Cowl-mounted Tach!

[Paul Gagnon]

I had to leave my bronco at the dealers for a couple days, they gave me a loaner. Was a super cheap Ecosport. The car sucked, but I sure was jealous of the gauges.

The broncos gauges are the one thing I really dislike about the truck.

Yeah, the gauge cluster is absolute garbage in the Bronco.

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[NC_Pinz]

Do you really need a tach even with a manual? I personally have never used a tach for shifting purposes. Well except to verify that I was out of my power band, but I could tell that anyway. Long stroke engine that tapped out at 4500 rpm. You can keep revving but you aren't getting anything else.

 

[Paul Gagnon]

I don’t think my the tach would be as bad if you could get rid of the second speedometer that’s makes absolutely no sense and have the tach slide over and look like a actual tach. It’s really annoying to me that I have a digital Speedo and a regular one and have no choice to turn it off that I’ve found yet.

I agree, having the two different speedometers take up almost 60% of the gauge cluster is ridiculous. For me I would rather not have the digital speedo at all, and the regular speedo should be on the right hand side.

 

[Jhuff]

Not really an issue. Look at it a couple of times at first to verify your shift points. Rarely look at it again. Shift when the vehicle tells you to.
Nice tachs are cool and all, but there was a time most vehicles were manuals and few had tachs.

Do you really need a tach even with a manual? I personally have never used a tach for shifting purposes. Well except to verify that I was out of my power band, but I could tell that anyway. Long stroke engine that tapped out at 4500 rpm. You can keep revving but you aren't getting anything else.

It may be the difference between drivers and vehicles, but I always need/want an input for RPMs. Yeah in older vehicles you could tell by exhaust noise, vibrations, or sometimes, simply how far you had the pedal smashed.

Personally, my motorcycle was too quiet and no tach... I had to modify the muffler just so I could hear what my engine was doing. With my Tacoma, I've found myself near redline in 3rd after merging in hectic/noisy traffic and forgetting to upshift... There is absolutely no sense of RPMs in that truck other than the tach.


To the OP, I agree. My height always makes the dash unusable due to the steering wheel. The Bronco I sat in told me that I would probably want a larger tach or better location.

 

[kodiakisland]

I guess we are all different. I rarely look down on my bike and shift when the bike feels like it needs to shift, plus I have ear plugs in. I have loud tires and a radio going in my vehicle and shift when I feel it needs it. Rarely hear the motor in anything. It’s a non issue for me. Some cool tachs out there though. Look forward to seeing what some do.

I’ve been driving a stick since the mid 80s. Most of those did not have tachs. I’m usually not aware of my shifts and rely on muscle memory. I just don’t even think about it on a bike or vehicle. It just happens.

 

[heynow14]

I've had my Bronco for almost two weeks now and there have been several instances where I am WAY higher in revs than I wanted/expected to be once I manage to get a glimpse of the crap-o bar tach. I live on a big hill and running the 2.3 up steep grades does take some ability to keep the engine in the power band. Hence a usable tach.

As I posted originally, I can't hear exhaust nor engine bc this thing is so quiet so I can't resolve RPM like I used to be able to. Deciphering that bar tach is painful.

To be clear, this is not a mandated add...yes, I can live with the shit tach we have now - but I don't want to live with it. I want an experience that should have been there from the start and if I have to do it myself, I'll make it cool. A cowl-mounted tach would be cool and most importantly, actually functional. Not sure an exterior-grade housing exists but I will keep looking...

 

[wanna1]

Do the hood mounted tach!!!

I had a hood mounted tach in the 70s. I don't think I'll travel back to get it.

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