Technical Tach or no tach

Thinking of re-doing my 48 ford to 1960 or older custom,what are the thoughts on a column mounted tachometer use it or not ,Using nothing newer that 1960 is my plan.

 

I think in that era a tach generally only showed up on rods/race cars, not customs unless it was built-in a show car. The ones in 'cups' IIRC showed up in the early 60s....

 

^^^ I think this pretty much sums it up. Some customs show cars got rows of gauges but a column mounted tach was more of a hot rod thing than a custom thing.

 

Thanks guys ,I had taken it out and think got to thinking,I should never ever think

 

Crazy Steve like your car mine is a 1948 long door coupe.chopped 4" in the front and back seams all molded in built back in the late 80's, White interior all red exterior , Heater delete car Love the old fat fender'd fords Radio hid in the glove box.

 

I love the overall look of the 42-48 dash when it's chromed out, but hate that big ol' clock on the passenger side... So I've got a '51 Merc dash I want to put in mine...

 

I put a Tach in the clock hole on my 46, gonna do it on my 48 Merc also.Got every thing I needed fom RodTec, all VDO electronics.

 

Yeah, but any gauge you put in the clock hole isn't exactly in line-of-sight.....

 

Regardless of being era correct, I've always beleived a tach was good for 2/10ths and 5 mph in the quarter. Same for speed equipment stickers in the rear quarter windows.

 

rockfish thought that 5/10 and 1 second Of course being from Texas everything is bigger and faster

 

Custom thing or not, I want to know what's going on with my engine. I personally couldn't imagine building a car, hot rod or custom, without a tach. Looks should def be a consideration, so don't screw a 5" Monster Tach to the dash, but I see no issue with a nice chrome cup and period/period styled tach. Here's a pic of mine.

 

Please don't use a tach on a custom. HRP

 

I'm thinking of installing a shift light in the dash, behind a 'shift' lens. Unobtrusive, like a turn signal or high beam indicator. That will at least keep you from blowing it up.... LOL

 

I say do what you want. I'm also a big fan of knowing exactly what my engine is doing.