Spridget gauges, which are 4 inch?

[drooartz]

Okay, I'm starting to look towards eventually replacing Tunebug's tach with an electric one. Sarastro's project got me thinking again. I love his solution, but that looks to be more electronics work than I can hope to be able to do. So I'm looking for replacement gauges, eventually.

I can't remember which years of later Spridgets I need to be looking for--I know the gauges got smaller with the padded dashes in 68 (I've got a later tach from my 74 -- RVC 1410/01 AF). I'd like to find speedo and tach, so they'll match. Besides, my Bugeye speedo doesn't work, and a speedo would be a nice accessory to have.

 

[drooartz]

Would something like this work as a tach in a Bugeye?

https://www.egauges.com/vdo_mult3.asp?Type=Tachometer&Series=Cobra&Units=E

 

[bugimike]

That looks like it should work, and remember, if you want to retain the original look, if the calibrations are similar or even kinda close, you could switch faces and bezels to retain the bugeye "look"!

You are right, the guage size changed when the dash configuration changed!

 

[jlaird]

https://www.caigauge.com/Smiths_Classic_Instruments.htm

Kind of nice and they will restore your old stuff as well.

 

[Billm]

Drew
Are you changing to negative ground? If not then the tach (and speedo) from a '65-'67 would just drop straight in.(The tach is positive ground in these years). If you are changing to negative ground then it is a whole different story. Also the tach from a '65-'67 MGB would drop in - but only with positive ground.
Bill

 

[drooartz]

I've considered those Smiths gauges, but for now I'm looking for something a little cheaper. Those little tach-drive gear boxes are pricey buggers, though (around $90 from Moss), so I figure I've got a bit of budget to play with.

Tunebug is still positive ground, but I'm not tied to that permanently. It's an easy enough swap.

 

[drooartz]

Found this on eBay:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180087951345

It's a 4", so it would fit. It's a start, though I'm going to look into trying to find another Bugeye tach to convert in the future.

 

[aeronca65t]

If you have a positive ground ("earth") tach and wish to switch it to negative, it is a simple process.

Go ~HERE~ for info.

 

[msoylemez]

Drew, before my rebuild, I used the exact tach you are bidding on on ebay and it dropped into the dash no problem.

I can't remember the polarity of that tach--or of the car for that matter at that particular point in time--so obviously, make sure they match.

Mustafa

 

[drooartz]

I verified with the seller, it is a 4" tach. It's positive ground as well (at least it's listed as such), which would fit with the time frame that MGs and Spridgets had the larger gauges. Tunebug is still positive ground for the time being, no real need to swap that right now.

Nice to know it will work if I win the bidding. I have plans still for a more customized approach, but that's a while off yet, and I really want a working tach.