1968 non-Rallye tach - on the cheap (or near to it, anyway)

[cudak888]

Gotcha. Sounds good. If you don't hear from me, I'm trying to figure out what to do about the backlight insert.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

You've got email with these little guys:

-Kurt

 

[HT413]

Awesome work! This is gonna be fun!

 

[NJRR]

Now this is what's great about our forum. Two members, working together, to create something that the rest of us can use. I love FBBO !!!!!!! Thanks guys. Can't wait to order one.

 

[cudak888]

Now this is what's great about our forum. Two members, working together, to create something that the rest of us can use. I love FBBO !!!!!!! Thanks guys. Can't wait to order one.

Got my fingers crossed it'll be a success, but I think the whole thing can probably be sold with the gauge for all of $60, if you're willing to sand/paint it yourself. Even cheaper if you want to buy the $9 gauge separately

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

You know, for all the problems and money I'm throwing at my instrument clusters, I can't believe that I saw this and instantly got the spend even MORE money on finding a real '68-70 certified speedometer to add to my already tach-equipped cluster that's on the way.

I'm nuts.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

It so happens that my 3D printing service had to issue me a credit for a failed printing (something completely unrelated) and they were also offering a 5% off coupon, so I wound up ordering a test set from them (no offense, Dan - the excitement was too much) and ordered a spare detail plastic facing to send to Dan.

That said, the PLA-printed backing mount lets the tach sit 3-4 millimeters too deep in its housing, but - otherwise - the result is phenomenal! I even received the instrument cluster that I bought on eBay with a factory-original tachometer just a few minutes after assembling the 3D printed unit, so I put them side by side for a comparison.

I'll let the photos tell the story:

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Shot a bit of primer today...

 

[cudak888]

 

[cudak888]

 

[CompSyn]

View attachment 447961

Great work Kurt! Everything looks great... but that needle. Not sure I can get over the needle.

 

[cudak888]

Great work Kurt! Everything looks great... but that needle. Not sure I can get over the needle.

Neither can I - which is why I hope the whole dash cluster sells for at least $100. Gives me something to buy the RTE parts with.

Pretty sure a Sunpro oil gauge would have a more palatable needle...

-Kurt

 

[CompSyn]

Neither can I - which is why I hope the whole dash cluster sells for at least $100. Gives me something to buy the RTE parts with.

Pretty sure a Sunpro oil gauge would have a more palatable needle...

-Kurt

RTE parts?

 

[cudak888]

RTE parts?

This. It should get the original back up and running:

http://rt-eng.com/rte/index.php/RTE_67-74_Tach_kit

Apparently, the old board is fried, and I'll probably have to make a new stud isolator too, as the original fiber isolator cracked - apparently, the back end of the tach was dented in shipping. Already fixed the shell damage in the hydraulic press though, and just have to 3D print a better (and more reliable) PLA isolator.

-Kurt

 

[CompSyn]

This. It should get the original back up and running:

http://rt-eng.com/rte/index.php/RTE_67-74_Tach_kit

Apparently, the old board is fried, and I'll probably have to make a new stud isolator too, as the original fiber isolator cracked - apparently, the back end of the tach was dented in shipping. Already fixed the shell damage in the hydraulic press though, and just have to 3D print a better (and more reliable) PLA isolator.

-Kurt

Are you talking about the tach I sent you? It was damaged?

 

[cudak888]

Are you talking about the tach I sent you? It was damaged?

The speedo nub had poked out of the box (seems to be common - the other unit that was shipped to me also poked its way out + the mounting tabs in the front breached the box. That one didn't have the RR/Belvedere bezel on the cluster you sent me that would have protected the front) but the tach seemed to have taken a hit from the inside without breaking through.

Should have taken a pic, but didn't. Not your fault and a small price to pay for an original tach.

-Kurt

 

[CompSyn]

The speedo nub had poked out of the box (seems to be common - the other unit that was shipped to me also poked its way out + the mounting tabs in the front breached the box. That one didn't have the RR/Belvedere bezel on the cluster you sent me that would have protected the front) but the tach seemed to have taken a hit from the inside without breaking through.

Should have taken a pic, but didn't. Not your fault and a small price to pay for an original tach.

-Kurt

Well that’s disappointing. I paid extra for full insurance on that if you decide you want to pursue it.

I bought that cluster off eBay years ago. It came in the same package I sent it to you in. The box left in perfect shape as I received it. The only difference is it was shipped to me via UPS. What did FedEx do? Drive over it with a truck?

 

[cudak888]

Well that’s disappointing. I paid extra for full insurance on that if you decide you want to pursue it.

I bought that cluster off eBay years ago. It came in the same package I sent it to you in. The box left in perfect shape as I received it. The only difference is it was shipped to me via UPS. What did FedEx do? Drive over it with a truck?

Nah, FedEx is a pain on insurance, and they'd probably want it back. But I can take photos of the damaged fiberboard if you want to give it a try.

Box looked good, but those clusters tend to have a lot of stored momentum, even with lots of wrapping. I usually put styrofoam over the speedo end and tape a box around the pins to be 100% safe. Worked well the last time I shipped one out.

-Kurt

 

[CompSyn]

Nah, FedEx is a pain on insurance, and they'd probably want it back. But I can take photos of the damaged fiberboard if you want to give it a try.

Box looked good, but those clusters tend to have a lot of stored momentum, even with lots of wrapping. I usually put styrofoam over the speedo end and tape a box around the pins to be 100% safe. Worked well the last time I shipped one out.

-Kurt

Yeah, I'll see about filing a claim and see where it goes.

 

[cudak888]

Yeah, I'll see about filing a claim and see where it goes.

Will take some photos for you.

-Kurt