Looking for recommendations for a tach and ideas for mounting options in a ‘65 coupe.
Steven Ramage
Rally Pac is the ultimate original accessory.
Available for the 6, or the V8 in 6,000 or 8,000 RPM trim.
Also has a clock. Pretty sweet.
Shelby gauge pod on the 65 can be cool too.
Mine is a low profile 66 but you get the idea.
Available for the 6, or the V8 in 6,000 or 8,000 RPM trim.
Also has a clock. Pretty sweet.
Shelby gauge pod on the 65 can be cool too.
Mine is a low profile 66 but you get the idea.
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I had an old sun tach with a bracket and a hose clamp holding it tight on the steering column that I had put on the car in the 70's, and it looked it...I had seen a post about a billet style bracket here on vmf that the guy was very happy with. I saw a bronco vendor at the Carlisle Pa flea market selling them, 45 dollars, it looked nice so I bought it, put it on the car, and am quite pleased with it!
I had a standard Autometer tach with hose clamp and it worked but never looked great and it scratched my column. If you really want to go for it, get a six gauge bezel and new gauges. Otherwise the RallyPac is the way to go.
I came up with this when my OEM RallyPak wouldn't fit the Flaming River adjustable column I installed. I was bummed out, but, eventually come up with this idea. I call it my RallyPak wanna be install.
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no good pic at the moment but I just used the left front screw for the defroster/ speaker grill
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For the '64 1/2 and '65 cars (with the exception of Pony Interior and GT cars which got the 5-Dial Cluster and Low-Profile Rally Pac in '65), This is what you would have below... The '64.5-'65 "High Profile" Rally-Pac. All cars got 6K Tachs except "K" code cars which got 8K Tachs...
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Tony K.
See pics Below:
)Tony K.
See pics Below:
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I've seen most people place their tachometer on the steering column. I am going to agree with them since it is ideal and there are lots of aftermarket parts for mounting it there.
This is what I have:https://www.ebay.com/i/162104972002...41454197092&abcId=1139336&merchantid=112241171&gclid=CK3rle-j1eICFZgerQYdBR8IeA
Several years later it hasn't slipped, and it matches the rest of the billet stuff on and in my car.
Several years later it hasn't slipped, and it matches the rest of the billet stuff on and in my car.
Like some of the previous Replies, for 1965-66 I prefer the Rally Pac (picture of a '66 attached).
However, if you don't want to go that route, and go with just the tach, there aren't many options. Most, if not all, of the Rotunda and Cobra tachs came with only the dash (for usually near the speaker grill as has been mentioned) mounting bracket. If you wanted to mount the tach on the steering column, you had to purchase Kit C6AZ-17368-A separately for a whole $2.40 (picture attached). The 60's and at least some of the early 70's issues of this Kit came with the chrome bracket shown. However, the later issues replaced the chrome bracket with a 90°, "L" shaped, cad plated bracket. T%his Kit was finally shown as "NR" (Obsolete) by July of 1979. I have also attached a couple of the different Ford Mounting Instructions. Note that the mounting of both the Rotunda and Cobra tachs was via a 10-32 stud in the middle of the rear of the cup, and held on to the mounting bracket with a chrome acorn nut.
If you wanted to "splurge", and order the "top of the line" tach, the Sun Super Tach, you not only got the chrome mounting cup, but both the dash and steering column brackets. Note that the Sun tach used a mounting bracket with a much larger hole than the Rotunda and Cobra bracket. This was so that a threaded bushing (through which wires could pass) or a bolt could be used, both which threaded into a curved "nut plate", which allowed for unlimited positioning of the tach cup.
Interestingly, both the Ford and Sun tachs used the large worm type hose clamp to attach the brackets to the steering column. So if you see such an installation, don't let anyone tell you that the installation was "cobbled" together ; this is what was intended back then.
One other option on location of the tach which I have seen, is, if you have a console, mount the tach on the console, using the dash bracket, much like some of the GM cars had in the late sixties and early seventies.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
Bob
However, if you don't want to go that route, and go with just the tach, there aren't many options. Most, if not all, of the Rotunda and Cobra tachs came with only the dash (for usually near the speaker grill as has been mentioned) mounting bracket. If you wanted to mount the tach on the steering column, you had to purchase Kit C6AZ-17368-A separately for a whole $2.40 (picture attached). The 60's and at least some of the early 70's issues of this Kit came with the chrome bracket shown. However, the later issues replaced the chrome bracket with a 90°, "L" shaped, cad plated bracket. T%his Kit was finally shown as "NR" (Obsolete) by July of 1979. I have also attached a couple of the different Ford Mounting Instructions. Note that the mounting of both the Rotunda and Cobra tachs was via a 10-32 stud in the middle of the rear of the cup, and held on to the mounting bracket with a chrome acorn nut.
If you wanted to "splurge", and order the "top of the line" tach, the Sun Super Tach, you not only got the chrome mounting cup, but both the dash and steering column brackets. Note that the Sun tach used a mounting bracket with a much larger hole than the Rotunda and Cobra bracket. This was so that a threaded bushing (through which wires could pass) or a bolt could be used, both which threaded into a curved "nut plate", which allowed for unlimited positioning of the tach cup.
Interestingly, both the Ford and Sun tachs used the large worm type hose clamp to attach the brackets to the steering column. So if you see such an installation, don't let anyone tell you that the installation was "cobbled" together ; this is what was intended back then.
One other option on location of the tach which I have seen, is, if you have a console, mount the tach on the console, using the dash bracket, much like some of the GM cars had in the late sixties and early seventies.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
Bob
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How about getting a dash pod like Shelby used back in 65. Bunch of places sell them. Not sure yet if you'd be drilling holes for it to mount to the dash...I have one for my car, but haven't gotten that far in the build yet. Put an oil pressure gauge in the other spot (or a clock if you want).
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I started out thinking that I was going to mount my tach on the column but I decided to put it on the dash. Its right in your line of sight up there and I seem to watch it more than any other gauge when I'm having fun in the car!
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I have mine mounted to the steering column with a billet aluminum clamp from Ebay. If you search no more hose clamp it should come up. This looks pretty good. Eventually I will swap it all out for a 6 gauge cluster to tidy things up.
The only other style I really like is the Shelby style mounted on top of the dash like Budstoy. It looks tons better than the "pod" which looks like something designed by George Barris.
The rally pac looks great for some cars especially the ones that are going for an all original look, but isn't my style.
The only other style I really like is the Shelby style mounted on top of the dash like Budstoy. It looks tons better than the "pod" which looks like something designed by George Barris.
The rally pac looks great for some cars especially the ones that are going for an all original look, but isn't my style.
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The ebay link listed by Sparky66 I think is the same people I bought mine from at Carlisle. Per Kens request, some photos! Interesting looking at all the old literature and photos, de ja vue..
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I have a Sunpro II that is about 2 3/4 diameter like this one on ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUNPRO-CP7...id=655459296&hash=item23be89bb88:g:EOUAAOSwCwxc~Tfj:sc:USPSPriority!30116!US!-1
It has a mounting bracket with it that is to hose clamp to the column. One is at $20 now with the one above at $40.
I don't have mine mounted yet so no photo to share. :frown2:
Frank S.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUNPRO-CP7...id=655459296&hash=item23be89bb88:g:EOUAAOSwCwxc~Tfj:sc:USPSPriority!30116!US!-1
It has a mounting bracket with it that is to hose clamp to the column. One is at $20 now with the one above at $40.
I don't have mine mounted yet so no photo to share. :frown2:
Frank S.
Depending on the look you are going for, one not already mentioned was the Rotunda/Faria dash top accessory tach offered back in the day.
Here is an example. https://www.ebay.com/itm/113757101459
By '67 a version of this dash top tach was a factory option on Rancheros, my '67 came with one and the Marti report confirmed it was factory installed. See pic below
Here is an example. https://www.ebay.com/itm/113757101459
By '67 a version of this dash top tach was a factory option on Rancheros, my '67 came with one and the Marti report confirmed it was factory installed. See pic below
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I am fond of the Rally Pac myself, have one of the repro housings I bought from member here that I will put my own gauges in.
Many decades ago, as a poor young man, I ran across a tach that had either been separated from its case or was originally for a dash mounting. Found that a can from some Vienna Sausages was the perfect fit. Painted the can flat black and mounted the tach inside and used a hose clamp to attache to the steering column.
Not sure it really did me any good, I still waited until the valves floated before shifting, but it looked cools and gosh dang, I had a tach!
Many decades ago, as a poor young man, I ran across a tach that had either been separated from its case or was originally for a dash mounting. Found that a can from some Vienna Sausages was the perfect fit. Painted the can flat black and mounted the tach inside and used a hose clamp to attache to the steering column.
Not sure it really did me any good, I still waited until the valves floated before shifting, but it looked cools and gosh dang, I had a tach!
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