Tach Installation Mounting Question
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Tach Installation Mounting Question
Hi everyone,
I'm mounting a tach to the center of my dash pad but there is not enough material for the mounting hardware screws to securely bite into.
My question is - how can I get access to the underside of the dash pad, so that I can install a plate underneath (so that the screws can bite into the plate)?
After I removed the center, facial panel there is a fixed skeleton panel that only has very small access slots.
Any help is appreciated.
I'm mounting a tach to the center of my dash pad but there is not enough material for the mounting hardware screws to securely bite into.
My question is - how can I get access to the underside of the dash pad, so that I can install a plate underneath (so that the screws can bite into the plate)?
After I removed the center, facial panel there is a fixed skeleton panel that only has very small access slots.
Any help is appreciated.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
There are Phillips head screws just under the lip of the front of the dash pad as well as a couple in each defroster vent near the windshield. Be careful with these as they can easily drop down. I think there is one on each end of the pad [open door to access]. Once these are all removed, the pad just lifts up. Be careful and support as well as you can since the plastic is old and can be brittle. This is a good time to clean and treat the pad with a preservative.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Thanks 1986 - it was exactly as you said in your post. I had a nice little magnetic tool close by just in case....
FWEIW, it ended up being the length of the screws from Autometer that just were not long enough. After replacing with some slightly larger screws (that would not interfere with the components under the dash pad), the mounting bracket for the tach was very solid.
Having said that, it's all wired in and working, but the light in the tach stays on - so I had to pull the white wire from the fuse box, which I had connected to the "accessories" fuse (15a). My truck is a base model F150, with no stereo, so I have a lot of empty slots in the fuse panel. I used the "accessories" fuse as I was under the impression that it was only active once the key in the ignition went to - or beyond - the "ACC" notch. I was wrong.
With that in mind, what should I hook it into?
I do not have a conventional "lights" fuse - only variations of that (trailer/rear lights, dash lights etc....). Will any of those work and not keep the light in the tach on?
FWEIW, it ended up being the length of the screws from Autometer that just were not long enough. After replacing with some slightly larger screws (that would not interfere with the components under the dash pad), the mounting bracket for the tach was very solid.
Having said that, it's all wired in and working, but the light in the tach stays on - so I had to pull the white wire from the fuse box, which I had connected to the "accessories" fuse (15a). My truck is a base model F150, with no stereo, so I have a lot of empty slots in the fuse panel. I used the "accessories" fuse as I was under the impression that it was only active once the key in the ignition went to - or beyond - the "ACC" notch. I was wrong.
With that in mind, what should I hook it into?
I do not have a conventional "lights" fuse - only variations of that (trailer/rear lights, dash lights etc....). Will any of those work and not keep the light in the tach on?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
F-250 restorer
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
1
Jan 30, 2011 03:42 PM
hdwilly
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Sep 30, 2004 07:10 AM
stepside64
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Sep 14, 2003 12:19 AM
