Guest Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 I purchased the Shiftworks in-dash tach to replace the non-operational clock after reading about it here. They shipped it quickly from New York and I tackled the project yesterday. Tearing into the dash was as big of a project as I imagined it would be. I'd say it took almost 3 hours to get the gauge cluster out, but I was going slowly and carefully to avoid disaster. Once out, it took only 15 minutes to swap out the clock with the tach. The directions from Shiftworks are clear and easy to follow. I then spent about an hour cleaning the gauge cluster and polishing the clear lens with fine scratch remover. Turned out pretty nice. I replaced all 17 bulbs in the cluster with new ones; you'd think the dash would light up like a Christmas tree but it's still just ok. I got the cluster installed and the dash back together in a couple of hours, still not rushing it. I wired up the tach according to the diagram which thankfully includes a clear warning about not hooking up the signal wire to the coil when running an MSD ignition. A quick check of the MSD web site wiring diagram shows exactly where to attach the signal wire from the tach (love the internet!). After double-checking all my connections, I fired up the engine and the tach worked beautifully! The trouble came when I tested the headlight switch and found that I had no dash lights and that the hazard lights stayed on but did not flash. It took only about 5 minutes to realize that I did not have the thin metal bracket where the light switch ground wire is attached grounded to the car. It took another hour of playing with that @#$%&* bracket to realize I had no idea how it had been attached and grounded before! I then drilled out the rivet connecting the ground wire to the bracket and attached it to another spare ground wire hanging loose from the wiring harness. With that problem solved, I installed the dash pad and cleaned up. Total time for installation - about 9 hours. In hindsight, I don't think I would drop the steering column again if I did it over. Without the column attached, the dash drops much further than you need to remove the cluster and is much harder to support by yourself during re-assembly. And climbing over and around the steering wheel wastes time. I think the dash would have rested on the column and still left enough room to get to the gauge cluster. All in all, a very worthwhile project that demanded more patience than expected. ~CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Looks great!!! Nice Job. What are the details on the tach source? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Stick, If you're referring to the tach signal source, there is a tach output terminal on the side of the MSD box. It is a male spade lug located in the center of the black plastic grommet. ~CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Brichta Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Hi CB, Thanks for sharing your info. The Tach looks great and I am definitely considering doing one of mine. If you want to address the dim lighting problem, here is what you will need to consider: 1) Replace the standard 3amp bulbs with 5amp bulbs (cost about $20) 2) Convert the standard externally regulated charging system with a newer high output internally regulated one. (cost about $120) I have done both of these and the results were tremendous. I also have instructions and documentation on both if you (or anyone) is interested. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heckeng Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Wow, that looks phenomenal!!! You really did a nice job! Would you mind putting down some directions on removing the dash to get the gauge cluster out? I've been debating that to clean my lens and gauges but haven't because it sounded like such a huge job, but 9 hours isn't so bad! Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidTX Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 C.B. that looks like a very neat installition. A job well done. Thanks for the valuable information. I also plan on installing the swap. Mike, do you by chance have the part # of those 5W. bulbs? Thanks again guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Brichta Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 The brighter dash bulbs that go into the printed circuit are: Sylvania 2825 If I remember correctly, the guage cluster has about 18 bulbs in total. You only need to replace the 11 "background" bulbs. I did not replace: 2 - Turn signals (r and l) 1 - High Beam 1 - Brake Light 1 - Oil 1 - Gen 1 - Alt Also, the Heater/AC panel uses a different type of bulb. It is Sylvania 3893. Good luck!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71ss454 * (Larry) Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 where did you get the tach from i love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills70monte Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 That looks f n great!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Richey Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 That looks great. Its not original but who cares, it goes with the rest of the cluster. I bet it saved a lot of money on trying to put an OEM style tach in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHITE KNIGHT 71 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 http://new.photos.yahoo.com/marksalot5@sbcglobal.net/photo/294928804196519395/0 I put a white face on mine. Put together yesterday. This is shiftworks conversion also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
502ci Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Looks extremely nice... Blends right in looking factory. The only thing someone might ask is "what is that little hole in the lens for?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Burns Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Looks awesome! Wait, did I install mine on the wrong side? No wonder it took me so long to install! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Here is a link to the Shiftworks web site and the kit I bought: http://www.shiftworks.com/tachs-ss.htm#1970 Cheaper than Original Parts Group and Shiftworks shipped it from New York to San Diego faster than OPG ships just 100 miles south. Mike, thanks for the info on increasing the brightness of the dash lights. Since I already put the whole thing back together, I think I missed the boat on that opportunity. Anybody else should definitely take your suggestion while everything is apart to make those simple changes. I'll try to write up a brief list of steps for getting the gauge cluster out by the weekend. Thanks for all the positive feedback guys! ~CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam (Bones) Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 I like the tach on the left better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Thanks for the time putting up the info and pics. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savvarock Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 9 HOURS! I give you credit. That's why I'm not attempting to fix my clock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidTX Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 I have already purchased a MSD ignition, Distributor and Coil. I haven't installed them and won't until I install a crate engine. Does anyone know if thee is any problem with the operation of the this Tach with the MSD ignition? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam (Bones) Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 you have to hook the tach up to the MSD box, there's a terminal on it for the tach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 jrb70454, What car did you get your oil, water, and volts gages out of? Did they fit in without much modification? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Good work, looks great... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughn Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Great information. Thank you for sharing. Looks great. Vaughn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72 LS5 Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 CB - you almost have me convinced to do mine! Hey JRB - where did you get the oil pressure gauge???? I know the factory gauge cluster never had that..... What did you do for the wiring harness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Looks Great! Not to bad on the install.....I have HEI so I can tap right off the top of the distributer,where I already have a tach wire for the tach on the column...which I hate! Thanx again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Wagner Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Quote: Thanks for sharing your info. The Tach looks great and I am definitely considering doing one of mine. If you want to address the dim lighting problem, here is what you will need to consider: 1) Replace the standard 3amp bulbs with 5amp bulbs (cost about $20) 2) Convert the standard externally regulated charging system with a newer high output internally regulated one. (cost about $120) I have done both of these and the results were tremendous. I also have instructions and documentation on both if you (or anyone) is interested. Hey Mike, Could you send me any info you have about the changes, I would like to get my dash lights brighter and that might be what I need. Swagnerone@hotmail.com Thanks, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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