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Autogage Tachs

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:00 am
by Bruce69Camaro
Does anyone use Autogage tachs?

I'm looking for a new tach to replace my 5" Autometer monster tach and I need one with a shift light.

For $145 I can get a 5" Autogage tach with an external shift light and memory and I think that's a good deal over
$220.00 for an Autometer tach.

I have used Autogage guages before but don't know much about how there tachs are?

Thanks

Bruce

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:22 am
by supernova
I used all Autogage stuff in my last car. Had no problems with any of it. The Nova I have now has all Autometer in it. Look on eBay, you can find better prices. I buy off of eBay all the time an have saved lots of money. But the item has to be new and in the unopened packaging.

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:39 pm
by sc racing
I dont think they work with MSD ( if you have MSD) without a tach adapter.

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:50 pm
by supernova
sc racing wrote:I dont think they work with MSD ( if you have MSD) without a tach adapter.
My Autogage worked fine with the MSD stuff. Had the billet dist. and a 6al box.

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:19 am
by sc racing
supernova wrote:
sc racing wrote:I dont think they work with MSD ( if you have MSD) without a tach adapter.
My Autogage worked fine with the MSD stuff. Had the billet dist. and a 6al box.
Thats funny cause MSD shows with white wire trigger you need an 8910 and with magnetic trigger you need an 8920 tach adapter. I guess they are just trying to sell you something you really dont need ??

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:46 am
by supernova
My autometer tach now is wired in direct to my msd 7531 box with no tach adapter and works fine. I've never had to buy anything to get them to work.

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:32 pm
by John_Heard
sc racing wrote:
supernova wrote:
sc racing wrote:I dont think they work with MSD ( if you have MSD) without a tach adapter.
My Autogage worked fine with the MSD stuff. Had the billet dist. and a 6al box.
Thats funny cause MSD shows with white wire trigger you need an 8910 and with magnetic trigger you need an 8920 tach adapter. I guess they are just trying to sell you something you really dont need ??
Is that for driving the ignition box itself or for the tach?

I can't see you needing anything special to drive a tach from the MSD digital boxes.

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:51 pm
by sc racing
supernova wrote:My autometer tach now is wired in direct to my msd 7531 box with no tach adapter and works fine. I've never had to buy anything to get them to work.
In your first post you said "autogauge" in this post you said "autometer" theres a difference in how the tach gets its signal. It has something to do with the duty cycle an MSD box has a 30% cycle which will drive most tachs but factory and "non race type" require an adapter. Heres a list from their tech book that require one:
Autogage
Calssic
Dixco
Faria
medallion
Pro-Form
Smith 2000 & older
Stewart Warner
Sun
Veglia Borletti ( I bet a lot of guys got these)
Vdo 1999 & older
All Factory tachs

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:56 pm
by supernova
sc racing wrote:
supernova wrote:My autometer tach now is wired in direct to my msd 7531 box with no tach adapter and works fine. I've never had to buy anything to get them to work.
In your first post you said "autogauge" in this post you said "autometer" theres a difference in how the tach gets its signal. It has something to do with the duty cycle an MSD box has a 30% cycle which will drive most tachs but factory and "non race type" require an adapter. Heres a list from their tech book that require one:
Autogage
Calssic
Dixco
Faria
medallion
Pro-Form
Smith 2000 & older
Stewart Warner
Sun
Veglia Borletti ( I bet a lot of guys got these)
Vdo 1999 & older
All Factory tachs
Read the posts again. I was not talking about the same cars or tachs and I still didn't have to have an adapter........ They both worked...... Oh but both tachs are race type tachs with built in shift lights.

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:00 am
by vegaracer
When we had the Mustang, we ran an Autogage tach connected into the Digital 6 with no problems.

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:13 am
by Bruce69Camaro
Ok, too many issues to deal with.

I'm going to save for an Autometer with the external shift light.

Say goodbye to the Autogage idea...

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:04 am
by John_Heard
Go retro and put a Sun Super Tach II in it.. :mrgreen:

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:07 am
by Bruce69Camaro
Man I had one of those in my car when I was back in high school, 20 somewhat years ago.... :shock:

I still got the Sun 2-5/8" water temp gauge and sensor in my tool box.

They were the hot ticket back then.

Bruce

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:24 am
by sc racing
Supernova, Im not arguing with you but I read your posts and you didnt say anything about different cars you just said autogage with a 6al and autometer with a 7531 how am I supposed to know you just didnt upgade your box?. Sure they work but Ill bet your autogage wasnt accurate it may have been off by only a little, call MSD if you dont believe me.Im sure Ive installed and sold a lot more tachs and MSD stuff than you have and Ive had to use the tach adapters,Im just trying to save Bruce some money and aggrevation because whoever he buys a tach from isnt going to tell him he needs an adapter which is about $40 extra.

Re: Autogage Tachs

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:50 am
by Bruce69Camaro
I was curious about this installation of this tach so I went to Autometer.com and downloaded the instructions for the tach I was looking at and it did not mention this adapter or did I miss it?

Here is the link: http://www.autometer.com/download_instruction/1077.pdf

From what I got, the green wire plugs right into my MSD 6AL box.

Am I wrong?

thanks

Bruce