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I understand that mechanical tachs can be converted to electronic. I would like to put 5″ original type gauges in my TDR. So can I take the insides of my small electronic tach and put them in an original MGTD tach? Here is a picture of two styles of 5″ instruments.
1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speedLot of work and a fair amount of money. I ended up using a white-faced 5-inch Classic Instruments unit, plus a ’73 Bug Speedometer, which is just shy of the same diameter.
Before I did that, I looked into buying real TD gauge cases and transferring the guts to them. Too much work and money for my blood.I have the gauges that came with the kit. All are white faced however, I don’t really like an amp gauge preferring a voltage gauge. But they don’t match my gauge set and I like the gauges. Is there a way that I can reface my voltmeter (using a decal or whatever)?
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackShould you decide to go the route of modifying gauges, I can recommend this guy. Reasonable rates, and he’ll work with you on “customizing” to meet your specific desires.
https://www.facebook.com/NorthGeorgiaSpeedometer
I had him modify three gauges for me, in preparation for installing a new dash:
1. Clean and place a 914 Porsche tachometer in an old VW clock housing to match the speedo below, add LED lights and a face decal that matches the speedo.
2. Clean and rebuild an OEM 1967-earlier VW speedo, resetting it to zero, adding LED lights, and converting the needle to a chrome, button-type to match the Porsche 914 tach.
3. Clean, and convert a vintage 6 volt VW clock to 12 volts, adding LED lights and painting the needles to match the clock and tach above.
Here’s the tach, for example.
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...Thanks, Roy.
Crap! After recommending him, I check his Facebook posts and see he’s not accepting new projects! Sorry!
Any way, here’s the matching speedo and clock that I had him rebuild for me. They’re not white, nor look like a real TD, but they do look vintage and age appropriate. Now if this new dash project ever makes it to the top of the list…
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...I could not get picture to load earlier. Here it is now
So I can go with either black or silver. Does anyone know the approximate cost to convert.
1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speedActually it is a TR 4A Here is the Tach
1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speedRick,
I think Silver is more common, but will defer to others.I have an electronic Classic Gauges speedo, Tach in my BCW, which is smaller than the original TD Gauges.Issue I have is that I don’t know where the sender is actually located on the drivetrain and I’ve yet to nail down a switch sequence (those who have “classic instruments” know what I mean) that gives me a 99.9% correct reading. Seems that at lower speeds it is right, but then jumps up after 35mph or so. Tach seems correct though.I too would like to convert an original gauge but for now am content with what I have.Please keep the conversation going with what you encounter/figure out.TomTom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJThe picture I posted is of the gauges in my 1952 MGTD (not a replica). The silver is the original and the black was mounted sometime in the past 35 years. My thought was to get the matching instruments for both and put the black in the MGTDR and the silver in the MGTD. Problem is that all the gauges are mechanical. The MGTDR uses electronic for both. The MGTD has a Volvo engine and can use the mechanical speedo, but needs an electronic tach. So a silver speedo will work in the MGTD, but a would need a silver tach converted to electronic. The MGTDR would need both instruments converted. Of course money is the issue.
1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speedOrdered the volt gauge from MG Magic. It won’t exactly match the Classic Reproduction gauges I have now but it’s close. And the wiring is easier.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackJEGS.com has several guages at excellent pricing. They also have the appropriate sending units as well. This is mainly a Muscle Car web site, but has guages as well, less expensive then other VW online web sites.
Dave
Dave
Lakeland, Florida, where we drive Topless every day
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