Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-05-2018, 04:36 PM
lemansboy70's Avatar
lemansboy70 lemansboy70 is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Posts: 297
Default Hood Tach or no Hood Tach, that is the ?

Those of you that have added hood tachs to your Prixs, any pros or cons?

__________________
30+ Years with NAPA. Happy to help with any auto parts questions.
  #2  
Old 04-05-2018, 08:42 PM
Ram4king's Avatar
Ram4king Ram4king is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,692
Default

The pros are there's nothing like looking at a hood Tach on any Pontiac just makes the car so cool and I love Grand prix's with them they look right at home the con is no Grand Prix in 69 or 70 or 71 ever came from the factory with a hood Tach they were all all all dealer installed if you have a really rare Grand Prix I wouldn't do it to it like I have a 69 SJ HO that has the in dash tach I would love for it to have a hood tach but I won't do it to it but if it's a lesser car, absolutely add it.. it makes the car that much cooler in my opinion

  #3  
Old 04-06-2018, 07:54 AM
lemansboy70's Avatar
lemansboy70 lemansboy70 is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Posts: 297
Default

Thanks for the opinion. Confirms what I've been thinkin'. Mines just a regular J, so I don't think I'll be doing any damage by adding one.

__________________
30+ Years with NAPA. Happy to help with any auto parts questions.
  #4  
Old 04-06-2018, 10:14 AM
marxjunk marxjunk is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: KANSAS CITY KANSAS.....
Posts: 3,851
Default

not a fan of a Hood Tach on a GP..but guarantee if i wanted one, no one could stop me...

__________________
Mark..

The Goat whisperer

"I spent a lot of my money on booze, crazy women, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."

  #5  
Old 04-06-2018, 10:19 AM
The Boss's Avatar
The Boss The Boss is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Newtown, CT
Posts: 15,454
Default

It is without a doubt one of the best views from any Pontiac.

It's a big, wide, long hood, needs something in my opinion.

__________________
Some guys they just give up living
And start dying little by little, piece by piece,
Some guys come home from work and wash up,
And go racin' in the street.


Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - 1978
  #6  
Old 04-06-2018, 07:10 PM
muscle_collector's Avatar
muscle_collector muscle_collector is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 3,745
Default

ive got a 68 gp with a factory hood tach. looks really good in my opinion.
don, have you ever read anything why they didn't offer it from the factory on the 69 up gp's? they seem like they would be a perfect look on them. something to break up that football field length hood.

  #7  
Old 04-06-2018, 07:35 PM
Harry The Hammer Harry The Hammer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Alberta,Canada
Posts: 30
Default

I was in the same situation and said what the hell and added one.
Pro's-looks very cool at night and stops bugs smears on drivers window
Cons-Crapped out very quickly and had to order another,perhaps the car wash did it?
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_4237.jpg
Views:	278
Size:	87.4 KB
ID:	480140   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_4236.jpg
Views:	266
Size:	44.3 KB
ID:	480141  


Last edited by Harry The Hammer; 04-06-2018 at 07:41 PM.
  #8  
Old 04-06-2018, 09:21 PM
n2ogpsj462's Avatar
n2ogpsj462 n2ogpsj462 is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ambler, PA
Posts: 943
Default

I agreed that that long hood needed something. Toyed w a shaker in my younger days but couldn't bring myself to it. Mine is stuffed with mini nitrous and fuel gauges but still serves the 'looks' purpose
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	front1 (1).jpg
Views:	234
Size:	153.2 KB
ID:	480142  

__________________
71 grand prix SJ 4280# 462 new for 2008 -
8.7:1 , 98cc 6Xs 246/209, 342 12bolt , BW S475 turbo JGS 50mm WG 56mm BOV. 600hp the easy way!
  #9  
Old 04-26-2018, 02:10 PM
north's Avatar
north north is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,399
Default

I prefer the look of a dash tach on a 69 GP but one of my GP's has a hood tach now. It was added by the dealer in 69. As already mentioned hood tachs are a lousy idea from a functionality and durability point of view but the great look more than makes up for the negatives especially with the typical easy lifestyle of a collector car. I draw the line though on putting a hood tach on a car where it was never offered from the factory. The 69 GP is on the edge of this line since they never had a factory installed hoodtach option but since it was factory authorized for dealer install and factory brochures show the hoodtach on GP's I'll give it a thumbs up ;-)

__________________
My Break Away Squad
1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops)
1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt)
1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon
1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop)
1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop)
1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon
1969 Executive 4dr Sedan
1969 Bonnie Cvt
1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them)
1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt)
1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them)
1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model)
  #10  
Old 05-21-2018, 07:40 PM
Sprocket's Avatar
Sprocket Sprocket is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fort Worth TX
Posts: 230
Default

Not worth the trouble is my 2 cents. As cool as I think they are, I would not install one on a car that did not already have one. If you don't care whether or not it works right, is bright enough at night, or doesn't leak, then go for it. But listen, if you decide to go for it, I support your decision! Just know what you may (or may not) be getting into.

__________________
'70 GP Model J
462 Butler ported 87cc Edelbrock D-ports
RPM intake with Holley Sniper 2
CompCams 236/242 hydraulic roller
Tribal Tubes tri-y headers
TH400 13" Continental "Jim Hand Special"
3.50 9" CurrieTrac, 245/45-18 Front, 275/40-18 Rear
  #11  
Old 05-21-2018, 08:00 PM
ponyakr's Avatar
ponyakr ponyakr is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North Louisiana
Posts: 7,621
Default

I ordered my '69 GTO with one. As others have said, they're just cool !

But, if you are actually gonna USE a tach, I definitely prefer an inside tach. We liked the kind that were strapped to the top of the steering column. So, after I took my car off the street, I left the tach on the hood, but used a column mounted tach to shift by. Rotated it so that our 5000rpm shift point was straight up. Worked great in all our racers.

Most racers like the big 5" face models, with a shift light, mounted on top of the dash. I think that may be a bit of overkill for a mostly street driven car.

But again, if all you want is the look, I agree with most of the others who say it'll look cool on a GP.

https://picclick.com/1969-Pontiac-Gr...106861632.html

https://www.smartmotorguide.com/L51902198

https://barnfinds.com/last-gasp-perf...prix-sj-455ci/

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/0...and-prix-lj-2/


Last edited by ponyakr; 05-21-2018 at 08:23 PM.
  #12  
Old 05-22-2018, 06:09 PM
necdb3's Avatar
necdb3 necdb3 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Mt. Laurel NJ, now Melbourne, FL
Posts: 1,370
Default

They look cool either way. Do what you want, it's your car.

  #13  
Old 05-22-2018, 11:01 PM
lugnutx2 lugnutx2 is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid West
Posts: 637
Default

In high school my friend Steve added a hood tach to his 69 model J, it looked great and drew lots of attention.

  #14  
Old 05-23-2018, 08:36 AM
grandam1979 grandam1979 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Ohio, Findlay
Posts: 1,437
Default

Just make sure you put it in the correct spot on the or it looks silly

  #15  
Old 05-23-2018, 11:51 AM
lemansboy70's Avatar
lemansboy70 lemansboy70 is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Posts: 297
Default

I think I'm gonna pass for now. Will see what it looks like after I get it out of the paint shop. May add one later.

Thanks for all the input!!!

__________________
30+ Years with NAPA. Happy to help with any auto parts questions.
  #16  
Old 11-02-2018, 10:41 PM
mgarblik mgarblik is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 6,092
Default

I installed one on a friend's 69 J. It had a nice paint job and I was a little hesitant. Bought the correct size high quality hole saw , taped the area off and drilled it. Fortunately, it went on beautifully and looked and worked great for about 6 months. The tach died, vendor replaced it free, but had to go through the entire paint process again. He really likes it.

  #17  
Old 11-03-2018, 04:21 AM
north's Avatar
north north is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,399
Default

Repro hood tachs seem to often fail completely or “act up” soon after installation. Humidity is the obvious culprit but unlike factory tachs which generally failed only due to water getting in the repros seem to fail even if they aren’t ever exposed to water.

__________________
My Break Away Squad
1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops)
1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt)
1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon
1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop)
1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop)
1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon
1969 Executive 4dr Sedan
1969 Bonnie Cvt
1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them)
1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt)
1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them)
1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model)
  #18  
Old 11-05-2018, 01:15 PM
north's Avatar
north north is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,399
Default

The best pic ever taken of a 69 GP. From the factory high perf brochure.

If you read the text it says ask your dealer to install one, confirming dealer only status.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	1969 Pontiac Performance-16-17.jpg
Views:	190
Size:	64.7 KB
ID:	496977  

__________________
My Break Away Squad
1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops)
1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt)
1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon
1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop)
1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop)
1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon
1969 Executive 4dr Sedan
1969 Bonnie Cvt
1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them)
1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt)
1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them)
1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model)
  #19  
Old 11-06-2018, 02:32 AM
Greg Reid's Avatar
Greg Reid Greg Reid is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Palmetto, GA. USA
Posts: 16,166
Default

The race car driver Jackie Stewart loved the hood tachs...

Caption reads- "HOOD MOUNTED TACH made big impression on Stewart, from race driver's viewpoint. "For most cars" he says "this is where the speedometer belongs". The driver need not take his eyes from the road to read the dial. An important safety feature."
Also from the article-
" One optional feature that appealed to me the moment I climbed behind the wheel is the location of the tachometer. It's directly in the driver's line of vision. Obviously, if it is going to be used to its fullest extent, this is where a rev counter belongs. "

__________________
Greg Reid
Palmetto, Georgia


Last edited by Greg Reid; 11-06-2018 at 02:40 AM.
  #20  
Old 11-13-2018, 08:19 PM
1970gpsj4speed's Avatar
1970gpsj4speed 1970gpsj4speed is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Beavercreek ,OH
Posts: 443
Default

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daQABdXT3Qg

__________________


BOB SLUSSER
937-286-4343
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:39 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017