also looking at the Stewart Warner Maximum series.

Keith, for some reason i didn't think about that option... i'll mull it over. It would bug me to not have a needle at all i think, but it really depends on how much street driving will be happening, and if she's comfy with the idea. Neither of us know the motor that well, so "shift by sound" isn't really an option starting out.

I've got both a sequential tach and a dial on a couple of my cars - the Targa Miata and the Locost. On the latter, I never use the dial. It doesn't start to register below 4000 rpm, but, well, that doesn't really matter.

On the Targa car, I do find myself using the dial more. Not sure why.

I like VDO.. reasonably priced and reasonably accurate... the if you are matching gages to your celica.. I would consider the cockpit series

Nah, this is for Escort.

Celica will get a STACK or IQ3 setup.

What ECU are you using? Could you use an Android tablet connected to the ECU to replace the gauge cluster?

Haltech Platinum Sport 1000. Not really looking to do that sort of setup at the moment. All of my factory gauges will work, and i can spend $85 to make the tach work, mainly worried 1) about it being slow and 2) what to do next season when i rev the motor past the 8000rpms the tach goes to?

The name of the game at this point is fast, cheap, easy. I just want the car done. I'm sick of working on it, and don't want to fiddle with it anymore. Basic gauge instals i can knock them all out in about 30 minutes. A tablet setup, will take a bit longer.

EvanB wrote: What ECU are you using? Could you use an Android tablet connected to the ECU to replace the gauge cluster?

it's a cool idea though

mad_machine wrote:

EvanB wrote: What ECU are you using? Could you use an Android tablet connected to the ECU to replace the gauge cluster?

it's a cool idea though

It IS a cool idea, but would the whole setup really react fast enough?

I need to think about it for the saab. I know there is a device that can hook a laptop up to the T5 injection.. I wonder if they have a version that can hook up a tablet

I'm thinking about it possibly for the Miata, or maybe just an Android phone connected to the Megasquirt via bluetooth to use for a couple gauges.

No idea how fast it would react, it could also be good for logging during runs.

I'm betting the reaction speed of a tablet and all this would be "glacial".

I'm not a huge Auto Meter fan but their tachs seem pretty quick reacting. SW or VDO are probably great too. Nice thing would be to get an integrated shift light and set it a bit low so it's on long enough to react to before the valves bounce.

How about a motorcycle tachometer/gauge cluster? Like a Trail Tech Vapor or Acewell?

http://www.acewell-meter.com/

http://trailtech.net/vapor.html

LOL!!!

Alright, look... i know my build so far on this car seems to be entirely made up of things i can do to make life as complicated and elaborate as possible... but i really just want analog gauges that are easy to read and react quickly, and a shift light.

The Vapor Stealth looks pretty cool, but i'm really just looking for normal boring gauges.

Oh, sorry. I guess you need one of these.

I was actually looking at one of those.... but preferably with an integrated shift light.

Evan,

Would that work on the Diesel Bus?

I don't see why not, the only issue I could think of would be the speed sensor. It uses a hall effect sensor so you would have to figure out where to mount that to get a speed reading.

Also the lowest limit for the tachometer is 10k rpm and I don't think the diesel is going to be close to that . There may be other ones out there with different options for the scale of the tachometer, unless you don't mind the redline being at only 1/4 of the gauge.

Actually, this one is made for cars, does the bus have a cable-driven speedo? They make some adapters for the cables to convert it to an electric signal.

http://www.acewell.co.uk/Acewell%20Speedometers/ACE-3xxx/ACE-3251.htm?action=full&id=4

http://www.acewell.co.uk/Acewell%20Accessories%20and%20Sensors/Speed%20Sensors%20-%20Cable%20Drive/ACE-S12.htm?action=full&id=25

being a Detroit rpm range is about 3200 rpm, being 50 years old it will have a cable speedo.

I am looking to redo the dash and change it from 24 to 12 volts.

Simple and easy to read are premier needs.

It looks like the AutoMeter site has a bunch of choices:

http://www.autometer.com/default.aspx

I suggest you consider the ETB DigiDash II Lite system. http://www.etbinstruments.com/DD2_lite.htm

I understand that you thought you may want just a simple gauge but the DigiDash II Lite provides a complete package that is extremely easy to install and use. It comes complete with the wiring harness and sensors. You can also move it to your next vehicle if you decide to change cars.

We are a Grassroots magazine advertiser and the US agent for ETB instruments.

If you're interested please let me know and I'll offer you a special deal if you'll post your opinion of the DigiDash.

Thanks

Chet