Hi,
I am at the point of wanting to install a Tach on my 68 GTO. It did not come with one from the factory or dealer.
I have looked at the repros that are available. They all appear to be the same and vary about $5.00 in price.
Hood tach--Is the visibility better than a dash tach? How hard is it to install?
Dash Tach--Can I get it in without having to tear the dash apart?
Aftermarket Tach--I can mount a small one on the steering column. Makes it hard to see the speedo and the guages. Preserves the stock condition of the car. My dad who owned the car since new had a Cal Custom Hawk brand tach. It never worked right.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Mike

1968 Pontiac GTO 400CID, 350HP, 4-Speed Manual, 3.55 rear. Aquamarine Blue exterior, 219 Blue interior. Chrome bumper, AM & 8-Track

Hi,
I am at the point of wanting to install a Tach on my 68 GTO. It did not come with one from the factory or dealer.
I have looked at the repros that are available. They all appear to be the same and vary about $5.00 in price.
Hood tach--Is the visibility better than a dash tach? How hard is it to install?
Dash Tach--Can I get it in without having to tear the dash apart?
Aftermarket Tach--I can mount a small one on the steering column. Makes it hard to see the speedo and the guages. Preserves the stock condition of the car. My dad who owned the car since new had a Cal Custom Hawk brand tach. It never worked right.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Mike

1968 Pontiac GTO 400CID, 350HP, 4-Speed Manual, 3.55 rear. Aquamarine Blue exterior, 219 Blue interior. Chrome bumper, AM & 8-Track

Which one you choose is your personal preference. I personally would not cut an original hood for a tach. I put a repo tach in my car to replace the original that was shot. I like it. If your car has A/C it will be a more difficult install. An aftermarket tach would look ok in a modified car. Autometer even has a 2 5/8" one to match their guages for a stealth look. Jim

Mike,

Just completed installation on the hood mounted tach on my 68 last week. Installation is very easy as far a wiring goes. Only three wires. One to ground, one to 12 volts switched on with ignition and available at fuseblock, and the last to the negative side of the coil. Cost was $40. for the body shop to paint. I bought a 3.75" holesaw to make the big hole. It's a little scary drilling into the hood like that, but easy with the right tools. All aftermarket tachs I've seen come with a template to assist in drilling the proper location. Installation is much easier than dash mounted and alot cooler. Mine was purchased from PY and is of good quality and is sealed much better than originals. You can borrow my holesaw if you decide to go this way.

Regards,

Larry Metzger
Columbus, NJ
1968 GTO Verdoro Green Hardtop

I to have installed PYs tachs and they are great in appearence. I cringe at the thought of cutting Good condition original hoods too. I HAD an extra hood in my case and went with the worst condition hood for the hole. It turned out great! Indash tachs are harder to install but fucnction nicely. Remember its your car and you need to be satisfied with it. Most of all ENJOY the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I took out my in dash tach as I couldnt see it very well. Installed the hood tach and bam it is right in front of you easy to read and looks good. Easy to install good directions and tape on layover. Buy it from PY

My 68 did not originally come with a hood tach but it really isn't a gto unless that beautiful bump is sitting on top of the hood. (personal preference) Cutting the top was pretty easy with a hole saw. Once you start, the initial fear is relieved. I bought an aftermarket from year one and am well pleased with the quality. Just makes it look tough and is easy to see. Good luck whichever way you decide to go!

if you are looking for a hood tach i have a brand new one that i have no use for ( thought someone stole it from my conv. so ordered a new one. 1 year later found the old one hiding in the back were the top drops down ) purchased it from ames if interested you can email me

Hood tach is probably the most expensive tach to purchase, and will require the most work to install, yet has some extra mystique to it.

In dash factory style tach is about 1/2 the price to purchase, and even if you car has a/c, it is still quite a bit easier to install, and does not require destroying any sheetmetal. In addition the appearance is factory.

An aftermarket tach is probably the least expensive, and could be mounted on the column, on the console, under the dash or a myriad of other innovative places. Unfortunately, it will look like an after thought.

If you car is a highly modified car, then the last option would be right in line. If it is still quite stock appearing, the first two options would be better.

If someone wants a tach of quality & value, a restored in dash tach is the way to go on a '68+ A-body. In something that goes to the strip quite a bit, there are memory type tachs that can be mounted off the steering column...def, the way to go on dual purpose car.

Could write a book on adventures with hood tachs & what major pos, most of them are http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...s/icon_mad.gif Thank goodness, only own one factory hood tach car & rest are factory indash tach cars. At last count, I had $423 in the T-37's restored hood tach, hose, drain fitting, filter, clips, etc...still not done http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_rolleyes.gif If this hood tach was going on a driver, it would be like every other... a magnet for folks that gotta touch it...been there.

Sheetmetal alteration & later repair...having attempted to propperly repair quite a few owner hacked up '68 & '69-70 GTO hoods that had hood tachs "installed", just can't ever suggest this esp on a nice original hood. Just my .02.

[This message was edited by ol' Pinion head on May 18, 2003 at 06:19 PM.]

HOOD TACHS ROCK!

Bob

Well said Bob! http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...icon_smile.gif http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...icon_smile.gif
A picture is worth a thousand words! http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...on_biggrin.gif
The hood tach's look Awesome!

If your worried about mounting a hood tach and damaging the stock hood I would have a professional shop install it.If you already have a in-dash clock in the instrument pod I would go with the hood tachometer.If it just has the filler plate in there,pull it out and add the in-dash tach.It comes down to what you like and are comfortable with.

GTO.....Gran Turismo Omologato,True Pontiac Excitement!