[rexus31]

Wasn't sure where to post this but I figured it would get the most looks in the Lobby. On to my issue. I've got a Reproduction Tach installed in the dash of my '64 GTO. I think the unit was purchased years ago from Ames by the previous owner of my car. Anyway, when the dash lights are on it is very difficult to read the tach disply becasue the light is creating a glare. It looks as if the plate which has the numbers (10, 20, 30, etc) is not all the way up toward the top of the unit allowing the light from the top bulb to "leak" through which is creating a glare. I tried taking out the top bulb but it is way too dim. Any recommendations on how I can fix this? It appears the two halves of the unit are held together by some type of silicone material. Is this the norm? I'm a little hesitant in taking it apart. The unit functions properly but it is just very hard to read at night. It's more of a nuisance than anything. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Peter Serio]

Those early "repo" tachs are pretty primitive. The internal lighting is very, very poor. Pontiac spent a lot of time on their design for good visibility, both during the day AND at night. Compare the photos shown below of an original '64 GTO tach & an aftermarket modern plastic reproduction & I think it should obvious to anybody what the lighting problem is!

[rexus31]

Is there a fix?

[gpmodelj70]

Pitifull repro quality...not even worth buying.

[rexus31]

Okay.....that helped. Surely someone on this board has had this issue and fixed it.

[Peter Serio]

To start with what I would do is take apart the repo tach & paint the entire interior including the backside of the round dial with flat white primer, then top coat that, (after dry time) with a very, VERY light, flat- robins egg blue. The darker blue stripes on backside of the GM tach dial near the hot spots of each glass bulb, (the back of the dial & around the interior of the housing) were painted at the factory to "tune" or to trim the light reflection towards or away from specific parts of the interior of the gauge. All this was painted to make the dial readout easier to see at night. Pontiac was very good at that back then as the lighting from just 2 bulbs was a bit primitive. If you look at modern cars, most all of them use a translucent dial or back-panel & have the light shine through that instead of purely reflected light like the old cars from the 1960s 70s & 80s. Pete

[rexus31]

Thanks for the info Pete. I'm a little hesitant in taking the repop apart. What's the going market for an original?

[Pecosbill]

I see 'em on ebay every now and then. Tachs in nice shape will generally bring around $300, but I have seen them go significantly cheaper on occasion.

[rexus31]

Thanks! I'l start searching Ebay. Can an original be used with the wiring from a repop?

[Pecosbill]

I don't know what the wiring for the repro looks like, but M&H Fabricators makes an exact reproduction tach harness for just a few bucks. PY carries it. It just plugs into your dash harness, plus one wire going to the coil.

[Department X]

Is there a good repo tach?

[Peter Serio]

If we are still talking about the '64 Lemans & GTO. The optional in-dash
tach for those cars was a "one year only" design. All of the repo tachs I
have seen, (64 & up), are made out of 90% plastic. It would take 10s of thousands of $$$ to
made the tooling & parts to re-create an all-metal tachometer 100% identical to
what GM made for our cars back in the day. Other years have repo tachs
available as well, & the ones that I have seen are all plastic dials with plastic housings & plastic pointers. Once
installed they fit & work fine, & many if not all of them are compatible with HEI
& other modern ignition systems which many people like. However a close
inspection will reveal subtle differences, (even when installed), from any
modern repo tach in comparison to an original 40 year old GM piece. AC Delco used to made some real nice, high quality stuff!!!! & it's the stuff people crave nowadays!

[Pecosbill]

Pete, does that also hold true for the reproduction rally gauge packs I see advertised for the 65, 66, and 67 goats?

[rexus31]

Pete - Any originals for sale?