Installed My New Tach

[Lil Abner]

EDIT: New image in later comments

I ordered an Autometer tach some time back, and finally got around to installing it. I didn't like the "in the open" places, so this spot seemed to work the best. Many Audi's have them in the vents aftermarket for the boost gauges.

Everything thing I did is 100% reversible to go back to stock/factory!!

I started by splitting the vent into 2 pieces. The passenger vent went into storage. The Autometer tach had a lot of "extra" packaging around it that was taking up space. There was almost 1" of shroud past the needle, length that I couldn't deal with. With the tach stripped down to the guts, I built a new housing from plastic, turned down on my lathe for a nice tight fit. That protects the guts. I then made a new faceplate to fit the vent. Painted the parts, and glued them together. A blue LED was used to light things up. Yeah, it doesn't match the factory cluster YET, but it soon will. Dimming is done with the factory dimming. The vent was also plugged on the passenger side to direct more air flow to the drivers.

Before I get comments, YES, I do realize the gauge only goes up to 6,000 RPM. But I don't rev the car close to redline, so when I found this gauge brand new for less than $15 shipped, I jumped on it.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=528&pictureid=3642

Comments are welcome.

[Shinare]

Very nice gauge, the handy work looks great! Very slick.

(poor choice in music tho) :wink:

[matthewai]

^^ hating on the tunes ooooo

[Lil Abner]

Yeah, I'm use to getting crap about my music! I'm a grown-up, I can take it (turns and cries)...

[matthewai]

hhaahah

[coheed]

Very original idea. I like it!!!

[Revsson]

Looks like a nice install. I would guess you don't have passengers all that often?
I know when I do have passengers, they like the air blowing on them from that center
position. However, most of the time, I am alone.

[Lil Abner]

Looks like a nice install. I would guess you don't have passengers all that often?
I know when I do have passengers, they like the air blowing on them from that center
position. However, most of the time, I am alone.

Yeah, I don't have many passengers ride with me. I commute 1.25 hours each way daily, so the car is for me. The passengers just have to deal with it :biggrin:

[R2D2]

That's a great looking install-nice work!

R2

[ilikerice]

wow.. i likes... mind if i steal your idea for future use with another guage? lol

[Lil Abner]

wow.. i likes... mind if i steal your idea for future use with another guage? lol

Steal away, just don't steal all the credit :cool:

[SAV912]

I like the concept, but I'm not sure of the execution. The center vents move the most air. I would've plugged the driver's vent so it's closer to the sightlines. Kudos, and the handywork looks faultless. :biggrin:

-SAV

[cali yaris]

very nicely done. I also would put it in the drivers side instead, but I use my tach more than my speedo, so i'm sure it's just fine for you.

[thebarber]

looks like it'd be too far to the right to be useful....

but its a very slick install

[Lil Abner]

Man, you guy's are starting to make me wonder if it's better in the other vent. I made it so it can go in either vent, so I might try moving it to the driver's side one. Time to turn the heat on in the garage I guess...

[cali yaris]

^ hehe, that's the spirit! The tach is such a useful gauge, and if it's on the driver side, you'll find yourself referring to it a lot more.

[Lil Abner]

Ok, you guys pulled my arm. I moved it to the other vent:

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=528&pictureid=3654

Now, I need to drive with it to see, but it does look to be in a better field of view. However, the main issue I noticed is the passenger air vent does not turn far enough to the driver's side. This might become an issue during the summer when I want the A/C blowing on my face. But we will see. I also ordered a new LED to match the stock dash for the time being.

Oh, and bring on the comments about the new music choice. BRING IT!! :evil:

[WeeYari]

Much better. Should look great in orange. Too bad the HU is sooooo blue.

and not hate'n on Beethoven here

[Lil Abner]

Much better. Should look great in orange. Too bad the HU is sooooo blue.

and not hate'n on Beethoven here

Yeah, but my Celica I converted to all blue LED's for the gauges and such. So the blue fit in very nicely. But yeah, now it doesn't fit in. Which makes me debate on if I want to change the deck color, or the stock color.

[R2D2]

and not hate'n on Beethoven here

Not here either. Now THAT is "old school"!