Mounting tach on (padded) dash?

Looking for suggestions for putting a tach on the padded dash of my '72 Dart. I want it near my line of vision but not obstructing it (especially if I get a 5" Monster) since the car will be mostly street driven.

Where's the best location? Left side? I don't want it on the column because it will partially block my gauges (which are mounted on a plate replacing the original cluster).

Also I can't mount towards the front of the dash because the foam padding on the front edge doesn't seem to have any metal inside it. I'm thinking of securing a flat plate to the visible metal frame extending back toward the driver, and fastening the tach to that. Any other thoughts?

thanks
Charles

Someone, maybe ACME,makes a mount that slips under the front part of the pad and maybe hooks under the back part? Made for A body pad. Don't know how stable it is though.

Mine it like a U. It mounted underneath and curves around the front of the pad and over top. No holes in the pad and no damage. I `ll try to take a pic tomorrow.

If you don't care about the pad, drill a couple holes and insert short length of 1/8" pipe to act as a spacer, run the mounting screws through the mount, the pipe spacers and through smaller holes in the dash frame and tighten.

Why not just use one of the already existing screw holes in the A pillar trim? Puts it in the lower corner of the windshield where it's easy to see and out of the way.That way you don't mess up a good dash and pad. You can run the wiring down the trim on the side and it is out of the way and hidden.

I believe someone on FABO was making the brackets that slip under the pad. I'm sure there is a thread about it over there.

Classic Industries has a tach bracket that may work for you.

http://www.classicindustries.com/shop/search/?q=tach%20dash%20bracket

Thanks for the suggestion. I think that may be a bit far to the side, but I'll hold the tach up there and see.

My dash pad is crap so drilling holes in it won't be a problem - someday I will buy one of those slip-on covers. Right now I don't even have an interior (still fabricating seat brackets and other things), although there is a pretty good sized pile of trim parts that came with the rolling shell ten years ago and the A-pillar trim might be in there.



Classic Industries has something that'll work, but $90 plus shipping?? I'll make one like it myself for that money. Thanks for pointing it out I'll take a look over on FABO too.

Edit: there's a LOT of discussion on FABO, but most of the picture links are expired. I think making one that slips under the dash pad will be the best bet. Thanks for all the suggestions

If you are using the tach for shift points you don't need it on the dash. Get an autometer with the humongous shift light and mount the light on the steering column. Set it at 200rpm below the shift point and I guarantee you'll know when its time to shift. I don't think anybody is watching their tach when racing anymore with the shift lights available.

I don't need it on the dash, but there's nowhere else to put it anyway that won't block my other gauges.

Besides, I have the Sun Supertach II that was in my last A-body (ca. 1985) and I intend to use it again.

I made one like this. It mounts where defroster vent was.

Looks like the trans hump is from a later model. Best to plug the hole at the rear to prevent water and gunk from getting in. I think they were changed in the early 70's maybe, not sure.

Throw it in the garbage can where it belongs, the one that was in my 69 Dart when I bought it read 400 rpm low at idle and 1500 rpm low at 5000 ... yes the engine was reving 6500

Yes, it's a later model hump for the cars ('73- or '74-up) that had a catalytic firestarter under the floor pan there. I am going to make a sheet metal patch for the area. It's on my list of things to do before putting in carpet. Good pickup though



So you encountered one bad one. Do you think that means they are all garbage? I wouldn't even have thrown yours in the garbage can, but taken it apart and fixed the problem! Anyhow, mine was accurate at least when I used it many years ago (the calculated rpm for the 235-60R15 tires and 3.23 gears, 1:1 manual trans agreed with the reading).

Anyway I'll check it on the bench with a pulse generator before using it.