I decided to install a tach on my steering column, removing the in-dash tach and reinstalling the 12 hour clock that my GS was built with. There was much discussion on this thread regarding which tach to choose and whether to install one on the column or not: https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/where-to-mount-a-tach.359317/page-4#post-3345877 I've decided on the Speedhut Revolution Line and the tach will be their 3-2/3 in. 0-6000 rpm model with an internal shift light. They allow custom designs for the dial face and I've designed 3 that I like. I'm just curious if any one is more popular with you guys but, like I said, I like them all. So, give me your votes for your favorite. Ignore the photo quality as their art department will touch them up. 1) Gold Buick name and Tri-Shield 2) White Buick name 3) GS Logo
I like the clean look of the gauge face... so the plain "Buick" in white for me, or even just the tri shield as a stand alone?
Please don’t, keep the in-dash……My buddies and I always shake our heads when we see a nice muscle car with a tack on the steering column, I mean seriously, the guy can afford a $40,000 car but can’t buy a factory in-dash tach for $200? We all hate the look, it’s just wrong ….. But hey, it’s your car and your taste is what counts!
Hey, it's a big block Buick. Max dyno HP is at 5600 and I like the rpm range to cover most of the tach sweep. This tach does have a stored peak rpm readout too.
You got a lot of buddies? LOL. My build sheet says my car came from the factory with the rallye clock and I want to get it back to "as built" configuration, except for the addition of the 15 x 7 chrome wheels and fat tires. And...............have you ever tried to monitor your rpm while going down the 1/4 mile and manually shifting the gears? The in-dash tach is worthless for that. Back in the 60s and 70s those of us who could afford the musclecars of the day and did a lot of drag racing, installed our tachs on the column pretty quick.
Other? I like the white BUICK letters. I like the idea of these white letters and the tri-shield, but, change the tri-shield from gold to silver highlights.
Ray, I understand what your saying with the in dash tach, and my first reaction is what us racers use.. shift lights... no way you can watch/read the tach and keep the car going straight, especially in first gear.. you just watch for the shift light to flash. Or shift it by ear... Now, those tach faces seem to have 3 lights at the 3'oclock position.. if those are shift lights, then get yourself a blank faceplate for the RH pod in the dash bezel, and fit that tach in there.. no need to read the tach, just watch for the flash.. With the tach installed behind the factory lenses, anyone who does just a quick glance will think it's all stock. I don't care for the steering column mounted tach look. Smacks of 18 year old enthusiasm, but limited skills.. And it completely ruins the stock look. The dash with the factory clock is irrelevant at that point. I understand you can take the tach off for shows, but are you really going to do that? I bet not.. Just my opinion.. considering both looks and function. Your kidding yourself if you think your going to read any tach, mounted anywhere, with treaded tires on that thing. First off, do us all a favor and keep your eyes on the road with your right foot on the floor.. and secondly, that tach moves so fast with tire spin, only a shift light gives you any hope of shifting before you hit the rev limiter. Now, were this my car, I would drill a hole in the clock/tach gauge pod insert, and install and autometer mini LED indicatior light, and then use their shift light controller. Total stock look, functional shift light.. downside is no rpm observation if you put the clock back in. JW
Thanks for your thoughts, Jim. First off, I will run my drag radials almost 100% of the time except for special shows. The car isn't safe without them. Secondly, the three LEDs on that tach are yellow shift lights and are programmable for RPM color and intensity. They are viewable with my normal field of vision without taking my eyes off the road whereas the in-dash tach rpm range above about 4000 is blocked by the steering wheel and my right hand. The programming button on the front also has a peak rpm mode that lets me see what peak rpm was on any pass. "18 year old enthusiasm"? You're younger than I thought. My generation is very in tune with tachs on the steering column.
Your point JW is exactly what I was meaning, you just say it much better. And I might add that personally, I almost never look at the tach when it’s hammer time, I have always shifted by sound and feel. I haven’t really trusted factory tachs to be 100% accurate and because of wanting to not get over exuberant, I use a rev limiter as back-up. Not judging you Ray, I’m just a pure Stock look kinda guy, and your car is too pretty to muck it up with a tach mounted on the column, and besides, why do you need to know what time it is anyway, if you’re late for something just downshift and hammer on!
