I've had this Tachometer in a drawer for years and always wanted to use it. I think it looks pretty good next to these old SW Studebaker Truck gauges. While the motor will spin up above 4000 rpm from time to time it wont hurt the gauge as it will just free wheel.
I have seen several of Walden's chassis and they are all a piece of ART! He has the "eye for design."
Good spotting on the alternator bracket. When Tom Branch was building the motor we decided to just use a basic alternator to get thru the test run and tune. I was thinking of using a NexGen alternator so it would look a bit better but when I remembered I had this tach I called Keith and asked how we could use it, I didn't know if there was a way to drive it. He instantly knew that we could use a '57-'59 corvette generator with a tach drive and that night he sent a link to a restored one for sale. Keith knows how to get things done and where to get things. Wait until you see this set-up. It's beautiful.
Looking forward to following along ~ as an aside the link from the journal Entry to the Hamb thread doesn't work on the iPhone. The last few havnt
Here's a little progress John... Keith will cut the dash and weld this in. The rolled edge blends perfectly with the stock '39 dash. Once the bottom band is on, it will look as if Henry Ford was a hot rodder that demanded all cars have tachometers... More images later. And just so it feels like you are here with us, here's a shop scene taken about 30 seconds ago: And damn, I need to clean my lens!
Last update after a fun day... The bottom of the tach mount has yet to be finished, but you can see how this thing is gonna take shape. Excuse the tripod reflection - I was too lazy to properly light the thing...
The original idea was to put the Tach under the dash but Keith came up with the idea to blend it into the dash as if it were a factory mount. Brilliant! So nice to work with so many talented friends on this build. Jeb Scolman, Tom Branch, Bobby Walden and now Keith Tardel; I am in the company of greatness! Thanks to all of you guys for being a part of this one. Lucky me.
Incredible detail,awsome photos.Loving your new situation.But cover up man when you are Tig'n.We want you around for a long time.(Coming from one who must force himself every day)
Awesome. His Royal Highness King Keith of Traditional Hot Rods is also an excellent panelbeater and welder, my deepest respect. A very good example that it's not enough to bold things together.
Nothing exciting to report today... Started to mock up brakes and did a little more work on that dash...
See....take note. How many folks would have said, "Nah, don't worry 'bout that, it's on the backside of the dash, nobody'll see it." Believe I'm gonna have to end up gettin' a Rex Rod shirt, show a little support for quality. (...even if rap music has been known to resonate from the walls of the shop....damn it man).
Body just showed up from sand blasting... Still some metal work to do that Jeb didn't have the time to get to, but he did absolutely save this body. With any luck Mearns will post some before shots. From what I understand, it was an absolute turd...
The Jalopy Journal
